The Parents' Corner: Great Resource for AAC Families!

Hiding all over the Internet are diamonds just waiting to be discovered. One such gem is the Parents’ Corner on the AAC Institute website. If your child uses any form of Augmented or Alternative Communication, low- or high-tech, the Parents’ Corner is for you!

Don’t let the name mislead you into thinking this resource is just for parents, either. The Parents’ Corner is full or resources for speech therapists and teachers as well. There are items you can use directly and others perfect to print out for families to follow up therapy activities at home.

The Parents’ Corner houses a collection of monthly articles written by the amazing Robin Hurd and some outstanding guest authors. Robin is the mother of four boys (a feat which, all in itself, makes her a hero), two of whom use AAC. Her background in early childhood education makes Robin a natural at linking the theory of learning AAC with the practical aspects of daily living. She’ll help you feel like you are sitting at the kitchen table sharing coffee and ideas for meaningful ways to bring AAC into your child’s life.

Here’s just a sampling of the topics you will find helpful:

Encouraging AAC use:

• Advice to Parents New to AAC, Feb. ’05
• Getting Motivated, Getting Results, Oct. ’05
• Visual Schedules, Choice Boards, Topic Boards and Communication Boards, June ’07 (guest post by Pam Harris)
• Talking with Teens, AAC Style, Sept.10

Developing Language Skills:

• Organizing Vocabulary for an AAC System, Aug-Sept ’08
• I Can get Some Satisfaction…The Art of Negotiating, Feb. ’09
• Developing Language Skills: Moving Beyond Wants and Needs, June ’09
• A Thingamajigy on Whatchmacallits, June ’10

Building Literacy:

• Literacy for Children who use AAC, June '05
• Reading Independently: Using Computers to Access Books..., July ’05
• Writing: The Other Part of Literacy, Aug ’05
• Advancing Literacy for AAC Users, Jan. ’08 (shameless plug for a post guest-authored by yours truly)

Education:

• Word Walls, Dec. ’05
• Adapting Curriculum, Jan. ’07
• Organizing Vocabulary, Aug-Sept. ’08
• Template for Lesson Planning, Dec. ’08

Parenting:

• Advice to Parents New to AAC, June ’05
• Raising Independent Children, Sept. ’05
• Does AAC Prevent Children from Speaking?, Feb. ’06
• Peeking into the Crystal Ball: Conversations with Adults Who Use AAC, Oct. ’06
• Believing in Your Child, Nov. ’07
• Emergency Plans and AAC, Mar. ’08 (See also the April '08 follow-up)
• A Mess of Stress, Oct. ‘10

Pour another cup of coffee and sit back for some very helpful and encouraging reading! What article at the Parents' Corner do you find especially useful?