AAC Awareness Month: Social Media: A Powerful Tool for AAC Learning and Networking

In our personal lives we see firsthand how social media creates a world of connectedness, allowing us to communicate with friends and family that may not be physically close. Parents and educators, too are turning to social mediate to showcase the work of their children and students, optimize their professional images, or connect with others in their field to share resources and grow their professional practice. When put to good use, the opportunities that are afforded to us through social media are endless. 

The ASHA Leader, an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association publication, published a list created by Lauren S. Enders, a Speech-Language Pathologist, of some of the most popular social media platforms used by the AAC community including blogs, Facebook pages or groups, Pinterest, and YouTube. Although these AAC-related social media sites and pages only make up a subsection of those available, they will get you started in making new connections and finding respected resources. If you need more information on how to serve those using AAC, these sites can help you provide best practices and approaches for your clients or students.

To view the original article, click here. Please add any others you find resourceful in the comments section below. 

Blogs

AAC Intervention: Caroline Musselwhite taps into her 30 years of experience to offers tips, products and presentation handouts.

Jane Farrrall Consulting: Jane Farrall shares excellent information on literacy, AAC and assistive technology. Her site also includes a helpful and frequently updated list of AAC apps.

PraacticalAAC: This prolific searchable blog—created by Carole Zangari and the late Robin Parker of Nova Southeastern University in South Florida—offers daily posts with high-quality resources including articles, videos, product highlights, from professionals and families in the AAC community.

Stories of a Seasoned AAC SLP: This blog from Gail Van Tatenhove offers helpful implementation strategies and stories.
Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs: This blog offers guidance and resources from Kate Ahern who is an assistive technology specialist and teacher of students with complex communication needs.

Uncommon Sense Blog: Written by Dana Nieder, this blog offers an interesting viewpoint because Nieder is a mom to a spunky little girl using AAC and is completing graduate school to become an SLP.

Facebook pages and groups

AAC for the SLP: This group offers a place for SLPs working with AAC users to post questions, find resources and participate in discussions about related issues.

AAC Through Motivate, Model, Move Out of the Way: This group, created by Kate Ahern, aims to “share how to use motivating activities and interactions, modeling and fading supports to increase independence to support AAC users in becoming competent communicators.”

Lauren S. Enders, MA, CCC-SLP: On my professional Facebook page, I curate and post resources related to AAC every day.

PrAACtical AAC: By liking this page, you will see posts from PrAACtical AAC in your newsfeed.

Rachael Langley, AAC Specialist: Langley is an SLP who shares resources such as the latest AAC technology or innovations, as well as original AAC memes and posters.
In addition, check out user groups and pages for dedicated devices and AAC apps. In addition to sharing useful resources, these pages can be a way to get speedy technical support from an employee or an experienced user. Simply search the name of a company or AAC System to find company sites or device user groups.

Pinterest boards

AAC Chicks

Lauren S. Enders, MA, CCC-SLP

PrAACticalAAC

*Leslie DiChiara

YouTube channels: Videos to demonstrate device features and operation as well as models of best practices in implementation.

AAC Chicks

Communicare, LLC

Gail Van Tatenhove

Kate Ahern

We Speak PODD

Source: The ASHA Leader