Shows
Talking With Tech AAC PodcastRachel Madel & Chris Bugaj: ATIA 2025 RecapIn this episode, Rachel Madel and Chris Bugaj recap their experiences at ATIA 2025, highlighting the value of community-building during the pre-conference and the growing impact of generative AI in AAC and assistive technology. They discuss exciting new tools like Symbol Creator AI and Flex Speak, and reflect on key sessions around policy advocacy, emphasizing the power of personal stories in influencing change. The episode underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation, and using your voice to make a difference in the assistive tech space.
Key Ideas This Episode:
Collaborative Learning and Connection at...
2025-04-2542 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastMidwestern University Q&A: Interdisciplinary Collaboration, AAC Implementation, & MoreThis week, we share Chris and Rachel’s Q&A session with Professor Danielle Reed and her students at Midwestern University. They discuss interdisciplinary collaboration, the importance of mindset in AAC implementation, how occupational therapists can work effectively with speech-language pathologists, and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel touch on Chris’s experience teaching AAC to pre-service occupational therapy students, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, mindset shifts, and the importance of making communication fun and engaging.
Key Ideas This Week:
🔑 The Biggest Challenge in AAC Implementation Is Training Communicat...
2025-03-131h 05Talking With Tech AAC PodcastTWT Live: ArkSHA Conference 2024 (Part 1)This week, we share Part 1 of Chris and Rachel’s TWT Live episode recorded at the 2024 Arkansas Speech and Hearing Association! The episode touches on several topics, including using AI to analyze language from Gestalt Language Processors, getting buy in from teachers, and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss the some of the controversy surrounding “revoicing,”which involves a communication partner restating or clarifying messages from an AAC user.
Key Ideas this Episode:
🔑 Revoicing as a Communication Tool: Chris and Rachel share why, from their perspective...
2024-12-1046 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastChris, Melissa, and Maggie Bugaj: "Out of My Mind" ReflectionsIn this episode of Talking with Tech, Chris, Melissa, and Maggie Bugaj reflect on the Disney+ movie Out of My Mind! This film centers around a young AAC user with cerebral palsy, and has sparked a lot of conversations about AAC online. The Bugaj family talks about how we can take the popularity of this movie to continue and share the message of inclusive education and support for AAC!
1. Presuming Potential and Inclusive Education: The episode emphasizes the importance of assuming all students, including those with disabilities, have potential. Teachers, families, and educators are encouraged to p...
2024-11-3051 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastCarole Zangari, Tabi Jones-Wohleber, Rachel Langley, & Michaela Ball: The "Stepping Into AAC" ProjectThis week, Rachel and Chris interview the superstar members of the “Stepping Into AAC” project - Carole Zangari, Tabi Jones-Wohleber, Rachel Langley, and Michaela Ball! The “Stepping Into AAC” team shares about the core mission of the project: to introduce people to AAC, to guide them through the early months of using these new communication tools and strategies, and to offer resources to engage school teams and other caregivers. The program is divided into 20 parts with the intention to complete one part a week, making it more manageable!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel share about the...
2024-08-161h 03Talking With Tech AAC PodcastRecast: Rachel Dorsey: Taking a Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to TherapyThis week, we present a Recast episode of Rachel's interview with Rachel Dorsey, an amazing autistic SLP who teaches courses on neurodiversity and goal writing. Recast episodes are previous episodes of TWT that Chris and Rachel want to highlight. In this Recast, Rachel Dorsey shares her perspectives on neurodiversity, how to help shift the perspectives of others to better affirm neurodiversity, the importance of co-regulation for Autistic people, and more!
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris sit down with Melissa Bugaj and Sara Gregory to have a quick roundtable banter about gestalt language processing (e.g...
2024-08-081h 03Talking With Tech AAC PodcastRecast: Talking with Tech Roundtable: Early Intervention & AACThis week, we present a Recast of a previous “roundtable discussion” between Rachel, Chris, and previous host Lucas Stuber on early intervention and AAC! (Note: Recast episodes are episodes from the early days of TWT that Chris and Rachel want to highlight again). In this episode, Rachel shares her experiences with using AAC with very young children and discusses the benefits and challenges with early AAC implementation. They explore the misconception that AAC might hinder verbal development, as well as parental concerns regarding AAC as “screen time”, the importance of multimodal communication options, and more!
Before th...
2024-07-1934 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastBenjamin Gibbs: Interviewing Chris Bugaj for a Master's AT ProgramThis week, Chris is interviewed by Benjamin Gibbs! Benjamin is a student at George Mason University studying Assistive Technology who is completing a school project interviewing Chris, and Chris asked if the conversation could go on the podcast! Ben has cerebral palsy that affects his walking gait and verbal speech. He uses a combination of verbal speech and AAC to communicate, depending on his communication partner and the context. Benjamin interviews Chris about evaluating students for AT, the importance of sharing AAC concepts with everyone at a young age, Benjamin’s lived experience as an AAC user, and more!...
2024-06-231h 46Talking With Tech AAC PodcastRachel Madel & Chris Bugaj: ATIA Recap 2024 (Part 2)This week, Rachel and Chris continue their discussion about the highlights and takeaways from ATIA 2024! They share some of their favorite presentations and poster sessions from Lauren Enders, Brenda Del Monte, Bruce Alter, Tina & Mateo Moreno, Karanveer Singh, EdTech, and more!
Key Ideas this Week:
🔑 The Joy Zabala Fellowship is an organization that supports early career professionals working with students with disabilities by connecting them with a seasoned mentor. The mentee and mentor work together to strengthen the skills of the mentee and, afterwards, to share what they learned with the large...
2024-02-1553 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRachel Madel & Chris Bugaj: ATIA 2024 Recap (Part 1)This week, we share Part 1 of Chris and Rachel’s recap of their recent trip to ATIA 2024! Chris and Rachel discuss a recent change to ATIA’s venue, share resources and takeaways from the conference, talk about what they covered in their own sessions, and more!
Key Ideas this week:
🔑 A lot of discussion at ATIA was about “Assistive Technology Myths and Facts” from the Office of Special Education Programs and the National Educational Technology Plan for 2024. They could be helpful as tools to demonstrate what you are sharing about AAC is supported b...
2024-02-0945 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastMcKinzee Steve, Danielle Welge, & Kendra Everette (Part 1): Providing District-Led 1:1 AAC Training to ParentsThis week, we share Part 1 of Chris’s interview with McKinzee Steve, Danielle (Dani) Welge, and Kendra Everette, three members of the AAC Team for a large school district in Texas! In this half of the interview, McKinzee, Dani, and Kendra share about two projects they have been working on lately: 1:1 caregiver training sessions for parents and caregivers (with the help of grad students), and an "AAC Book Club" literacy enrichment program for AAC users!
Before the interview, Rachel shares with Chris about one of her recent success stories with a client! Rachel talks this stud...
2023-11-0252 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastApril Wallace & Christina Stader - Specific Language System First Approach Q&AJoin Chris and Rachel for an Interactive Pre-Conference Session at ATIA 2024!
This week, we share Chris’s interview with April Wallace & Christina Stader! They are school-based SLPs and AAC Specialists with Aiken County Public Schools who are considering moving their district to a Specific Language System First Approach (SLSFA). They discuss the merit of pilot programs, whether starting with just preschool, research that supports the principles of the SLFSA, and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss a listener question about a high school student only hovers over words and refuse...
2023-10-191h 15Talking With Tech AAC PodcastJudith Schoonover (Part 1): Quickly Create AT Solutions From Common ObjectsThis week, Chris interviews Judith Schoonover, an occupational therapist who, along with Chris, was a founding member of the Loudoun County School District Assistive Technology Team. She shares about the importance of focusing on the specific needs of a student during assessment, not just their label; the consistent move of technology from special education to general education, her history as an AT “maker”, ideas for supporting maker groups in your area, and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel catch up about Rachel’s work during the summer with clients doing “intensives.”! Intensives in Rachel’s practice in...
2023-08-171h 01Talking With Tech AAC PodcastRecast: AAC Modeling RoundtableIn this “Recast” episode of Talking with Tech, we share a remastered episode that was previously aired on the podcast. This episode, Chris Bugaj, Rachel Madel, and Lucas Stuber have a roundtable discussion about the key components of aided language stimulation, i.e. modeling. This means that the the communication partner uses the same communication system as the AAC user to model communication exchanges.
Key ideas this week:
🔑 AAC is a visual language, and we can’t expect an AAC user to understand when and how to use AAC if they can’t watch...
2023-08-0938 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRecast: Chris Klein: The Importance of Motor PlanningIn this “Recast” episode of Talking with Tech, we share a remastered episode that was previously aired on the podcast. This episode includes Chris Bugaj’s interview with Chris Klein, a full time AAC user, disability advocate, and mentor. They discuss Chris Klein’s presentation at ATIA about motor planning and the “external lexicon” of AAC users.
Before the interview, Chris Bugaj, Rachel Madel, and Lucas Steuber discuss some of their thoughts about motor planning and what they have seen in their practice that supports the need for motor planning in robust AAC systems.
K...
2023-08-0337 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRecast: Shaun Pearson & Chris Chicoskikelly: The AAC AgreementsIn this “Recast” episode of Talking with Tech, we share a remastered episode that was previously aired on the podcast. This episode includes Chris Bugaj’s interview with Shaun Pearson and Chris Chichoskikelly about the AAC Agreements, a set of “better” practices around AAC that were crowd sourced from stakeholders in the area of AAC at the ATIA conference in 2016 and 2018. You can learn more about the AAC Agreements here!
Before the interview, Chris Bugaj, Rachel Madel, and Lucas Steuber discuss some of the key beliefs that they have around AAC and how they try and follow t...
2023-07-2758 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRecast: Core Words RoundtableIn this “Recast” episode of Talking with Tech, we share a remastered episode that was previously aired on the podcast. This episode is a “roundtable” discussion between previous co-host Lucas Steuber, Christopher Bugaj, and Rachel Madel. They discuss core words, a relatively small set of high-frequency words, often between 100-300, which make up 80% of what we say every day. Teaching core words to AAC users can give the biggest “bang for your buck” compared to teaching many nouns.
Key ideas this week:
🔑 Core words are versatile and can be used to express a wide ra...
2023-07-2047 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastJordyn Zimmerman: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in the Education SystemThis week, Chris and Rachel interview Jordyn Zimmerman, an autistic nonspeaking adult who was featured in the documentary “This is Not About Me.” This is Not About Me covers Jordyn’s journey trying to be included in school and to get access to robust AAC. Jordyn shares about the challenges with an education system that can segregate disabled students without giving them equal opportunities, the problems with “gatekeepers” withholding robust AAC from students, the impact of limiting beliefs, and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel connect with Michaela Ball, the Audio Engineer of Talking with Tech...
2023-06-3046 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRebecca Gettings: A Parent’s Journey Supporting AAC, Language, & LiteracyThis week, Rachel and Chris interview Rebecca Gettings, a parent of an AAC user in Arizona. Her son, Carter, has complex communication needs and uses eye tracking. Rachel shares about her journey from learning about AAC to supporting Carter’s literacy, as well as some of her AAC and inclusion advocacy in Yuma, Arizona.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss some ways that Rachel has used AI in her practice, including using the Canva AI image creator to create visuals and characters for an original story. Rachel also shares about a client family that has...
2023-06-241h 24Talking With Tech AAC PodcastSydney Elcan Birchfield: Assistive Technology Q&A with Chris BugajThis week, we share Chris’s interview with Sydney Elcan Birchfield, an OT Assistant working in the schools and a graduate student in Assistive Technology at George Mason University! Sydney interviews Chris about his career and approach to assistive technology, including what Chris’s focus on inclusive design, including more AT in the IEP, the need for AT considerations vs AT assessments, free AT professional learning resources, and more!
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris discuss one of Rachel’s clients who, prior to working with Rachel, was not making much progress using his AAC device...
2023-06-151h 12Talking With Tech AAC PodcastCoaching Call with Sarah Seiger: AAC at a Nonpublic/Nonprofit SchoolThis week, we share Chris’s coaching call with Sarah Seiger! Sarah is an SLP at a nonpublic/nonprofit school in Cleveland, OH that supports students with complex needs from multiple local school districts. Sarah is trying to develop more processes for her school’s efforts to get more students AAC, including questions about trialing, collaboration with teachers, modeling, and more!
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris have a lively chat about Rachel’s social media following, and why Rachel’s analytics indicate that posts supporting literacy for AAC users often do not get as much engag...
2023-06-071h 17Talking With Tech AAC PodcastSamantha Hagness & Becky Woolley (Part 2) - Strategies for Improving Communication Partner CoachingThis week, we present Part 2 of Chris interview with Samantha Hagness and Becky Woolley, two AT/AAC Specialists from the Mesa Public Schools, as they continue to explore integrating Grid for Education into classrooms along with TouchChat. In this episode, Chris inquires more about Samantha and Becky’s plans for modeling on TouchChat while Grid for Education is being used, as well as ideas for integrating video into communication partner coaching, benefits of prerecording trainings, and more!
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris have another in-person chat about a client of Rachel’s that was making...
2023-05-2540 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastLJ Seiff: 14-Year-Old AAC UserThis week, Chris and Rachel get the opportunity to interview the amazing LJ Seiff! LJ is a 14 year old boy with cerebral palsy and cortical visual impairment, which impact his ability to speak intelligibly. LJ shares about his AAC journey and some of the things that he wishes were done in the classroom more, like giving him more wait time to respond or asking multiple choice questions, since an AAC user can respond with a single press of “a” “b” or “c”.
Before the interview, Chris, Tucker, and Melissa Bugaj have a family discussion of Tucker’s rece...
2023-04-2142 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKristina Edie, Erica Sauer, Joy Mockbee, & Bernadette Wiley: Exploring the Specific Language System First Approach (Part 2)This week, we share Part 2 of Chris’s conversation with Kristina Edie (SLP), Erica Sauer (Director of Special Programs), Joy Mockbee (OT), and Bernadette Wiley (PT/AAC) with Hancock County Schools in West Virginia. They continue to talk with Chris about the Specific Language System First approach and how it might work for their district, including how to choose the “tier 1/2” device that you give every AAC user.
Before the interview, Rachel shares about working with a new client who has had some difficulty with implementation over the last 5 years with other therapists. Her client’s school...
2023-04-1453 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKristina Edie, Erica Sauer, Joy Mockbee, & Bernadette Wiley: Exploring the Specific Language System First Approach (Part 1)This week, we share Part 1 of Chris’s conversation with Kristina Edie (SLP), Erica Sauer (Director of Special Programs), Joy Mockbee (OT), and Bernadette Wiley (PT/AAC) with Hancock County Schools in West Virginia. They talk about the AAC journey their district has gone on that led them to asking Chris to help them understand the Specific Language System First approach and how it might work for them.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel talk about an email that Rachel sent to her email list about using slang with AAC that was offensive to a rea...
2023-04-0749 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastBruce Alter: Pros and Cons of Allowing AI in SchoolsIn this episode of Talking with Tech, Chris interviews Bruce Alter, a pediatric Physical Therapist and AT Consultant with the Tigard-Tualatin School District in Oregon. Bruce has a long history working with technology, including as a user; he was an early adopter of assistive technology in school to support his challenges with dyslexia. Bruce and Chris’s discussion focuses on artificial intelligince (AI) like Open AI's Chat GPT, including some of the uses it can have in the schools and some applications for AAC users in general.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel get together with...
2023-04-031h 10Talking With Tech AAC PodcastTakeaways from ATIA 2023This week on Talking with Tech, Chris and Rachel discuss some of their takeaways from the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference 2023. For those not familiar, ATIA holds a conference in Florida each year that focuses on assistive technology. Chris has attended and presented at ATIA for years, and Rachel has presented each of the last two years. Chris and Rachel touch on many of the topics they talked about with AAC users, including compensation for AAC Ambassadors, the need for more AAC users in AAC companies, ways that artificial intelligence can impact AAC, and more!
K...
2023-03-1656 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastChris Bugaj: Accessibility and Inclusion at Disney WorldThis week, Chris and Rachel forgo the normal interview format to discuss some of the many thoughts that Chris put together during his recent trip to Disney World, including the need for training Disney Castmembers about ablest language, the need for sensory safe experiences on loud rides, using google images to translate foreign languages, and more!
🔑 Chris discusses the “spoon theory” from a blog post by Christine Miserandino, including the idea that some people don’t have unlimited energy for medical reasons and have to make choices about what they do next. For some of our student...
2023-02-1640 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastBrian Schobel - Supporting Assistive Technology During the Transition to EmploymentThis week, we present Chris’s interview with Brian Schobel, a District Resource Teacher for Transition in Albuquerque, NM. Brian has worked for years supporting transition and employment for people with special needs. Brian reached out to interview Chris about inclusion and how technology can help students of different abilities gain meaningful employment. During the interview, Brian and Chris discuss assistive technology tools that can be used to support students as they transition to employment, as well as areas where we can improve in our support. Brian also shares about using Read & Write by TextHelp himself at work, and wh...
2023-01-041h 13Talking With Tech AAC PodcastChris Klein and Lance McLemore: Creating an AAC-User-Led Conference & NonprofitThis week, Chris and Rachel have asked the amazing Chris Klein and Lance McLemore to “take over” the Talking with Tech podcast! Chris and Lance are experienced AAC users and board members of the nonprofit, ImpAACt Voices (https://www.impaactvoices.org/). Lance and Chris share some of the goals and objectives for ImpAACt Voices, and also relate some of their takeaways from the recent First Annual ImpAACt Voices conference, which focused on helping adult AAC users finding employment and educating the business world at large about AAC!
Key ideas this week:
🔑 ImpAACt V...
2022-12-1421 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastBecca Eisenberg: Using Video Modeling to Teach AAC Communication SkillsThis week on TWT, Rachel interviews SLP and AAC Specialist Becca Eisenberg about her work with older AAC users, including why she created her own YouTube Channel for video modeling called Life Skills to Learn! Becca shares ideas for motivating AAC users, including giving AAC users the freedom to direct therapy in new, more directions that are more interesting to the AAC user.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel talk about one of Rachel’s older students who is still frequently using the word “potty” to ask to use the bathroom. The AAC user’s therapist...
2022-11-2754 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKim Hurley & Jessica Conrad (Part 2): Involving Stakeholders in the Selection of a Tier 1 AAC SystemThis week, we present Part 2 of Chris’s conversation with Kim Hurley and Jessica Conrad about the Specific Language System First Approach! Kim Hurley is an SLP and AAC Specialist who is considering moving her district to the Specific Language System First Approach. Jessica Conrad is an SLP and AAC Specialist who works for the Indiana PATINS project supporting AAC users and their circle of support. In Part 2, Chris, Kim, and Jessica continue to breakdown some of Kim and Jessica’s concerns with implementing the Specific Language System Approach, including failing to notice when a student needs a more indi...
2022-08-1753 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastVicki Haddix & Janine Peca (Part 2): A Neuroaffirming Approach to Overstimulation and Sensory NeedsThis week, we share Part 2 of Rachel's interview with Vicki Haddix and Janine Peca! Vicki Haddix is an AAC Specialist and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Memphis who teaches their course on AAC for the Communication Sciences and Disorders program. Janine Peca is an autistic adult who recently went through Memphis’s CSD program and is now an SLP. Janice shares about a recent presentation she made about neuroaffirming practices, including a fascinating portion on what it feels like to be overstimulated. Vicki shares about how she improved her class design by giving choices to students whenever po...
2022-08-0341 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastStacy Maijala - Streamlining AAC Evaluations with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)This week, Chris interviews Stacey Maijala, an SLP who recently started a new AT Specialist position in Michigan that supports 13 school districts and five transition programs. Stacey had lots of questions for Chris about creating a lending library for technology, providing AT and AAC to everyone through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), informing teachers about Tier 1 resources (i.e. resources available to everyone without the need for an evaluation or special education eligibility), and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss a patreon users question - is it OK to choose one particular AAC s...
2022-03-231h 10Talking With Tech AAC PodcastKey Takeaways from ATIA 2022 (Part 1)This week, Chris and Rachel discuss their recent trip to ATIA 2022 and some of their favorite takeaways. Rachel shares about being a ATIA first timer and how much she enjoyed learning from sessions with previous podcast guests Chris Klein, India Ochs, and Lance McLemore. Chris shares about his session learning about preparing people for transitioning out of school and into the workforce using the VOISS virtual reality app, as well as the tribute to Joy Zabala. Rachel and Chris also talk about a topic that got a lot of buzz at ATIA this year, “gestalt language processing”. For more on t...
2022-02-1727 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastJenifer Eaton & Marya Haff (Part 2): Collaborating Effectively with ABA ProvidersThis week, we present Part 2 of Rachel’s interview Jenifer Eaton & Marya Hoff, two BCBAs who own Rooted in Play (rootedinplay.co), an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practice in Orange County, California. This week, Rachel, Jenifer, and Marya discuss dealing with rigid ABA therapists, why Jenifer and Marya’s ABA practice is different than some older methods, their thoughts on anti-ABA sentiments from some Autistic adults, and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss the recent release of the Matrix Revolutions movie, and some of the things from the movie that reminded Chris of AAC im...
2022-01-2654 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastJenifer Eaton & Marya Haff (Part 1): Collaborating Effectively with ABA ProvidersThis week, Rachel interviews Jenifer Eaton & Marya Hoff, two BCBAs who own Rooted in Play, an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practice in Orange County, California. Rachel shares about her experiences working with Jenifer and Marya to support one of her students, and why Rachel felt Jenifer and Marya were great examples of ABA and and SLP working together effectively to support language development and spontaneous utterance generation.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel talk about their upcoming pre-conference at ATIA (find out more at) and some of the things that Chris is excited for at t...
2022-01-1940 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastTools, Strategies, and Takeaways from ASHA 2021This week, Rachel and Chris discuss their recent trip to ASHA 2021 and some of their favorite takeaways that they will be using in their own practice, including why its better to present on a fewer number of tools with more information on how to use them, why you have to be both interesting and informative when presenting, how to make sessions more engaging so people will show up, and more!
Sessions Discussed this Week:
Shaun Sweeney - Play on Words: Thoughtful Uses of “Game-Based” Apps and Resources in Language-Based Interventions. Sean discus...
2021-12-0839 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRachel Dorsey: Taking a Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to TherapyThis week, Rachel interviews Rachel Dorsey, the amazing "Autistic SLP" who runs a private practice and teaches courses on Neurodiversity and Goal Writing. Rachel shares her perspective on neurodiversity, how to help shift the perspectives of others to better affirm neurodiversity, the importance of co-regulation for Autistic people, and more!
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris sit down with Melissa Bugaj and Sara Gregory to have a quick roundtable banter about gestalt language processing (e.g. scripting) vs analytical language processing, and ways that all people may use both methods to learn language.
...
2021-12-021h 03Talking With Tech AAC PodcastCoaching Call with Anya Ashouri - Part 2: Focusing on AAC Strategies, Not Just ToolsThis week, the TWT team presents Part 2 of Chris and Rachel’s coaching call with Anya Ashouri, an SLP and AT Specialist for a Non-Public School. In this half of the coaching call, Chris, Rachel, and Anya discuss how to decide what the next AT strategy to work on with students will be, the benefits of providing visual supports to everyone all over the school, how to monitor the quality of implementation in the classroom, and how to get students more excited about the writing and editing process.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss a qu...
2021-10-2050 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastAnu Garla: Benefits of AAC Coaching and Intensive Language InterventionsThis week, Rachel interviews Anu Garla, a mother of Oliver, a boy with autism and cortical visual impairment who uses AAC to communicate. Anu describes her journey getting a diagnosis, how she started working with Rachel, why coaching with Rachel really jump started progress for her son, and advice that she has for other parents who are starting on an AAC journey (e.g. little “homework” assignments for parents can help).
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss a recent presentation that Rachel did that she almost missed due to clerical error from one of her s...
2021-10-071h 08Talking With Tech AAC PodcastTWT Live: Closing the Gap - Part 2This week, the TWT team presents part 2 of Talking with Tech Live: Closing the Gap! This week, Rachel and Chris discuss several topics with the audience, including personal core /key vocabulary, the importance of literacy, and overcoming barriers to high-tech AAC in school districts.
If you would like to listen to Part 1 of this presentation, you can listen at talkingwithtech.org/episodes/twt-live-ctg-1
Before Part 2, Rachel and Chris discuss PECS in greater detail, including why motor planning is so important when comparing PECS to other AAC options, the consensus among experts tha...
2021-09-1053 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastTWT Live: Closing The Gap - Part 1This week, we share Chris and Rachel’s presentation from last year’s Closing the Gap called “Brainstorming Solutions to Real-Life AAC Questions”. During this week’s Part 1 episode, Chris and Rachel share about evaluating evidence-based practices, when to consider “verbal” clients for AAC, how to determine when someone is ready for AAC, and more!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss ABA therapy and why working with ABA therapists can be very helpful in some cases, but difficult in others. Rachel shares about working with an ABA team that refuses to follow suggestions about working with he...
2021-09-0145 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastMegan Roberts: Research Supporting Parent-Implemented InterventionsThis week, Rachel interviews Megan Roberts, an Associate Professor and SLP at Northwestern University. Megan started the Early Intervention Research Group, where she researches early parent-implemented interventions for children with hearing loss, autism, and developmental language disorders. Megan has lots to share about her research behind parent-implemented interventions, early behaviors that are a predictors of autism, and how to approach conversations with parents about their child's possible autistic-like behaviors.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss a listener’s email about a difficult situation with an administrator. When the listener requested a high-tech AAC device for...
2021-08-2542 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastMark Nichols: Supporting AT and Universal Design in Higher EducationThis week, Chris interviews his long-time colleague, Mark Nichols, an AAC/AT Specialist who is the Senior Director of Universal Design and Accessible Technologies at Virginia Tech. Chris and Mark talk about the differences and similarities between higher education and K-12 for universal design and AT, the types of technologies that are often very useful in higher education, how to determine how much a university supports inclusion and assistive technology, and more!
Before the interview, Chris shares memories and thoughts about the late, great Joy Zabala with his wife, Melissa Bugaj. They talk about the im...
2021-07-0758 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastMeryl Schnapp & Mark N. Brown: Becoming a District-Wide AAC Implementation CoachThis week, Chris interviews Meryl Schnapp & Mark N. Brown, AAC Implementation Coaches with Chicago Public Schools. They discuss how the position of AAC Coach was created in their district, why it is so helpful having coaching as a separate position in a school district, what they have learned from instructional coaching research, and more!
Before the interview, Chris talks with Rachel about participating in the recent Greatest International Scavenger Hunt (GISH) mini-hunt. Chris shares some of the unique activities Chris and his family did on their GISH hunt. Chris and Rachel discuss ways that these types o...
2021-06-2359 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastJulia James - Improving Special Ed Online InstructionThis week, Chris sits down with Julia James to talk about ideas for improving online instruction for students in special education. Julia supports online students as part of a special ed support team for her school district, and she called Chris to ask his thoughts on improving online education with technology.
Before the interview, Chris talks with Rachel about the film Crip Camp. Campers who went to this camp after Woodstock went on to be leaders in the civil rights movement for people with disabilities. Chris talks about how he was inspired by what people d...
2021-03-101h 09Talking With Tech AAC PodcastChris Sawka: AAC User & USSAAC Committee MemberThis week, we interview AAC user, USSAAC Membership Committee member, artist, and TWT superfan Chris Sawka! Chris provides great insights into some of the challenges and victories he has had as a full-time AAC user, how he socializes with other AAC users, playing sports on a paraolympic team, and more!
Before the interview, Chris talks about the ATIA presentation by Kevin Williams, who won the Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecturer award. Chris notes that Kevin said he continues to use multiple AAC tools to communicate depending upon what is right for that moment. Chris and Rachel d...
2021-02-1830 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastLydia Dawley: AAC User, CEO, and Co-Creator of the NadPen StylusThis week, TWT presents Rachel’s interview with Lydia Dawley, the CEO of the Click, Speak, Connect, and co-creator of the NadPen, an amazing stylus device that is easy to grip and use, especially for people with motor challenges. Lydia has mixed cerebral palsy and is a fantastic AAC user - you won’t want to miss her perspective on involving AAC users in decisions, choosing AAC vocabulary, incorporating peers as communication partners, and more!
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris discuss Rachel’s recent “intensive” 2-week coaching & therapy experience with an AAC user and his circle o...
2021-02-1047 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastTWT Live: Access to Education Conference - Part 2This week, we share Part 2 of the TWT Live from the Access to Education Conference with Chris and Rachel! In this TWT Live, there are lots of useful tips and tricks, including ideas for motivating communication partners to model AAC!
Before the live session, Chris shares about working with a computer science supervisor in his school district to combine AAC with computer science in the classroom. Chris describes how they trained the instructional facilitators who work with teachers to teach core words and block coding together. Chris and Rachel discuss the importance of enthusiasm and wh...
2021-01-2140 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastCoaching Call w/ Michaela Ball: Supporting a Severely Apraxic Emergent Communicator (Part 2)This week, we continue with part 2 of Chris and Rachel’s coaching call with TWT’s Audio Engineer & SLP grad student, Michaela Ball! Michaela continues to discuss her severely apraxic student who is a multi-modal communicator with Rachel and Chris. They continue to explore the importance of picking a larger iPad when possible, ways to promote direct selection skills, choosing motivating vocabulary to start with, and how to train staff and communication partners.
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss the “Pygmalion effect” and the ways that belief in someone can promote greater performance from that pers...
2020-12-1649 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastCoaching Call w/ Michaela Ball: Supporting a Severely Apraxic Emergent CommunicatorThis week, we share a coaching call between Chris, Rachel, and our amazing Audio Engineer & SLP grad student, Michael Ball! Michaela asks the TWT team about a severely apraxic student she is working with who is a multi-modal communicator. With limited therapy time with this student, should Michaela focus more of her time on implementing a device, using sign language, or promoting verbal speech? How can she promote AAC best during the school day?
Before the interview, Rachel shares with Chris about a another apraxic student she recently consulted with. Rachel talks about her approach t...
2020-12-0943 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastSmall Talks 4: Candice Steel, Chris Ramirez, Monique Madrid, Sarah Gregory, and TJ HaleyThis week, TWT presents four more short interviews, aka "small talks", covering a variety of topics related to AAC and Assistive Technology!
Before the interviews, Rachel talks about a contentious IEP she recently attended for a student she consults with. Rachel had some ideas about supporting literacy that she shared with the team, but the team was resistant to Rachel’s input as an SLP and didn’t seem interested in changing any goals. Chris shares about a situation early in his career where he was told SLPs “don’t do reading” - but those same people...
2020-12-0354 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastTalking with Tech LIVE from New Jersey - Part 1This week, we share Part 1 of a “crowd sourced” episode recorded as a webinar with listener feedback we call “Talking with Tech Live”! To start, Chris and Rachel cover some AAC core concepts, like criteria for evidence-based practice, signs a child needs AAC, avoiding “quick fire” phrases, and 80/20 ratio for core words. Then, Rachel and Chris, together with listeners, discuss some effective coaching strategies when working with AAC users via telepractice! Stay tuned next week for more listener questions & participation in Part 2!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel talk about connecting with people who share similar geneti...
2020-11-111h 01Talking With Tech AAC PodcastCuyahoga AAC Podcast Social Group: Benefits of a District-Wide AAC/AT Social GroupThis week, TWT presents Rachel and Chris’s meet-up with an AAC social group of SLPs and AT specialists in Cuyahoga county in Ohio! Their AAC podcast & research group sets aside time every month to listen and discuss a TWT podcast episode or journal article via Zoom. Rachel and Chris dropped by to connect with them and learn about how they have used the podcast to further AAC in their district. The social group talks about how they formed their group, how Zoom has helped make getting together easier, how helpful learning about AT can be for SLPs, and cre...
2020-11-041h 27Talking With Tech AAC PodcastStephen Kneece: Making Core Word & Speech Therapy Music VideosThis week, TWT presents Chris’s interview with SLP, AT Specialist, and founder of Speech and Language Songs, Stephen Kneece! During the interview, Chris and Stephen discuss his work as a professor teaching AAC, as President-Elect of SCSHA, and how he founded a Youtube channel playing his original songs, including many songs targeting core words.
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris talk about how they are promoting AAC during AAC Awareness Month. Check out Chris’s Inclusive Technology Spotlight here: http://bit.ly/lcpsaac. Rachel also shares about the new packet of resources she created to hel...
2020-10-2253 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastLauren Kravetz Bonnet & Brittany Thomas: Short-Term, High-Intensity AAC Intervention in the SchoolsThis week on TWT, we share Chris’s interview with Lauren Kravetz Bonnet, an SLP & AT Specialist, and Brittany Thomas, who is also an SLP. Lauren and Brittany talk about their school-based communication program to support students with complex communication needs. This program is a short-term (i.e., less than two years), high-intensity intervention to teach young students to use their device more effectively. It is not a self-contained program; students get their support in an integrated, general education setting with in-class speech support for a large portion of the day. Lauren and Brittany share about their success with th...
2020-09-161h 16Talking With Tech AAC PodcastAlison Bono: Transitioning from Low Tech to High Tech AACThis week, TWT shares Rachel and Chris’s coaching call with Alison Bono! Alison is an SLP who reached out to Rachel and Chris for help working with a young student with complex communication needs. On the call, Rachel and Chris explore moving from low-tech to high-tech supports, getting teachers on board with a core language approach, integrating core words into routines, motivating the circle of support, and more!
Before the coaching session, Rachel and Chris dive into Rachel’s latest “intensive” approach to supporting clients. During this approach, Rachel had observation and coaching sessions at least o...
2020-09-091h 08Talking With Tech AAC PodcastChris Ellis: Improving Hearing With the Audio Cardio AppThis week, Rachel interviews Chris Ellis of Audio Cardio, an app designed to help strengthen hearing. They discuss how the app uses threshold sound conditioning (TSC) and barely audible sound to stimulate the cells in the ear, and the results of research studies suggesting TSC can improve hearing thresholds.
TWT listeners can get a free 30 day trial of Audio Cardio by going to audiocardio.com and using the code AAC3XS
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel talk about intersection of hearing and AAC. Rachel shares about an AAC user who had...
2020-07-0241 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastGemma White: Fostering a Growth Mindset With Core WordsThis week, Rachel interviews Gemma White, an SLP who owns a private practice specializing in AAC and feeding support. Gemma and Rachel discuss a “growth mindset” and why mindset is important for everyone, including people with complex communication needs.
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris play a game where Rachel decides on which words she would use to communicate with fictional “veggie” creatures! Then, Rachel and Chris discuss resources for learning about state license reciprocity and how Chris teaches growth mindset to his kids.
Key ideas this week:
🔑 The idea...
2020-06-2445 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastJane Odom: Takeaways from the Future of Ed Tech ConferenceWe need your help to keep Talking with Tech going strong! If you are a loyal listener, please support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech.
This week, Chris and Rachel talk about Chris’s takeaways from the Future of Education Technology conference, a place for teachers, coaches, and administrations can learn about ed tech, including using tech to increase inclusion.
🔑 E-sports was a big topic of discussion at FETC. E-sports allow for more inclusion because students who cannot participate in traditional sports can still play video games. Students can collaborate and interact i...
2020-01-2943 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastInterviews from ASHA 2019 - Part 4We need your help to keep Talking with Tech going strong! If you are a loyal listener, please support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech.
TWT presents the last, but not least, collection of interviews by Rachel recorded at ASHA 2019! Before the interviews, Rachel and Chris talk about some gems from Chris’s upcoming presentations at FETC about inclusive design, flexible learning spaces, and teaching through coding with robots. They also chat about ATIA, where Chris will be doing a pre-conference on writing, an “AT Feud” Family Feud style game, an assistive technology strategy “smackdown” session, and more! Afte...
2020-01-0846 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastInterviews from ASHA 2019 - Part 3We need your help to keep Talking with Tech going strong! If you are a loyal listener, please support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech.
This week, the TWT team is proud to present Part 3 of Rachel’s interviews from ASHA 2019! Before the interviews, Rachel chats with Chris about doing a live podcast interview with Jennie Bjorem, speaking on a panel about podcasting and ethics, and her presentation on apps and autism! Don’t miss the discussion of Pepi Bath 2 😆!
After that:
🔑 Erik Raj stops by the booth to talk about infusing tec...
2019-12-1841 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastInterviews from ASHA 2019 - Part 2We need your help to keep Talking with Tech going strong! If you are a loyal listener, please support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech.
This week, the TWT team is proud to present more of Rachel’s interviews from ASHA 2019! Before the interviews, Rachel chats with Chris about meeting all of the TWT fans at ASHA, how great it was to be part of something that is helping others, and talking with AAC user Hannah Foley. After that, we hear from:
🔑 Adriana Lavi - Dr. Lavi is the author of the Clinical Assessm...
2019-12-1144 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastInterviews from ASHA 2019 - Part 1We need your help to keep Talking with Tech going strong! If you are a loyal listener, please support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech.
This week, the TWT team is proud to present Rachel’s interviews from ASHA 2019! Before the interviews, Rachel brings on her #1 fan, Mama Madel, to chat with her and Chris! After that, we hear from:
🔑 Lynsey Lobdell and Brie Norton discuss their presentation about four foundational components to ensure authentic communication across all environments: 1) Improved team communication to promote a collaborative environment; 2) training; 3) support; and 4) culture.
🔑...
2019-12-041h 05Talking With Tech AAC PodcastDavid Tobin: Using Audio-Based, Wordless Stories to Generate Language & Foster CreativityWe need your help to keep Talking with Tech going strong! If you are a loyal listener, please support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech.
This week, the TWT team is pleased to share Rachel’s interview with David Tobin, former TV producer and CEO of Audiojack! First, Chris and Rachel discuss how they have gone almost 2 years making the podcast, and haven’t yet met in person (but almost did last week). Chris and Rachel also connect about using audio as a tool in therapy, and the importance of being able to visualize and use our imag...
2019-10-1640 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastProductivity “Hacks” to Improve Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Collaboration - Part 3This week, the TWT team presents their third “Productivity Hacks” episode! This episode covers additional “hacks” that Rachel and Chris were not able to get to during their AAC in the Cloud presentation, including Slack, Trello, Voxer, ITT, Doodle, and more!
Key ideas this week include:
🔑 Using Slack to coordinate and organize messages between groups of people, such as an IEP team.
🔑 Rachel is “obsessed” with Voxer, a walkie-talkie app for team communication that allows sharing of short voice and video messages.
🔑 Doodle makes scheduling easier for meetings by highlighting...
2019-08-2736 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastStephanie Pitts & Rachel Kapp: Strategies for Supporting Academics & Executive FunctioningThis 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 how they learn and strategies they can use to learn better and improve executive functioning.
🔑 No child is actually "lazy" - it is often about meeting learners where they are.
🔑 How to help early communicators improve bo...
2019-06-1958 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastFacebook Live with Matt Hott: ASHA's AAC Clinical Specialty Certification (Part 2)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 ideas about possible “microcredentials” that demonstrate expertise in particular sub-specialty areas, like eye gaze devices, least-to-most prompting, etc. Rachel notes that the Speciality Certification would expose those seeking certification to the latest evidence and best practices for...
2019-04-1635 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastFacebook Live with Matt Hott: ASHA's AAC Clinical Specialty Certification (Part 1)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, and how a Specialty Certification could impact private practices working with AAC. Rachel and Chris also touch on concerns about insurance payments, the need for more a collaborative approach to assessment, questions about who should be considered an “AAC Specialist”, and more!
2019-04-0939 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastLance McLemore: Learning to Become a Proficient AAC UserIn 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 increase wait time, how AAC devices are helping users to demonstrate competencies for alternative assessment, and how a student self-regulated his behavior by protesting on a device.
Following this discussion, Chris interviews PRC Ambassador and...
2019-03-2659 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastMo Buti: Tips for Writing IEPs and Working With IEP TeamsThis 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 shares about her experiences with IEP meetings, and why, whenever possible, Rachel tries to talk with a student during an IEP meeting rather than about him or her.
Following this discussion, Chri...
2019-03-2052 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKelly Fonner: All About PODD (Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display)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 organized according to pragmatic functions. This type of system is particularly useful for children with limited access or those who might benefit from partner-assisted communication.
Links:
...
2019-02-2048 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastCarly Hynes: AAC Implementation Ideas for the ClassroomThis 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 and Rachel also mention a future “Listener Questions Answered” episode and ask listeners to send in their questions and comments and how to start earning CEU’s for listening to “Talking with Tech” podcast at bit.ly/twtcorepd.
On this...
2019-02-061h 01Talking With Tech AAC PodcastJason Lehmbeck: Co-Founder of Special X & Parent of Child with CCNInterested 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 different possible solutions. The TWT team discusses therapist and educator transitions that happen when a student progresses through their education, and how parents can help maintain effective services during and after these changes. Chris mentions several eas...
2019-01-3054 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRussell Cross of PRC: How Combining Core Words Into "Phrasal Verbs" Can Boost Your Client's VocabularyThis 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 essentially combinations of verbs with small words that, in combination, mean something new (e.g., "get up," means something very different than "get"). Chris and Rachel discuss how a "core...
2019-01-161h 09Talking With Tech AAC PodcastWhy Presuming Potential Matters + Interviews from ASHA with Bill Binko, Cindy Halloran, Heidi LoStracco, Sarah Wilds, and Brian WhitmerThis 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 Rachel go on to share some of their concerns about this article being misused by some clinicians to defend their role as "gatekeeper." If not read carefully, the article seems to advocate a process where clinicians decide who is, and wh...
2019-01-0852 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastLive from ASHA Ep. 2: Jenna Rayburn Kirk, Marlene Cummings & Matt HottThe TWT team is excited to bring you more interviews from ASHA - this week from Jenna Rayburn Kirk of Speech Room News, Marlene Cummings, and Matt Hott of the SpeechScience Podcast!
Before the interviews, you won’t want to miss Rachel and Chris’s discussion of coordination between school and private SLPs! What happens if there is disagreement about the best AAC solution? Why do we need to communicate and come to agreement about this? How can we collaborate more effectively? How can even parents be a roadblock to collaboration? Rachel and Chris cover solutions you can...
2018-12-1156 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastAdrienne: Using Sign Language & AAC to Support LanguageThis week, TWT interviews Adrienne of “Learn with Adrienne”, an SLP who specializes in early intervention. Through online videos, she has taught thousands of people how to use sign language to support a child’s language development. She and Rachel discuss several topics, including how sign language and high-tech AAC can be used as part of a multi-modal approach!
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel talk about motivation and why it is such an important part of any intervention. Rachel shares a personal story about a difficult conversation she had with a peer, and why it is im...
2018-11-201h 05Talking With Tech AAC PodcastJenna Rayburn Kirk: Founder of Speech Room News & Popular TPT ContributorThis week, TWT interviews Jenna Rayburn Kirk, the ultra-creative school-based SLP, blogger, and TPT contributor! Jenna shares about how she got started creating resources, the kinds of AAC resources and materials that she thinks are effective, and how she continues to try and create resources that people really need! Before the interview, Chris and Rachel discuss their own experiences with making materials and, in Rachel’s case, why she recently decided to create a Teachers Pay Teachers page. Rachel and Chris also talk about some apps that they have used recently in therapy, including Choice Works and AR Dragon. Fi...
2018-11-141h 04Talking With Tech AAC PodcastRebecca Moles: How AAC Can Help Prevent Abuse and Neglect
This week, the Talking with Tech team is joined by Dr. Rebecca Moles, a pediatrician who specializes in child abuse, to discuss how we can recognize and prevent the abuse and neglect of people with complex communication needs (CCN). Before the interview, Rachel, Lucas, and Chris connect to talk about some of their experiences with families dealing with abuse and how core vocabulary has been used in some cases to report neglect. The team concludes with a discussion of what we can do to prepare people with CCN to report abuse when it happens, including teaching the word “hurt”, teac...
2018-10-1758 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastJulie Freed: How to Identify Key Tools for Dynamic Assessment with the APTTalking with Tech is joined this week by Julie Freed, an SLP and school-based AAC specialist who helped create the AAC Planning Tool (APT)! Before the interview, Rachel and Chris discuss two communication assessments, the Continuum of Language Expression (COLE) and the Dynamic AAC Goals Grid (DAGG-2). Chris discusses his role in the creation of the COLE, what they considered when making it, and how it can be helpful when assessing emergent communicators. Rachel follows this with a discussion of the DAGG-2 and how it is similar to, and different from, the Communication Matrix. Rachel and Chris also chat...
2018-10-0351 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastEleanor Francis: Creating a Video Modeling “TV Show” and Other Insights from AustraliaThe Talking with Tech team is joined this week by speech-language pathologist and AAC specialist Eleanor Francis to talk about AAC in Australia, literacy, video modeling, and more! Before the interview, Rachel and Chris mark the beginning of the school year with a discussion of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings. Rachel and Chris chat how they maintain a good relationship with the entire IEP team, how to show the team their views are important, and ways to promote collaboration. Rachel and Chris then briefly touch on wording they try to avoid when writing reports (e.g., do we really...
2018-09-2651 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastCalum Hartley: Why Do Some Children Have Difficulty Understanding Pictures?Rachel, Lucas, and Chris are joined this week by Dr. Calum Hartley, Professor of Psychology at Lancaster University. Dr. Hartley’s research focuses on why some young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and complex communication needs may have a difficult time learning the meaning of pictures (e.g., icons, drawings, photographs). One reason a child with ASD may understand one picture over another is its “iconicity,” or how closely the picture resembles its referent (i.e., what the picture is intended to look like). Rachel, Lucas, and Chris open the episode by discussing why iconicity is important to AAC and...
2018-07-2459 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastTabi Jones-Wohleber: Supporting Communication Partners in the ClassroomIn this episode, Rachel, Lucas, and Chris first discuss the work/life balance for SLPs, including the integration of social media into our professional lives and the need for balancing career growth vs. personal time when pursuing work-related interests.
Then, Chris is joined by school-based AAC Specialist Tabi Jones-Wohleber! Tabi is creator of “Model as a MASTER PAL”, a training series that emphasizes the importance of environment and the communication partner’s responsibility to model. Tabi shares about coaching others to be an effective communication partner, the need to create more naturalistic communication opportunities, and why it is im...
2018-07-1758 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastRachael Langley: AAC Specialist, Educator, and Conference Co-FounderIn this week’s episode, Rachel, Lucas, and Chris are joined by Rachael Langley, AAC specialist, educator, and co-founder of the #TalkingAAC Conference. Rachael Langley is also a well known resource for AAC information on Facebook (@RachaelLangleyAAC). Rachael discusses her experience co-founding a successful conference, shares about working as an AAC specialist in the schools, and speaks about her experience using social media and online groups to spread the word about AAC implementation!
Questions addressed this episode include: Why is it important to start conversations about AAC with others? What is one of the biggest roadblocks to workin...
2018-07-1046 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastCarole Zangari: AAC Educator and Co-Founder of Praactical AACRachel, Lucas, and Chris are joined this week by the amazing Carole Zangari! Dr. Zangari, co-founder of the Praactical AAC website and professor of speech-language pathology at Nova Southeastern University, shares some of her ideas about improving the experience for pre-service (i.e., unpaid and new to the field) teachers and SLPs who work with AAC users. The team also discusses the need for greater funding for AAC research, ways that people can get involved in AAC education, and the importance of implementation science. Carole then shares about her journey building Praactical AAC (praacticalaac.com) into one of the most well-known...
2018-07-0352 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastGideon Grossman: Inventor of NoisybandsThis week Rachel, Lucas, and Chris talk about their upcoming presentations on autism, AAC, education, and, yes, escape rooms at AAC in the Cloud and the Assistive Technology Industry Association. Then, Rachel and Lucas sit down with Gideon Grossman, engineer and inventor of Noisybands, a talking bracelet that is activitated by a high five! Gideon discusses his device, how they could be used in play and therapy, and his plans for developing them into an assistive technology device in the near future.
After earning a mechanical engineering degree with Honors from Princeton University, Gideon has worked as a me...
2018-06-1931 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastEric Sanders: How do we Support Reading and Writing Skills with AAC?This week, Rachel, Lucas, and Chris are joined by Dr. Eric Sanders for a roundtable discussion of how we can help augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users develop reading and writing (i.e., literacy) skills. Topics addressed include: Should we support AAC users in their development of reading and writing skills? What is the role of story time and shared reading in emerging literacy? What kinds of activities and goals encourage the development of reading fluency? How can we support a comprehensive reading approach for children who use AAC?
Eric Sanders, PhD, CCC-SLP is an AAC specialist and professor a...
2018-06-1237 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastChris Klein: Why Does Motor Planning Matter in AAC?This week, Rachel, Lucas, and Chris discuss the implications of motor planning in instruction and use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, including: Why motor planning is important, when to start considering a child’s motor plan, and practical ways to incorporate motor planning into your practice. Then Chris Bugaj is joined by Chris Klein, an educator, mentor, past president of the United States Society of Augmentative Alternative Communication (USSAAC), and founder of Building Connections with Others through Mentoring and Education about AAC (BeCOME AAC). Mr. Klein, an AAC user himself, is a voice for AAC users and individuals with di...
2018-06-0540 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastLauren Enders: AAC Implementation and Consultation in the SchoolsIn this episode the incomparable Lauren Enders, SLP and AAC specialist, joins Talking With Tech's Lucas Steuber and Chris Bugaj to talk practical tips for implementation and consultation in the schools. Meanwhile, Lucas and Rachel discuss some of the resources Lauren has created, including the "dos and dont's" of AAC instruction. Thanks so much for listening! For more on Lauren check out her frequent submissions to PrAACtical AAC as well as prolific posts on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
If you like what we do, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes! We a...
2018-03-2642 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastMark Barlet: Making Video Games Accessible to AllIn this episode Rachel Madel and Chris Bugaj (and later just Chris) take over the episode to talk about accessible gaming! We welcome Mark Barlet of AbleGamers to talk about their work in making recreation available to everyone. Like what we do at Talking With Tech? Make sure to subscribe and rate on iTunes - and check out Chris's new book coming out soon: http://bit.ly/thenewatforall
Interview Notes:
Chris explain how he met Mark Barlet
Mark discusses what Ablegamers is all about
Mark talks about using videos games to escape
Video games as a s...
2018-03-2129 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKevin Chaja: Using Augmented Reality to Teach Social SkillsIn this episode Talking with Tech's Rachel Madel interviews Kevin Chaja of Color Black's Moment AR app to discuss brand new app that helps children with autism learn social skills. Also discussed: Clinical applications for augmented reality and the future of AR/VR in education.
Name: Kevin Chaja
E-mail: kevin@colorblack.tv
Website: www.colorblackmoment.com
twitter: @el_chakka
instagram: @madcatprimus
facebook: @kevin.chaja
Merge VR Cube: https://mergevr.com/
Developer: Chicken Waffle http://www.chicken-waffle.com/
App on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moment-ar/id1262045402?mt=8
2018-02-2331 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKathy Howery and the Lived Experience of Speaking Through a DeviceKathy Howery joins Chris Bugaj to discuss her research on the lived experience of AAC users. Afterward, the team comes back together to talk about the importance of human identity - and humor - in language use.
Thanks for listening! As always, contact us at tech@speechscience.org with any feedback and make sure to subscribe and share with your friends! If you'd like to support our work, we always appreciate any gesture via Patreon.
2018-01-2647 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKaren Owens of We Speak PODDKaren Owens of We Speak PODD joins Rachel Madel for a conversation about parenting children with complex communication disorders. Meanwhile, the group discusses the nature of parents' relationships with both the schools and broader therapeutic systems and how they - and we - can be strong advocates for their children.
Thanks for listening! As always, contact us at tech@speechscience.org with any feedback and make sure to subscribe and share with your friends! If you'd like to support our work, we always appreciate any gesture via Patreon.
2018-01-1655 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastChris Gibbons: Smartbox & the Evolution of the AAC IndustryIn this episode Talking with Tech's Lucas Steuber, Rachel Madel, and the long-list Chris Bugaj sit down and discuss international development in AAC before welcoming Chris Gibbons of SmartBox to the show. Chris shares beautifully about his many years of experience in the industry, the transition from intervention to the lab to the market, changes over time to the funding model - both good and bad - as well as Grid 3 and some thoughts on what's to come.
For more information about Chris and SmartBox, be sure to visit their site and - if you get a...
2017-12-1846 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastPearson's Q Interactive Team: The Past, Present, and Future of Tablet-Based AssessmentIn this episode Talking with Tech's Lucas Steuber and Rachel Madel sit down with Pearson's Dustin Wahlstrom, James Henke, and Kristen Getz to talk about their Q-Interactive tablet-based assessment platform, the impact of the format change (if any) on clinical outcomes, and the current state of critical SLP assessments like the Goldman-Fristoe-3 (Spanish and English), the CELF-5, the PPVT-3, and others that are coming to the platform soon.
For more information about Q-Interactive or the assessments within visit the Q-Interactive site and feel free to email us any questions to pass along.
Thanks for listening! As a...
2017-12-1345 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastKate Ahern: Thoughts, Tips, and Wisdom from an AAC Thought LeaderIn this episode Talking with Tech's Lucas Steuber and Rachel Madel talk to the legendary Kate Ahern about her work with special populations, the importance of presumed competence, and the need to use every skill in our toolkit to properly serve kids - not just the high -tech ones - as well as the importance of learning from teachers.
For more information about Kate, see her collected slides and presentations here, her blog here, her highly active Facebook community, and many other places around the web.
Thanks for listening! As always, contact us at tech...
2017-12-1241 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastBill Binko: DIY Assistive Technology, "Makers," & the Convergence of Assistive Technology and Universal DesignIn this episode, Talking with Tech's Lucas Steuber and Chris Bugaj interview Bill Binko of ATMakers (and much more) about his work in do-it-yourself assistive technology, the growth of the "maker" movement in our field, and the future of assistive technology when so many large companies focus increasingly on usability in electronics.
For more information, see http://atmakers.org/ - and thanks for listening!
2017-11-0241 minTalking With Tech AAC PodcastAjit Narayanan: AAC Outside of the US & the Future of Universal DesignIn this episode, Talking with Tech's Lucas Steuber and Rachel Madel interview Ajit Narayanan of Avaz about his role as a pioneer of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in India, his new work in China, assistive technology for education, and the future of universal design.
For more information, see www.avazapp.com and www.freespeechapp.com - and thanks for listening!
2017-11-0148 min