I am currently working with several school-based speech therapists to introduce some simple communication activities with their students through virtual outreach. Since all are at home right now, I’m spending a lot of time on the phone trying to simplify and explain the process for collecting data so these family members can actively participate. We need to know what works and what doesn’t, but we don’t want them to feel overwhelmed.
Read MoreThis is the second in a series of blog posts highlighting the great work of the University of Memphis graduate students in speech-language pathology. For their AAC class with Vicki Haddix (one of the TN Talks project leads), they choose their own final projects, and many of those final projects are potentially very useful for those of us working with students who use AAC. WIth the students’ permission, the work is being shared here.
Read MoreWhile we are all staying safe at home, Tennessee Talks is working to figure out new, innovative ways to provide ongoing services to students, their families, and speech therapists through virtual outreach. And, even more importantly, we are trying to help YOU serve the AAC needs of your students while at home.
Read MoreAs I have talked with parents throughout this quarantine time, I keep hearing that the kids are not focusing to do the assignments. There can be many more distractions at home. This is where I begin my talk of visual supports. These are very important as children with communication difficulties can have difficulty in processing language focus on a task and with transitions. Visual supports such as a first then task schedule, visual timer, key chain behavior support, and full visual schedule.
Read MoreAs children listen, they learn to speak. Speech helps them learn to read, which helps them read to learn. A perfect snowball, right!? Not always. Many of the students we serve have communication, cognitive and/or physical challenges that impede typical development of speech and language skills…which creates a different kind of snowball.
Read MoreInformation and resources shared at the East Tennessee Autism Society Conference, April 27, 2019. Resources are intended to support families and educational teams working with students with Autism who may need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Read MoreWhich are the best core words to start implementing with your student first?
There’s no one right answer to this question because it depends on the student. The first step is to determine where your student is right now—what they understand and what they can express.
Read MorePresentation covering: What is AAC?, Levels of Representation, Reasons for Communication, Aided Language Modeling, Types of Communication Displays, Ways to Access AAC, Janice Light’s Four Areas of Competency Framework
Read MorePresentation on removing barriers to AAC usage, with case study.
Read MoreConfused by the alphabet soup of AAC terms? Not sure where to begin? the Tennessee Talks Guide to AAC Terminology is a great place to start! A PDF version is also available for download.
Read MoreTennessee Talks Four Regions
Mid Cumberland/Upper Cumberland Region
Janice Reese, ATP
Little Tennessee Valley Educational Cooperative
[email protected]
(865) 458-8900
East TN/First TN Region
Nancy Wofford
SPARK
[email protected]
(865) 219-0130
Molly Ricks
SPARK
[email protected]
(865) 219-0130
South Central/Southeast Region
Beth Warren, ATP
Signal Centers Assistive Technology Services
[email protected]
(423) 298-8991
Northwest/Southwest Region
Vicki Haddix, M.S., CCC-SLP
University of Memphis
[email protected]
(901) 678-5800
Carol B. Wright
Mid-South Access Center for Technology
[email protected]
(901) 678-1489
Tennessee Talks is a grant project funded by the Tennessee Department of Education.
