#171 - 40 Years of AAC Use
LOMAH Disability Podcast
This last episode in the series is right in step with how all good things should conclude and that is with a bit of fun. You are about to listen in on a conversation with plenty of laughter and bad jokes that I had with a man who has been using AAC since the 80’s and who has been living in his own place with hired supports for 20 years. We travel down memory lane recalling accommodations that thankfully have been replaced with better options but also those that have stood the test of time. About the Guest: Tim Jin Tim Jin is a disability rights advocate with cerebral palsy. He is the...
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#170 - Asserting Authority & Directing Care as an AAC User
LOMAH Disability Podcast
AAC users often have to, first, assert authority over their self care staff. Our guest who exclusively communicates via AAC shares tips and tricks she has learned over the years on hiring and training staff. About the Guest Hannah Foley is the Product & Service Development Intern and an Ambassador at PRC-Saltillo, where she develops training and implementation supports for PRC-Saltillo language systems. She also represents PRC-Saltillo at speaking engagements and other events. Hannah presents at school districts across the country on effective inclusion and augmentative and alternative...
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#169 - AAC in Medical Settings
LOMAH Disability Podcast
Communication between provider and patient is a crucial component of quality care which is why extra thought and planning need to be arranged for augmentative and alternative communicators. About the Guest: Jessica Gormley, Ph.D., CCC-SLP of The Patient-Provider Network Jessica Gormley, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathologist, Research Coordinator and Interim Director in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute. Dr. Gormley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Handicapped from the State University of...
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#168 - Using The Entire AAC Device
LOMAH Disability Podcast
The internet has swung the door wide open for alternative and augmentative communication users, yet often the creative use of these tools is never introduced. It’s time to expand how AAC users maximize devices as well as how to navigate online communities that they now have access to via AAC. About the Guest: Tiffany Joseph Known as Nigh Functioning Autism on instagram, Tiffany has 3 neurodivergent children and is autistic. Tiffany’s ultimate goal is for nonspeaking individuals to all have early access to full communication and inclusion in educational settings from early childhood and...
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#167 - AAC Slang, Slurs, Swearing...and Censorship
LOMAH Disability Podcast
Many AAC users are dependent upon others to program language onto their device. Despite what research shows regarding common language in various age groups, it is common practice to censor slang, slurs, and swearing even for adults. About the Guest: Hali Strickler is an AAC services coordinator for at the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. She received both her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science from Temple University. Hali is a Pennsylvania and New Jersey licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certified speech-language...
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#166 - AAC with Spoken Communication
LOMAH Disability Podcast
Brittany Dube is and autistic partial AAC user who shares the stigma she often experiences when choosing AAC over her spoken voice despite how AAC makes her more communicative. Links to Mentioned Content: Etsy has several sellers creating personalized communication boards. Brittany’s came from the seller . The quote referenced came from an written by Alyssa Hillary Zisk and Elizabeth Dalton. It was published in April, 2018 edition of The Autism in Adulthood Journal. This episode is the 2nd in a series of 10 focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.
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165 - More Than Requests: Using AAC for Authentic Communication
LOMAH Disability Podcast
Often, AAC is used for nothing more than to make requests. While requesting wants and needs is important, AAC can offer much more to complex communicators and those who wish to know them. About the Guest: Kate McLaughlin, M.S., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist specializing in AAC - alternative and augmentative communication for individuals with complex communication needs. She believes that autonomous communication, inclusion, and self-determination are fundamental human rights. She partners with individuals with complex communication needs and their families to support their AAC...
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164 - AAC Series Intro + A Few Life Updates
LOMAH Disability Podcast
The new series will focus on "Doing More With AAC". This episode gives a peek at the topics that will be covered with expert guests, many who are AAC users themselves. The second half shares a few life updates relevant to the LOMAH tagline "Planning the future for our daughter with disabilities and inviting you to fumble through it with us". There has been some great news regarding the next 3 years (Miranda's transition years ages 19-22) as well as an update even closer to home.
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#163 - A New Way to Find and Fund Adult Services
LOMAH Disability Podcast
Most adult supports are chosen via eligible providers on HCBS waiver lists. However, some states have been toying with a new method that offers more flexibility and choice. In this conversation we explore what families have and have not liked about the newly rolled out Self Determination Program and why our family has decided to move away from provider lists and into this new option of funding supports. About the Guest: Sonni Charness, Founder of Guidelight Group Sonni Bendetson Charness brings over a decade of experience serving teens and adults with developmental disabilities and is an...
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#162 - Conservatorship vs Supported Decision Making
LOMAH Disability Podcast
Conservatorship has long been the route to providing supports to disabled individuals with they turn 18. However, a new option called supported decision is an alternative that supports the person in making their own decisions rather than giving up rights through the conservatorship option. About the Guest: Lauren Butterworth, Esquire PLLC received her Bachelor of Science from Penn State in education and was a teacher prior to returning to school for her law degree. She now owns her own specializing in guardianship, powers of attorney, estate planning, trusts, and educational advocacy....
info_outlineIn this final episode of the literacy series, Kim shares how she is implementing into Miranda's literacy instruction what the guests have taught and what she has learned from the book Comprehensive Literacy for All.
Along with specific episode/guest mentions from the series and page references from the book Kim shares:
- How at the beginning of the series it was confusing to understand the way literacy and communication were and were not the same when using a speech generating device.
- What happened when she learned and implemented strategies for emergent rather than conventional stages of literacy development.
- What types of lessons she is using to teach the emergent writing areas of working with words, and writing with full keyboard. What types of lessons are being used to teach the transitional strategies of shared reading, independent reading, word study, and reading comprehension.
- What was the easiest and what has yet to be tried.
The take away is to think of the elements of a comprehensive literacy program (as listed on page 205 of the book) as several buffets. Each buffet has several teaching options. To get started, simply go to the buffet and put something on your plate. When you are ready for more, return and grab more. Give yourself and your learner grace. Just start with one thing. Bite what you can chew. Repeat.