Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Another chance for a great training!

Hey Tek-ninjas! I posted this a few weeks ago. There has been such tremendous interest that I wanted to let you know we are providing more seats. If you are interested in attending a great virtual training, and getting CEU's, this one is happening on Friday! I encourage you to sign up ASAP!

My friend and colleague, Lisa Geary will be presenting on May 1st, and she is super knowledgeable and engaging!

This course she's offering is called "Communicating Beyond Requesting", and it's a really solid offering. Lisa will discuss "where do you typically start when introducing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)? If you are like most people, you probably start with activities that involve an individual requesting a motivating object or action. But what happens next? What happens when we run out of things to request? In this session, we will explore key areas to go beyond requesting including vocabulary selection, goal writing, intervention strategies and communication partner tips".

When:
May 1, 2020
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Please log in (see Zoom registration information) at 8:45 am

Where:
This event will be held virtually. After registering, you will receive an email with your Zoom registration. Complete that registration in order to receive your Virtual Classroom link. Remember to check your spam folder for follow up emails.

Registration on a computer rather than a mobile device is recommended.

This course will be offered for 0.5 ASHA CEUs.

Click on this link if you want to learn more. 

Lisa has over 25 years of experience in speech-language pathology, teaching, and supervision. She previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor in a university setting as well as SLP in the public school, private practice, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. Currently, Lisa is a member of the Tobii Dynavox Learning Services Team, providing implementation workshops for professionals and customers.

And remember, WASH YOUR HANDS!

Switch Scanning De-mystified

Hey Tek-ninjas! Today I want to talk with you about the best 3 hours you could spend if you are working with AAC users who might need to use switch scanning as an access modality. Switch scanning is often one of the most intimidating access methods for clinicians of all backgrounds. I want to share some webinars which should effectively demystify the whole process for you - regardless of whose software you are using.

Once again, I'm talking about the Tobii Dynavox Learning Hub. They are offering 3 courses
on scanning which build one upon the other. Each course is roughly an hour. They cost nothing, and they offer ASHA CEU's, and I'd add, AOTA accepted those courses for the equivalent CEU's when I submitted them a few weeks ago.

Scanning 101: Define Scanning Terminology: the initial offering of a series of training focused on
switch scanning with AAC. This introductory course provides a basic understanding of scanning including who would benefit from switch scanning access, scanning terminology including direct vs. indirect selection, scan patterns, scan types, as well as basic setting options to support visual impairments.

Scanning 102: Switch Selection: builds on the knowledge and topics discussed in Scanning 101. In this training, we discuss a team approach in determining the most appropriate switch for a person using switch scanning with their AAC system. The learner is provided with five key factors that should be considered when working with a person using switch scanning.

Scanning 103: Building Skills: builds on the knowledge and topics discussed in Scanning 101 and 102. In this training we discuss techniques and best practices for teaching switch scanning skills to a new scan user. We focus on the Core First Scanning Page Set and the Learn to Scan pages.

As I stated in the opening paragraph, you will find that the vast majority of this content is super relevant even if you are using another AAC software solution.  The presenter is sharing concepts that are universal. I hope you find this as useful as I did. 

Remember, wash your hands!!

Monday, April 27, 2020

Occupational Therapists and AAC

Hey Tek-ninjas! So this post goes out to my fellow Occupational Therapists. It's a call to action.

As a Solutions Consultant, for the last two years I've had the pleasure to work with so many different OTs, in almost every work environment. OTs are doing some really amazing work, and y'all make me proud to be an OT. However, I've also been surprised by the number of AAC interventions happening in schools and clinics where an OT is not consulted or involved.

Obviously, the system is geared to make AAC the domain of Speech Therapists. I am not suggesting this should be different. SLPs are experts in language pathology. Language is their wheel-house. And the medical insurance model recognizes that fact, making them the gate keepers of funding.
However, I so often see SLPs trying to navigate complicated access issues where an OT presence would be helpful. These access issues include visual processing issues, positioning issues, organization issues, mounting issues, as well as interface issues.

No shade for my SLP friends, but I don't think these areas are typically a part of their training. But they are a part of our training. We are trained in Activity Analysis. Those issues are in our wheelhouse. And if an "end-user" cannot access their AAC device, it becomes irrelevant how good the communication system is.

Functional language is often intrinsic to maximizing occupational performance. It impacts so many of our domains, and when it works, our clients have better outcomes. Conversely, when functional language is missing, our clients have decreased occupational performance.

When OTs and SLPs work collaboratively to support our client's use of AAC interventions the outcomes enrich both speech and occupational therapy, with gains in all occupational performance domains. Everyone wins.


For those of you looking for some direction I encourage you to take a look at the HAAT model offered by Cook and Hussey. It dovetails nicely with so many of our Occupational Performance models that I suspect it would be a good guide post for any clinician. I found this article to be interesting, and it does a great job connecting HAAT and Occupational Therapy. Discerning learners will note that the book this article is from is Turkish. I posted it due to it's broad overview, it's relatively recentness, and that it's NOT behind a pay-wall.

Finally, if you are an Occupational Therapist, and you have a client on your caseload who has AAC, I encourage you to reach out to your SLP colleague and offer to help with access issues. Also, contact the local sales rep, and ask them for training on the hardware and software. You needn't reinvent the wheel. Leverage that resource. Once you learn the basics of the equipment, and pair that training with your clinical reasoning, I believe you will be able to elicit significant occupational performance gains for that client.

Also... wash your hands!

Friday, April 24, 2020

Making Art: Eye-gaze Users

Hey Tek-ninjas! Recently my colleague, Orry Deason shared a post with our co-workers. I'm essentially sharing it word for word - there's not much I could add to improve it. I will add, if the end-user's device is still "locked" as a dedicated device, and they are accessing one of the online platforms noted below, they will need to contact the device vendor to pay the unlock fee. For Tobii Dynavox that fee is $25. Enjoy.

"This comes up every so often so I figured I'd share; art programs that have worked previously with our devices. 

There's no art program with built-in/native eye gaze, but third party programs can be used via Windows Control or Gaze Point, which are included on (Tobii Dynavox) devices. Here are some we have seen work, though the software you should use depends on the age and ability of the user and the complexity desired.

Microsoft Paint 
Microsoft Paint
is included on Tobii Dynavox devices. It is basic and straightforward, and easy to use, but some of the options may be too small for some eye gaze users to hit.


Paint.net

Paint.net (https://www.getpaint.net/ - (Free) is comparable to Microsoft Paint with some additional features. Again, some options may be too small for some users to hit.



Kid Pix 
Kid Pix
(https://www.mackiev.com/kidpix/ - (paid with free trial) is designed for kids, but has a lot of art and animation options. It's also nearly as old as I am. 



Paint Online
Paint Online (https://kidmons.com/game/paint-online/ - (free) is very simple, geared towards younger children, but the large buttons on it may make it easier for eye gaze users. It is web based, though, so some users may need guidance on accessing the website. I'd recommend using the Full Screen button at the bottom right. 

Sketch.io 
Sketch.io
(https://sketch.io/ - free) is also web-based with more features than Paint Online, but has a large drawing area which may be easier for eye gaze users to access. 




SketchUp
SketchUp 
(https://www.sketchup.com/ - free and paid versions) is a program made for 3D art, and is much more complex than the others. (The artist Francis Tsai used this program along with Adobe Photoshop, using a Tobii Dynavox device: https://www.iamag.co/the-iconic-eye-gaze-art-of-francis-tsai/


ArtRage 
Art Rage
(https://www.artrage.com/ - paid) is popular and relatively easy to use--the less expensive/less complex Lite version may be easier for Eye Gaze users, with larger buttons for better accessibility. (The artist Megan Fry uses this program with an I-12! https://www.artrage.com/artrage-artist-feature-megan-fry/

Aseprite 
Aseprite
(https://www.aseprite.org/ - paid with free trial) is geared towards pixel art/sprites and small animations and is easy to access, but has some level of complexity and some of the advanced features may be tough for eye gaze users to hit."
Orry adds that "this list isn't exhaustive, but hopefully it will point you in the right direction!" If you readers have other suggestions please don't hesitate to post in the comments section, and include links! 

Remember, wash your hands!!

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Heaps and heaps of trainings!

Hey Tek-ninjas! Here are a few more online trainings which are coming up real soon from Tobii Dynavox. Take a look, you might find that topic you've been feeling rusty on!

Tips and Tricks - Deep Dive into Snap Core First

Date & Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM ET
Read more here!

Communicating with Core Vocabulary in Snap Core First

ASHA CEUs: 0.35
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 12:00 PM - 03:45 PM ET
Read more here!

Tobii Dynavox: Empowering Communication and Literacy

ASHA CEUs: 0.55
Date & Time: Thursday, April 30, 2020 11:00 AM - 05:30 PM ET
Read more here!

These events are all top notch! Presenters include both Lisa Geary, whom I wrote about in my last post, and Patrick Brune. 

Patrick is a friend and a colleague from Tobii Dynavox. He is a speech therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience in the area of AAC. His focus has been on developing tools and supports that create successful communication opportunities for all Tobii Dynavox customers. They both are a members of the Learning Services Team for Tobii Dynavox. 

Hope to see some of you there! Also... wash your hands!

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

ONLINE TRAINING: Communicating Beyond Requesting

Hey Tek-ninjas! Here's another learning opportunity for you. My friend and colleague, Lisa Geary will be presenting on May 1st, and she is super knowledgeable and engaging!

This course she's offering is called "Communicating Beyond Requesting", and it's a really solid offering. Lisa will discuss "where do you typically start when introducing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)? If you are like most people, you probably start with activities that involve an individual requesting a motivating object or action. But what happens next? What happens when we run out of things to request? In this session, we will explore key areas to go beyond requesting including vocabulary selection, goal writing, intervention strategies and communication partner tips".

When:
May 1, 2020
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Please log in (see Zoom registration information) at 8:45 am

Where:
This event will be held virtually. After registering, you will receive an email with your Zoom registration. Complete that registration in order to receive your Virtual Classroom link. Remember to check your spam folder for follow up emails.

Registration on a computer rather than a mobile device is recommended.

This course will be offered for 0.5 ASHA CEUs.

Click on this link if you want to learn more. 

Lisa has over 25 years of experience in speech-language pathology, teaching, and supervision. She previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor in a university setting as well as SLP in the public school, private practice, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. Currently, Lisa is a member of the Tobii Dynavox Learning Services Team, providing implementation workshops for professionals and customers.

And remember, WASH YOUR HANDS!

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Spicing up your teletherapy!

Hey Tek-ninjas! Here's a quick chat about something fun... Video conference backgrounds! Most of us have played with different backgrounds. They are fun, and can capture an audience, which may be really important with younger clients.

You can download wallpaper from various sites, and most platforms allow you to upload any jpeg or png. Well. Tobii Dynavox has some really fun pictures that you can add to spice up your teletherapy, and they are available here for free. I'm pretty sure this is official Boardmaker art!

If you are uploading them to Teams you will need to store them at this link:
C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads.

Have fun, and remember, wash your hands!

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Get'n MY learn'n on!

Hey Tek-ninjas! So, I'm always urging people to "get their learn'n on"... today, I took my own advice, and took a class on the Tobii Dynavox Learning Hub. I've written about the Learning Hub before, but was excited to share this experience with you all.

Because my 18 years of clinicial work were almost exclusively in K-12, I decided to learn something new, and took a course titled AAC and Aphasia.

The course was an hour, and I could stop it, run get a cup of coffee, and come back whenever I wanted. No mean looks from a presenter for interrupting the flow!

Before I started the course, I was able to read the course overview and see what the learning objectives are. In addition I was able to see the contact hours, and ASHA credits.

The content was excellent. I learned about the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA). This model reminded me so much of many of our Occupational Performance models which guide our clinical reasoning as OTs.

In the workshop I also learned about multiple lo, mid, and high tech tools, and the importance of incorporating all three for our clients benefit.

Tomorrow I'm planning on taking Scanning 101: Define Scanning Terminology I'm looking forward
to it! This is such a great resource, especially while we are quarantined. Currently, there are about 20 different course covering a wide variety topics such as math, literacy, eye-gaze, and scanning. My understanding is that there will continue to be more content generated.

Did I mention, these courses do not cost any money? And, while the course I took was an hour, there are some that are 30 minutes. This means it's easy to get in a quick lesson during your day while you are navigating teletherapy at home!

Remember: wash your hands!




Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Create Tailored, Hands-On and Accessible Content for In-Home Learning


Hey Tek-ninjas! Living in Coronatopia, many of us are struggling with HOW to keep students engaged with hands-on activities that are access friendly and individualized. This is true, whether they are our own children, or kiddos we are serving remotely. Turns out Boardmaker has some great tools to help you deliver lessons that tackle these challenges. 

Check out the Activities-to-Go, an online platform that helps you to differentiate learning in fun and engaging activities. Activities-to-Go comes in units, and each unit has three levels of books. Because each unit focuses on one topic, you can use materials from any level to extend, enrich, and customize learning. You can learn more in depth here


There are over 200 interactive templates for hands-on learning. Learners can manipulate the activities you have created using a computer, iPad, or Tobii Dynavox device. Were I doing remote services, say with Zoom, opening these on a child's device, sharing their screen and working with them on this content could be a really powerful way to connect and teach. You can learn more about these hands-on learning tools here

If we were doing this on their personal AAC device, we would need to make certain the device was "unlocked" so it could access the internet. The fee to unlock most devices is $25 these days. The family would need to contact the vendor to get it unlocked if they've not done so. 

A significant aspect of these hands-on learning opportunities that I really love is that you can take into account access issues, and accommodate touch, scanning and eye gaze. This is explored more here

Not everyone has Boardmaker online, but currently they are offering a free 90-day trial. If you don’t have a Boardmaker Online account, here is a tutorial to get that 90-day trial. 

Wash your hands friends!!

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Tools to Support Communication with Your Child


Hey Tek-ninjas! This post goes out to parents specifically. Clinicians, if you are working with families using AAC with a Core Language approach, this content may be useful, even if they are using other products. 

Just because you're at home doesn’t mean you have to stop working on growing your child’s communication skills. Tobii Dynavox offers some terrific ideas of how you can use core vocabulary to support communication with your child.

As you likely know, Core words have application throughout your child’s day, and they are words they hear others use all day long. Core words can also help your child understand the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Follow this structure for introducing core words to your child at home. 

Find It

This means showing your child where the core word is on the device. 

Use It

Once you and your child know where to find the word, you can start using it throughout the day. 

Read It

Use these free Core First Learning Books that target one core word per book. 

Want more information on introducing core words, implementation help, and a helpful video? Click here

To find all Tobii Dynavox Coronavirus related resources, click here. Additionally, Tobii Dynavox is offering a lot of free live web events. And don’t forget to check out their Learning Hub for free on-demand courses that also provide ASHA CEUs.

And finally, for more “At home learning” resources, click here.

And remember: wash yer hands!!

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Resistance is NOT futile

Hey Tek-Ninja’s! I was inspired this morning by an old martial arts training buddy’s Facebook post. He wrote: “Thanks for the birthday wishes! In lieu of flowers please send a letter to your congressperson asking for adequate protective gear and prioritized testing for all healthcare workers.” 

He gave a great sample letter, and I co-opted and modified it.

My brother in-law, a Captain in a fire department, my friend Noah, an advanced practice nurse, and many of my friends are health professional, and they are all terrified that they will get infected with the coronavirus, becoming an asymptomatic carrier, furthering the spread to at-risk populations resulting in untimely deaths. Please rapidly enact legislation to provide adequate protective gear and prioritized testing for all healthcare workers.”

Maybe you could do something similar. I bet you don’t have a lot planned today....

An easy way to do this is by texting Resistbot which emails/mails/faxes letters to your representatives for free. Text RESIST to 50409 and it'll take you like 2 minutes tops start to finish. Resistbot is terrific partly because it doesn’t care what political party enraged you or delights you. Send them your letters, they send them to all your representatives. 

Wash those hands!

Saturday, April 4, 2020

The “Random Stuff”... again or "My Go-to Stress Reliever"

Living in our new Coronatopia, hours of sitting at my computer, and video conferencing.  Along with the low-level of anxiety I sense in so many folks. At the end of each day, I'm left needing an outlet. 

I have been even more grateful than ever for the Nike Run Club App. So much so that I began to write about it this evening, and then I remembered I already blogged about it last summer. So, I decided to share it again, thinking that maybe one of you readers might benefit. I especially have been loving the Stress Free Guided Run. 

Today I am breaking a cardinal rule of blogging by posting more than once in a day. But I’m excited. This evening I went for a run with elite running coach Chris Bennett, and Headspace cofounder and Tibetan Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe.

I’ll expound in a bit.

You may have noticed the blurb under my title says that I write about “the intersections of therapy, technology with an emphasis on AAC, education and other random stuff". This article is going to be about the “random” stuff.

I am a long time runner. Never the fastest, never the slowest, kind of a “middle of the pack” guy. Before I started this job I ran marathons and trained a decent amount of hours each week. This is no longer tenable with my work schedule. So in an effort to stay healthy and fit I am now trying to run faster but shorter distances.

I want to tell you about a great piece of technology that is helping make this possible.

I have been a long time fan of the app made by Nike called “Nike Run Club” or NRC for short. NRC is free. You can install it on your iPhone, but I prefer to use it on my Apple Watch, and leave my phone in the car. If you are an android user, you’re in luck because there is a version for your phone.

NRC allows you to pick training programs based on your age, your weight, and you’re running fitness: like...even if you’re running fitness level is “sitting on a couch and eating potato chips“. As you use the app over the course of a few weeks it will adjust itself based on your progress. My youngest and I used the app to prepare for the Uwharrie 20 when he was 15.

But what I have really been enjoying of late is the pre-installed guided runs. On Tuesday I ran the “Hill, Hillier, Hilliest” run with coach and ultra-distance runner Sally McCrae. She had me engage in a 27 minute program incorporating a warm-up, a series of intervals, and a cool-down. It was hard, but it was super fun.

Today I engaged in a 45 minute run with meditation on mindfulness. Yep, that was when I ran with Chris Bennett and Andy Puddicombe. Okay, so they weren’t “with” me... but do you know what that kind of training would cost in person?! And I’m soooo not fast enough to really run with those two!

I started focusing on speed a little over a month ago using the Nike Run Club app and I already feel like I’m a bit faster. But regardless of where you are as a runner: non-runner or expert, I think the Nike Run Club app can help you choose and then achieve goals, which can ultimately help you become healthier and perhaps even happier in life.

Stay healthy my friends!





Friday, April 3, 2020

Autism Awareness Month: Communication, Home, Language, and Literacy

Hey Tek-ninjas, this training is going to be good.

Course Content Level: Introductory
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 07, 2020 01:00 PM - 01:30 PM ET
Cost: Free of Charge
Open Seats: 254

The presenter is my colleague and friend, Lisa Geary from the Tobii Dynavox Learning Team. Lisa is a super strong and engaging presenter with a wealth of experience both as a clinician, and an educator. Every time I'm at a presentation she's giving I get my learning on, so carve out a bit of time in your day to attend. 

Fair warning, the event is being shared broadly, so if you are interested, sign up asap!!

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Free supports using Picture Communication Symbols (PCS®)

Hey Tek-ninjas, you've likely noted... the Coronavirus has created unusual circumstances.

Tobii Dynavox offers some tools to help.


Parents, clinicians, and educators... we are all of us having to pivot to find ways to do what we've taken for granted in the past. This includes how help our AAC users. Most of us are figuring out how to navigate home learning, social distancing, teletherapy, and learning new precautions to keep you and those you support healthy.

To help, Tobii Dynavox created and are offering for free various supports using Picture Communication Symbols (PCS®). Check out the links below:

Home Learning Schedule - This Home Learning Schedule will help to bring some routine and familiarity back to your child’s day.

What is Coronavirus? Book and Coronavirus Social Story - Read these stories to the children you support and introduce them to new vocabulary related to the pandemic.

Coronavirus Vocabulary and Low-Tech Core Vocabulary Boards - Use these printable boards to help your child communicate.

Tobii Dynavox provides additional information on these resources and implementation tips here.

And, for even more “At home learning” resources, please click here. Additionally, Tobii Dynavox is inviting folks to many free live web events, which you can check out here.

And as always, don’t forget to check out the Learning Hub for free on-demand courses that also provide ASHA CEUs.

Clean your hands!!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Leveraging Chaos Into a Therapeutic Opportunity

Hey Tek-ninjas! So... I just got totally inspired. I was on a company call, and one of my colleagues shared a story which has really got me thinking about how "we" can do tele-therapy.

I reached out to Tobii Dynavox Solution Consultant Christina Carroll, to see if she would share her story with Tek-ninjas. Here it is:

"Before all of the Covid chaos began I had scheduled 3 back-to-back evaluations with a brand new SLP, who had never done an AAC evaluation. Once restrictions were put into place, we decided to do the evaluations remotely, and I sent her a device. 

We began the first evaluation via Facetime and about 5 minutes in my dogs started barking. I was embarrassed, because the child noticed and got distracted. I decided to try to use this and told the kiddo that it was my dog barking. 

I asked the SLP to navigate to the animal page and have the kiddo find dog. The child clicked dog and I told him that my dog barks loud and then explained that I have 2 dogs. We asked if he wanted to see my other dog and the slp modeled how to use the core page to say want dog and we asked him to do the same. He did and I brought my other dog on screen. 

Harley and Duke
I then asked if he could see what color my dogs are and the slp navigated to colors and he proceeded to say black and brown. I asked if he wanted to see my dogs run and asked him to tell us to go! He pushed go and I picked up my dog and ran. 

The SLP showed him stop and we began a game of stop and go. 

We then tried to work on some other things and noticed his interest was not there so the SLP asked if he wanted more dog on the device. He navigated on his own and said “more dog”. I asked him which dog he wanted to play with and he said “I want black dog” which was an 8 step navigation. 

We proceeded to do a stop and go dance party with my dog. This was such a hit, we did it for the next 2 evaluations."

Most of us newly working from home can completely relate to the awkwardness of being on a video conference call and having our animals or children enter into our work abruptly. I love how Christina took the spontaneous events happening around her and adroitly leveraged them into a therapeutic opportunity.  I'd love to hear anyone else's stories about tele-therapy gone right! 

Happy tele-therapy!!

Christina works in the great state of California serving the Orange County area and beyond. Folks who get to work with her are clearly very fortunate. If you live elsewhere and need to find your Solution Consultant, enter your zip-code here