ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (AT)
AUGMENTATIVE & ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC) 

COMMUNICATING ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

Boardmaker Coronavirus Resources
Template for putting together important communication and medical information for medical personnel (from Florida Centr for Inclusive Communities). To help educators, parents, and learners during this time of need, the Tobii Dynavox team has gathered resources and created Coronavirus materials. Click here for a reference sheet that has all the resources listed.

Coronavirus Communication Support Materials
To help educators, parents, and learners during this time of need, the Tobii Dynavox team has gathered and created Coronavirus materials. 

Communication supports for children and adults with complex communication needs during the COVID-19 pandemic | Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
Extensive compilation of supports for preparing for medical interactions, caregivers and communication using AAC, and resources for medical workers.

My Health Passport
Template for putting together important communication and medical information for medical personnel (from Florida Centr for Inclusive Communities).

Where can I go? What can I do?
Switch-accessible PowerPoint book addressing opportunities and limitations during social distancing. Can also be printed as a physical book.

LITERACY RESOURCES

Tar Heel Reader: Books for Beginning Readers of all Ages
Books that are created by educators and students and can be used with switch access

VOOKS: Storybooks Brought to Life
Animated books with recorded voice, free for parents for 1 month and free to teachers for a year - lesson plans available

Audible Audiobooks
Free during school closures! Children can stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.

Bookshare eBooks
Makes reading easier for people with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, and other reading barriers. Customize the experience to suit each learning style and find virtually any book for school, work, or the joy of reading

AAC AND LITERACY

AAC @ HOME: Lesson Plans and Activities for Teaching Core Vocabulary
SLPs, teachers, and others have access to five weeks of thematic lessons focusing on a core vocabulary word per week using Bitmoji classroom and many fun, engaging activities.

Developed by Katie Tierney, CCC-SLP at Columbia Regional Inclusive Services. 

Tips for Reading at Home
Guidance for parents of children who use AAC on reading together at home

Shared Reading with AAC
Provides parents with a description of shared reading as well as teaching procedures that can be used at home - from the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium with input from UNC Center for Literacy and Disability

Shared Reading Example: Monster at the End of the Book
Wonderful video model of shared reading with AAC on an iPad with TouchChat and WordPower 60 Basic using "wise old creature" voice to sound like Grover in the story

Shared Reading Example: Pigeon Needs a Bath
Another video model of reading a book with AAC

Using Books to Teach AAC
A series of videos from Beenleigh Special School on how to use books to teach children to use AAC

StorylineOnline
Celebrities read popular Children's Books on YouTube

Bookmarks:  Celebrating Black Voices
Fun new series on Youtube Netflix Jr. Celebrity readers share books by Black authors in dynamic, live action presentations.

AAC @ Home Sample Lesson Plans

A weekly lesson plan, with activities focused on teaching a new core vocabulary word each week.

Lesson Plan- WANT 

Katie's Virtual Classroom- WANT              

Lesson Plan- LIKE

Katie's Virtual Classroom- LIKE

Lesson Plan- NOT

Katie's Virtual Classroom- NOT

Lesson Plan- STOP/ GO

Katie's Virtual Classroom- STOP/ GO

Lesson Plan- HELP

Katie's Virtual Classroom- HELP

AAC AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

 AAC Language Lab
Free 2-month subscription, this site offers lesson plans, books, and AAC activity ideas that support language development - for both parents and educators.  Guide for using switches with AAC Language Lab Flip books by Ruth McKee.

AAC Calendar of Daily Activities
Family resource with videos about devices and apps, manuals, and suggested home activities week by week.

Mrs. SpeechieP
Fun, functional activities for early language development - designed for parents of children with complex communication needs

The AAC Coach on Facebook and Instagram (@theaaccoach)
User friendly ideas for modeling and teaching communication with AAC in both Spanish and English (many examples here).

AAC TOOLS, OPERATION AND USE

NYC Schools AT/AAC Supports
Provides links to guides and manuals for many low-tech and high-tech AAC devices, as well as various AT software and tools 

AAC Light Tech Resources
Flipbooks and boards to go with apps and device page sets

Facebook discussion groups for families and users of AAC
Helpful tools, resources, and troubleshooting 

SWITCH ACCESS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Accessible YouTube
Limits search results to videos on YouTube that are switch-accessible videos 

Tar Heel Reader
Library of accessible beginning level readers for students of all ages that can be used with switch access

Tar Heel Game Play
Collection of free, easy-to-play accessible games that are switch-accessible - each game is speech enabled and may be accessed using one-to-three switches     

Priory Woods School & Arts College   
Provides several videos with animations or slideshows set to music that can be controlled by switches 

Papunet
A variety of games and puzzles that are controlled by switches

OneSwitch
Switch-accessible games that are dowloaded to a windows-based computers 

Special Bites
On Specialbites you will find tons of online switch games

Guide to Using Switches with PRC AAC LANGUAGE LAB Flip Books by Ruth McKee

Switch Interfaces by Ruth McKee

PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SUPPORTS

Always consult with your child's OT or PT before initiating a home program.

NYC Schools Home-Based Physical Therapy Supports
Suggested games, indoor and outdoor activities including for students in wheelchairs 

NYC Schools Home-Based Occupational Therapy Supports
Suggested fine motor, handwriting, and sensory activities

Home program OT and PT activities
A collection of favorite blog posts, free printables, and other resources to assist parents in building a home program for their children

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