Talking With Tech AAC Podcast

Listen to part 2 of the AAC Apps Update next week, then head to bit.ly/techceu to earn CEU credit for listening to these episodes! This week, the TWT team is pleased to share the first half of the AAC Apps Update 2018! This conference session was originally presented by Lucas, Chris, and Rachel as part of the Special Apps Update Conference 2018.  Before we present this week’s session, Chris and Ra...

This week, Rachel interviews educational therapists and co-hosts of the Learn Smarter podcast, Stephanie Pitts & Rachel Kapp! Stephanie and Rachel share what educational therapy is, why executive functioning is so important, and strategies they utilize to help learners improve task initiation, time management, and motivation!   Key ideas this week include: 🔑 Educational therapists teach learners...

This week, the TWT team presents another “Small Talks” episode featuring short conversations with AAC specialists Erin Sheldon, Kelly Fonner, Lance McLemore, and Mo Buti!   Key ideas this episode:   🔑Suggest an AAC evaluation for young children (2-3 years old) with limited expressive language, because we don’t have to delay language skills while other skills (e.g. articulation skills) catch up.  ...

This week on TWT, Chris interviews Brian Whitmer, CEO of CoughDrop, about OpenAAC.org and the “open” movement supporting AAC users and their right to move communication boards from one system to another, access a free set of symbols, open 3rd party apps inside their AAC systems, and more!   Key ideas: 🔑Many AAC developers do not allow communication boards to be moved from one communication system...

This week on TWT, Rachel interviews Alyssa Hillary Zisk! Alyssa is a graduate student in neuroscience who shares their experiences as an autistic adult who uses AAC part of the time to communicate.    Key ideas this episode:   🔑Some autistic adults experience intermittent or insufficient speech. 🔑Some of these adults use AAC part of the time. 🔑It is important to give AAC users the same chance t...

This week on TWT, we share the second half of Rachel’s interview with Carly Stoltenberg! Carly is an SLP who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) two years ago. At one point in her recovery, Carly was paralyzed and unable to speak. In the second half of the episode, Carly shares what she has learned about valuing the uniqueness of each person in our care, and why honesty about her stru...

This week on TWT, we air the first half of Rachel's interview Carly Stoltenberg, an SLP who was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome two years ago. At one point in her recovery, Carly was paralyzed and unable to speak. Carly shares her amazing journey to regain her ability to walk and talk, and how this has shaped her passion for positive thinking and patient advocacy!   Key ideas this episode:...

This week, Chris interviews Charlie Danger, an occupational therapist from the UK who specializes in assistive technology and AAC! Charlie shares from his fascinating experiences working with AT and AAC in Qatar, including how to increase our understanding of other cultures and the importance of learning about our own!   Key ideas this episode:   🔑 Importance of encouraging more than requests fro...

This week, Chris interviews Longwood University graduate students Shannon Graham, Courtney Kaczmarek, Lizzie Llewellyn, and Payton Yates! Key ideas this episode:   🔑 Students’ research on ways people, like teachers, learn AAC 🔑 Benefits (and challenges) of 1:1 instruction 🔑 Value of encouragement from mentors and supervisors   For complete show notes and research discussed in the episode, visit...

This week, Rachel interviews speech-language pathologist and mindfulness meditation leader Melanie Pensak! Melanie offers nature-based and home-based speech-language therapy services through her business, Destination Speech. In addition to her work as an SLP, Melanie leads wellness workshops and meditation groups, and specializes in helping therapists and parents prevent burnout and increase joy!...

This week, Talking With Tech is re-broadcasting the second half of our March 31st Facebook Live episode with Matt Hott, host of the SpeechScience podcast! Continuing where they left off last week, Rachel discusses how a AAC Clinical Speciality Certification could benefit SLPs in private practice, and why we should focus on how certification affects AAC users, not just ASHA members. Chris shares id...

This week, the TWT team is re-broadcasting the first half of our March 31st Facebook Live episode! Rachel, Chris, and Matt Hott of the SpeechScience podcast took questions from listeners about the ASHA AAC Clinical Specialty Certification. During this free-flowing discussion, they share concerns with the “expert” model, why Specialty Certification may help improve graduate-level AAC instruction, a...

If you are interested in learning about the proposed ASHA AAC Clinical Speciality Certification, don’t miss this week’s interview with Dr. Katya Hill! Before the interview, Rachel shares why her jury duty was not as bad as she had expected, and why taking a step away from work can be so helpful. Next, Rachel and Chris discuss new AAC users who repeatedly press all (or only one) of the buttons on t...

In this week’s episode, Chris interviews proficient AAC user and Prentke Romich Company (PRC) Ambassador Lance McLemore! Before the interview, Chris is joined again by his wife, Melissa Bugaj! Melissa and Chris discuss the first ever International #ATChat, which focused on AAC and Access. Next, Melissa discusses her recent experiences with students who use AAC. Melissa shares about learning to inc...

This week, Rachel and Chris connect with Chris’ wife, Melissa Bugaj to talk about what makes a successful IEP meeting! Melissa is Dean of Special Education at Loudoun Valley High School and has lots to share about effective meetings, including the need for open and transparent communication, the importance of agendas, and why involving parents before the IEP meeting is so important! Rachel also sh...

On this week’s episode Rachel talks about her impromptu solo trip to Hawaii and how she balanced both disconnecting with technology and using technology to keep her connected to friends and family. Chris opens up a broader discussion about productivity hacks and minimalism with therapy materials. In this week’s interview, Chris talks with four members of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Regional...

On this week’s episode of Talking with Tech, Rachel interviews Sarah Whyte, a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) specializing in AAC & AT for the adult neurogenic population. Sarah has instructed the AAC course at Vanderbilt University and led the AAC program for outpatient neurogenic rehabilitation at Vanderbilt Medical Center. She has presented on numer...

On this week’s episode, Rachel, Chris and Lucas answer listener questions for a second time! Topics include ideas for teaching the word “more," how to get siblings/peers involved in therapy, and how we can support AAC curriculum for home-schooled students!   Interested in earning CEU’s by listening to “Talking With Tech”? Check out our course at bit.ly/twtcorepd .  

On this week’s episode Rachel and Chris discuss all things related to access with their special guest, Kelly Fonner. Chris talks about his book heading up the charts and Rachel and Chris discuss their most recent webinar, “ABC’s of AAC”.     During Chris’ interview with Kelly, they talk about PODD (Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display). PODD is a unique type of AAC system where the vocabulary is...

On this week’s episode, Chris talks about his recent tour of the FETC and ATIA conference circuit. Rachel and Chris discuss what it’s like preparing for a big presentation and how to get participants engaged in the material.   In this week’s interviews, Chris has the pleasure of speaking with Christine Baudin (creator of the Facebook Group: “AAC for the SLP”). Chris also talks with amazing high sc...

This week on Talking with Tech, Chris and Rachel talk about data management tools and technology that allows open lines of communication between caregivers, therapists, and parents. The TWT team also discusses the power of video clips for data collection, evidence of progress and team communication. Rachel mentions her latest obssession with the website “Loom” for video hosting and sharing. Chris...

Interested in earning CEU’s for this podcast? Check out the course at bit.ly/twtcorepd . In this week’s episode, Chris and Rachel talk about balancing administrative tasks, service delivery and direct communication with parents and caregivers.  Chris discusses ATIA and a session called “AAC Spotlight” where clinicians get a chance to present a problem with AAC implementation and then discuss diffe...

Interested in earning CEU’s for this podcast? Check out the course at bit.ly/twtcorepd ! This week, Chris and Rachel talk about how to engage AAC users, improve their motivation, and why clinicians, not users, should be responsible for creating highly motivating activities. Rachel discusses how to utilize the iPad and augmented reality during therapy to create communication opportunities. The team...

This week, the TWT team interviews Russell Cross of the Prentke Romich Company! Russell is one of the authors of the Unity language system that’s been embedded in all PRC devices since 1996 and has spent over 30 years working in the field of AAC! Before the interview, Rachel and Chris discuss two of the important ideas covered in the interview: "phrasal verbs" and "key words". Phrasal verbs are es...

This week, Rachel and Chris discuss the recent article in the ASHA Leader, “The Pitfalls of Presumption” by Katie O’Neil and Rebecca McCarthy. They agree with some ideas in the article, including the importance a well-planned assessment and implementation. They talk about why the phrase “presuming competence” can be confusing, and why they both prefer the phrase “presume potential.” Chris and Rach...