Awe and Wonder Podcast: AAC & AT

Don Johnston, who founded and leads Building Wings as CEO, developed his company to create educational technology and curriculum specifically designed for students with disabilities. Drawing from his personal journey with dyslexia, including his own delayed path to reading proficiency, Don openly discusses how he overcame learning challenges through key support systems. His experiences inform his...

Amy is a special education teacher from WA State, who was the 2020 Teacher of the Year award recipient and is also involved in the Professional Educator Standards Board and the WA Inclusionary Practice Technical Network. In this episode, Amy discusses her roles and experiences in special education, with a focus on the importance of collaboration, inclusion, and individualization. The potential of...

Throughout her career spanning more than 40 years, Gail Van Tatenhove has dedicated herself to working with AAC users although her connection to people with disabilities began in her youth, when she helped at her father's business.  In this episode she emphasizes several core beliefs that guide her work including: using your intuition, making the most of available resources, avoiding excuses, and...

Rachel Madel wears multiple hats as a speech therapist, parent coach and podcast host with a passion for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Together with Chris Bugej, she co-hosts "Talking with Tech," where they explore topics in assistive technology and communication. Known for creating and generously distributing educational resources, Rachel advocates for an open approach to shar...

As an Occupational Therapist specializing in seating, positioning, mobility, and assistive technology, Karen brings her expertise to both clinical practice and education. Her approach emphasizes that supporting people with disabilities requires building strong relationships and considering each person's complete circumstances. Rather than viewing assistive technology as a solution in itself, Karen...

Glenna Wright-Gallo serves as the Assistant Secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education. She played a key role in developing two influential resources: the Myths and Facts document and the National Education Technology Plan (NETP), which clarify available support systems and their intended purposes. Drawing from her diverse e...

Dr. Krista Wilkinson published an article on evidence-based approach to AAC design for individuals with cortical visual impairment (CVI) based on the experience of Emma, a young woman with CVI. In this episode Krista explains the three pillars of an evidence-based practice approach (service providers, researchers, and families/clients) and describes three domains that are important considerations...

Whitney Van Klinken is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at Yakima Children's Village-Multicare. She talks about her experiences working with children and adults doing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluations, including for those with vision impairments. She and Brenda discuss considerations when evaluating communication systems for students who are blind or have low vision o...

Lynn and her daughter Emma struggled to find a way for Emma, who has Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI), to have access to a robust vocabulary. Together, working through page setup, navigation methods and symbol representation, they figured out what worked for Emma and called it See CVI, Speak AAC. Resources mentioned in this podcast: See CVI Speak AAC: https://seecvispeakaac.com/ Comprehensive Reso...

Kathee Scoggin and Emma Packard both work with students who have combined vision and hearing loss including deaf-blindness and support the Washington DeafBlind Program https://wsds.wa.gov/deaf-blind/. In this episode of the podcast Kathee and Emma share stories from their numerous experiences working with students who have combined vision and hearing loss. These stories call out important tips for...

Marci Revelli is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who has completed numerous AAC evaluations for kids with complex needs including vision. In this episode she talks about questions SLPs can ask families that give clues about the student's vision and shares stories of AAC evaluations with students who have low vision or CVI. Marci shares that pulling in all team members (especially family), taki...

Ting is a Teacher of Blind and Low Vision Students (TVI) and coordinates the Northwest Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT-NW) at the WA State School for the Blind (WSSB). In this episode Ting cautions about the ableist perspective of prioritizing vision with students and instead asking ourselves what the student can still do with their sensory access. Ting also stresses the importance...

In this episode of the Awe and Wonder AAC & AT podcast Tanna Neufleld, SLP, discusses which students may be at risk for vision involvement and behaviors parents and practitioners can look for that might give clues that vision is impacted, and about using a student's preferred sensory modality. Tanna also talks about how her own vision diagnosis plays a role in her life and about the technology...

Amanda Soper is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Teacher of the Vison Impaired (TVI) in Washington D.C. In this podcast she discusses cerebral vision impairment and characteristics or visual behaviors you might notice in children. Amanda also explains how she uses semantic compaction language systems like Unity to support students with low vision. Resources mentioned in this podcast: AACreA...

Luis Peréz is the Disability & Digital Inclusion Lead for CAST where he promotes the creation, delivery and use of high quality accessible educational materials and technologies to support equitable learning opportunities for all students. In this episode Luis references resources available from CAST, but also shares his own lived experience of having low vision, urging people to challenge ass...

Karanveer Singh is an AAC User and contributor to the Special Education Technology Center who recently won the 2024 Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture. In this episode he is joined by his mother, KP Singh, and his family friend and OT Rose Racicot. KP, Rose and Karanveer talk to us about the role Karanveer's Indian culture, language and family values play in his life and his experience living in bo...

Maria De Leon is an SLP in Southern California who specializes in AAC. She, along with two other SLPs, started a website called Bilingue AAC, which is packed with resources for parents, teachers, and SLPs who work with bilingual students. Maria reminds us that speaking multiple languages is part of a student's identity and culture and it is critical to take this into consideration with AAC assessm...

In this episode focused on cultural responsiveness, parents Tasha and Wolf share their experiences raising their daughter who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and the immense supports they have received along the way through their reservation, beginning with schooling at 6 months of age.   Resources based on discussion in this episode:  SMA information:  https://www.mda.org/disease/spinal-muscula...

Jordyn is an SLP who is passionate about cultural responsiveness and representation. She talks about attending a predominantly white school and later a historically black college or institution and how those experiences helped her become an advocate for herself and for others.  Mentioned in this podcast:  jrctheslp.com The Color Of Autism Foundation https://thecolorofautism.org/

Danielle Van Dusen is an Assistive Technology Specialist with Open Doors for Multicultural Families, an organization in Washington State that supports and partners with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families, regardless of cultural or linguistic background. https://opendoorswa.org/

Toi and Carrisa are parents to their young daughter with complex needs and an older son who is typically developing. In this podcast they candidly share experiences of bias they've faced when getting services for their daughter and examples of what providers can do differently to help all families feel comfortable and heard.

Dr. Renaldo Fowler works for the Arizona Center for Disability law. He tells us about the African American Conference on Disabilities that addresses the intersection between race and disability and about the importance of having a safe space for good conversations. Mentioned in this podcast: African American Conference on Disability https://www.azdisabilitylaw.org/african-american-conference-on-di...

Dr. Scott, Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University Mankato in the Communication Sciences & Disorders Program, talks to us about cultural humility, tools providers can add to their cultural responsiveness toolbox, and the importance of knowing our students and families. Resources mentioned in this podcast: Textbook: Culturally Responsive Practices in Speech, Language and Hearing Scien...

Chris talks to us about access to keyboards, the 80/20 rule for teaching, model the core and spell the fringe, and authentic ways to engage through literacy.

Drew describes herself as a sassy, creative, outgoing lady with a side of disability. She describes the important role literacy plays in her life and encourages new AAC users to not give up.