All Together We Can » Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com AAC, AT, Families, Inclusion, Literacy, UDL, iOS, Mobile Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:36:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 He Speaks Again: Man with ALS Speaks at Graduation Using AAC http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/29/he-speaks-again-man-with-als-speaks-at-graduation-using-aac/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/29/he-speaks-again-man-with-als-speaks-at-graduation-using-aac/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:56:11 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1799 Mike McGinn, from the Philadelphia area, recently spoke at his graduation using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This moving video tells the story of how he developed Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) which impacted his ability to speak. Mike uses Proloquo2Go to communicate and used it to speak at the graduation.


This story shows the importance of communication and the power of AAC. I am thankful to be in this field and to have been able to have co-created something that is making a difference. Here for the video.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/29/he-speaks-again-man-with-als-speaks-at-graduation-using-aac/feed/ 0 Emergency Communication Tools http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/24/emergency-communication-tools/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/24/emergency-communication-tools/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:55:19 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1793 Yesterday, the AAC lab here at Penn State shook under the earthquake. I looked at my colleague and she looked back at me. As we are both from the east coast, we don’t expect and certainly don’t prepare for earthquakes. As I walked home later that evening, I thought about how the AAC community has worked hard on creating awareness of the importance of individuals with complex communication needs being prepared for emergencies and disasters. On the AAC-RERC site there is a range of resources that have been created including guides, sample communication boards, and information for emergency workers. A big part of the push for the creation of these materials was due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The irony of being in the AAC lab during the earthquake yesterday reminded me of the importance of being prepared for emergencies.

Go to the AAC-RERC to access the materials on Emergency Communication: Disaster Preparation, Response and Recovery for People with CCN.

If you have other tips or recommendations in this area, please leave them in the comments.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/24/emergency-communication-tools/feed/ 0 My student said hello to me for the first time today, using speech http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/18/my-student-said-hello-to-me-for-the-first-time-today-using-speech/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/18/my-student-said-hello-to-me-for-the-first-time-today-using-speech/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:05:18 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1784
Today, the phone rang and it was the mother of a former student saying that her son had something he would like to say to me. I listened and he said, “hi, Mr. Sennott.” This seemingly ordinary event was far from it, for I have never heard that student speak that greeting to me before. The student has an autism spectrum disorder and while he has learned to communicate utilizing various forms of AAC, he has struggled to develop speech. His mother has been messaging me lately with updates about how he has been using the iPad in various ways to communicate and engage with curriculum content. I have been delighted to hear the good reports. Yet, I was unprepared to hear him speak those words.

I recall speaking with his mother on numerous occasions saying to appreciate what AAC offers, but to also know that individuals can acquire speech quite late. I shared anecdotes about some of the people I first worked with at the Respite Center in Hopkinton and how their families reported to me about how late they started speaking. (I remember being in awe hearing about how one friend of mine there had started speaking so late, as she was one of the most loquacious people I know.) Despite my hope and belief that this former student would speak, it still came as quite a wonderful surprise to receive that phone call today. It was truly like music to my ears. Occasionally, I have vivid dreams that some of my students with complex communication needs who use AAC to express themselves communicate to me using speech. I have heard of other teachers experiencing the same thing. Today, that dream cam true.

Fortunately, parents, teachers, and therapists do not have to choose between promoting speech and AAC. It is a well established finding that AAC does not hinder the development of speech. There are some terrific reviews of the relevant research:

Binger, C., Berens, J., Kent-Walsh, J., & Taylor, S. (2008). The effects of aided AAC interventions on AAC use, speech, and symbolic gestures. Seminars in Speech and Language, 29(2), 101-11.

Millar, D. C., Light, J. C., & Schlosser, R. W. (2006). The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: A Research Review. Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research, 49(2), 248-264.

Schlosser, R. W., & Wendt, O. (2008). Effects of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on Speech Production in Children With Autism: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Speech Lang Pathology, 17(3), 212-230.

Language and communication are tremendously powerful things. I am thankful we have ways to wield them such as speech, sign language, writing, and other forms of AAC, such as using iPads and iPods with AAC software.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/18/my-student-said-hello-to-me-for-the-first-time-today-using-speech/feed/ 1 Google Plus http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/16/google-plus/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/16/google-plus/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:28:55 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1777 I have been enjoying exploring Google Plus over the past few weeks and am appreciating it as a social networking tool. You can see what Google has to say about it here: http://www.google.com/+/demo/ You probably have heard a ton about this new project, so I will keep it brief.

One of the key features is sharing to groups of other users, called circles. I have nice AAC and UDL circles I am building up. While I like sharing on Facebook and Twitter, it seems like those networks get overwhelming at times. The tools they have built in to focus conversations or create communities are nice, yet they still seem more difficult to use. I am also quite excited about the idea of the social networking tools wrapping around services such as Google Docs. This concept is very exciting to me for my collaborative work and also for the learners I serve.

Google has recently provided a way for users to give out invitations. If you would like an invitation, click here.

It would be terrific to hear about your impressions of Google Plus?

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/16/google-plus/feed/ 1 Swallowing the Lion http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/15/swallowing-the-lion/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/15/swallowing-the-lion/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:30:17 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1768 Amidst the joys of this summer, such as getting married and taking a wonderful trip to Italy and France, there have been a couple of relatively difficult lessons learned. One of them I have been struggling to digest for quite some time. The lesson is simple and I have been able to read it, write it, and say it, but it has been difficult to live. The lesson is to work on my writing frequently and preferably daily.

I am passionate about my goals and my vision to make a strong positive impact on the lives of individuals who have complex communication needs, their families, and their teachers. Seeing the success of my students in the classroom helped me persevere when I took the first steps as a teacher. Seeing how my idea of creating an AAC system on the iPhone and iPod touch became a reality in the co-created Proloquo2Go, gives me great hope for what I can do through collaboration and the design of technology based tools. I feel like Proloquo2Go was just the beginning. Yet, I have had a difficult time seeing the impact of my academic writing work, during my few years of PhD level training in analysis and writing.

Fortunately, this summer, I have seen just how important academic writing is to my mission. The insight has come suddenly and surprisingly for me. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am excited to share. And yes, sharing my writing work is a strong motivation. Yet, the deeper insight for me is that writing is a way to share what you know and believe in a refined way.

The primary example that has helped me learn this lesson is the current paper I am working on, which has taken me so much further in my understanding of language acquisition. It has been amazing how each step I take learning about language acquisition theory and intervention practice seems to both excite me and also cast me into a place where I am left feeling daunted by how much deeper the next step seems to lead.

Without the writing process I am undertaking, it would be difficult, if not impossible to complete the steps I am taking in the learning process. Additionally, I am starting to see the fruits of writing nearly every day. I can see how that makes the process so much more powerful because I do not spend so much time ramping back up and struggling through writers block. Another fruit is that I am learning more quickly. The current paper is improving to where I am feeling more and more proud of it.

Today, as I was looking up some important demographic data for the conclusion of the paper, I stumbled across a short essay by David Beukelman titled, “Swallow the Lion”: Thoughts about Writing. My mentor has pointed to me to other essays by Beukelman and they have certainly been helpful. We have frequently discussed this concept of blocking out the time and staring at the walls if you can’t write. My mentor has been incredibly encouraging of my processing of this lesson. At times I have felt like I was starting to get it: write every day and you get a lot done. Yet, I see now that for me there was something more I needed to learn.

My specialty in teaching is working with individuals with complex communication needs who often are beginning communicators. In my first few classrooms, I focused my work on individuals who had little exposure to an AAC system prior to working with them. I was amazed at seeing them realize the power they wielded as I saw them communicate for themselves. Last week, I wrote about hearing Jane Korsten speak and about how students can make this revelation and how we as teachers can promote this by giving them opportunities.

I have experienced a similar internal conversion, seeing for myself that writing is powerful and that if I work at it, I too can wield that power. By giving myself frequent opportunities to practice my craft, I can refine my practice. While academic writing is still as challenging as it was a few days ago, it is different because I have swallowed, at least a bit of the lion.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/15/swallowing-the-lion/feed/ 0 Every Move Counts http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/11/every-move-counts/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/11/every-move-counts/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:43:55 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1751 It was terrific learning from Jane Korsten today for a couple hours between writing sessions of a paper I am working on for my PhD. She teaches about a framework she co-created called Every Move Counts.

Here is how the authors of the framework describe it in their project overview:

Everyone communicates in some way.

Is it possible to recognize that communication?
What makes the act of communicating intrinsically motivating and rewarding for those with severe motor and/or sensory differences. When is a symbol system appropriate to an individual’s cognitive abilities? How are truly functional alternate and augmentative communication systems developed?

Only when communication is recognized and consistently reinforced will those with severe differences find the effort to communicate worthwhile.

In the couple hours I listened to Jane present her message, something really clicked for me. What I realized was the power of teachers and parents providing communication opportunities for these individuals with complex needs. Inside of those opportunities, the experience of the learner connecting to the process of communicating opens the door to so much more communication and language learning. That aha moment or spark is so important. Yet, for some children, teachers do not provide the opportunities to connect to communication and also give up on learners with complex needs. It is such an amazing thing to see children realize the communication power they hold. I am thankful for people like Jane, teaching about how to facilitate this process, as well as many others I appreciate such as Janice Light, Linda Burkhart, Caroline Musselwhite, John Costello, and a long list of others. In some ways, it is a simple insight, but I believe looking more at the quality/ quantity of opportunities is quite complex.

Every Move Counts focuses on meeting those learners where they are at and attempts to provide opportunities to use and learn symbols to communicate. I look forward to learning more about the program and am going to explore the book about the framework.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/11/every-move-counts/feed/ 1 Talking With My AAC on YouTube http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/09/talking-with-my-aac-on-youtube/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/09/talking-with-my-aac-on-youtube/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:29:54 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1726 This is a funny video that some SLP students at the University of Alberta put together about AAC. It also has an inclusion theme. I have been thinking about inclusion a great deal today after meeting an impressive group from PA called Include Me From the Start. I think you may find it interesting. What are your impressions?

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/09/talking-with-my-aac-on-youtube/feed/ 0 Back to School Blog Resource: Teaching Learners with Multiple Needs http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/08/back-to-school-blog-resource-teaching-learners-with-multiple-needs/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/08/back-to-school-blog-resource-teaching-learners-with-multiple-needs/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:41:17 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1717 Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs is a blog, led by Kate Ahern, is full of useful resources, reviews on new technology (light and high tech), and a very welcome focus on curriculum and putting ideas into practice. This blog specializes in top quality information and is very readable. It is a terrific resource to utilize in preparation for back to school.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/08/back-to-school-blog-resource-teaching-learners-with-multiple-needs/feed/ 0 Did You Know? Version 5.0 http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/07/did-you-know-version-5-0/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/07/did-you-know-version-5-0/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:43:21 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1709 Check out Scott McLeod and XPLANE’s new version 5.0 of the Did You Know? video. Go here, http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com, to read up on the history of the presentation or to watch versions 1-4. These presentations always catch my interest and make me think. Hope they do for you as well. It would be great to hear your impressions.

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/08/07/did-you-know-version-5-0/feed/ 0 AIM Consortium Website http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/04/03/aim-consortium-website/ http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/04/03/aim-consortium-website/#comments Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:09:16 +0000 Samuel Sennott http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/?p=1679 AIM Consortium Logo
I am really blown away about how rich the Accessible Instructional Materials Consortium’s website has become. http://aim.cast.org This is a terrific resource for learning about the latest information regarding digital texts and accessible instructional materials in education.
Aim Website Screenshot

[Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post 

]]> http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2011/04/03/aim-consortium-website/feed/ 1