Autism Community Connection augmentative visual resources

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Augmentative and Alternative Communication/Visual Resources

From our online community, parents of family members on the autism spectrum have expressed an interest= in these topics and a desire to learn more about augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology.&nb= sp; We have created a list of resources that may assist your ASD child/teen/adult in home, classroom, community and workforce.

AAC Resources

Adaptive Toys

How to create AAC materials

Picture Resources

Products to Buy

Starting your own AAC group

AAC Resources

AAC Intervention &#= 8211; This website has tons of great ide= as in augmentative/alternative communication. We have included some as their own= link in this file but it is worth a look at their archives for many additional ideas.

AAC Resources for Families – Pam Harris, who runs the local AAC Social Group in Illinois, has created this comprehensive resource book. To contact Pam about her monthly g= et togethers e-mail at pam_harris@co= mcast.net.

Family Guide to Assistive Technology<= /a> – Everything you want to know about assistive technology is on this website.

Recycling Assistive = Technology – The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services has launched a national campaign to promote and encourage the reuse of assistive technology.

Adaptive Toys

Adapting= a Battery Operated Toy – from the Universitoy at Buffalo’s Ce= nter for Assistive Technology

Adapting Battery Operated Toys for Switch Use – from Ace Centre=

Fisher-Price Toys and Playtime Tips for Children with Special Needs

Lekotek – the country’s so= urce on toys and play for children with special needs

Lekotek̵= 7;s Top 10 Tips when Buying Toys for Children with Disabilities<= /span>

Let’s Play! Projects – from the University at Buffalo’s Center for Assistive Technology – ways to adapt toys for use with different need= s.

Toys R Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids

How to create AAC materials

E= ffective Symbol Use – from Widgit Software – this article explains h= ow to effectively make symbol supported material

The Ch= ild Hates Augmentative Communication and I’ve Tried Everything – The Quick and Easy Team to the Rescue from Clark County School District, NV=

ClipCase Communication Bo= ard Idea – how to make

Communication Articles – The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has more than 20 articles on autism and communication. You might find useful: The Role of the SLP and the Student with Auti= sm, Visual Schedules and Choice Boards and Aiding Comprehension of Individuals = with Autism Spectrum Disorders During One-on-One Interactions.=

Communication Classroom – Take part in online workshops, view web casts and lea= rn from narrated tutorials on methodologies used by students with augmentative communication needs.

Communication Displays for the Bathroom – from AAC Intervention – shows h= ow to create the display

Commun= ication Supports for Students with High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome – presentation given by Emily Rubin, MS, CCC-SLP and Director of Communication Crossroads.

Introduction to AAC for Students 5-10 yrs old – from Wisconsin AT Project - Th= is is the place to go if you are setting up AAC for a student. A comprehensive article on the pro= cess and how to use communication systems across the day and across the lifespan=

Make it Yourself Directions = and Handouts – from Simplified Technology – includes making your own talking switch, make a mouse house, make a switch mount with loc-line a= nd more.

Making Visuals to Support Young Children with Problem Behavior – Univers= ity of South Florida

Picture Communication Symbols – Links with ideas on how to use picture symbols effectively in the classroom. Go to the main page of NCIP (National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education Through Technolog= y, Media and Materials) for online workshops, videos of students using assisti= ve technology and instructional technology and a collection of resources about technology and special education.

Using Pictures and Symbols

Visual Strategy Testimonials – from Use Visual Strategies – the company uses two case studies to show how visual strategies can be used to go shopping a= nd deal with tantrums

Picture Resources<= /span>

ABA Resources – in = their free downloads section you will find many picture symbols of many name brand foods items, restaurants, covers of children’s favorite books

Beyond Autism PECS Directory<= /a> – In addition to tons of links for products, resources and Boardmaker downloadable files, scroll towards the bottom of the page for an endless am= ount of standard size PECS with imported real photos.

Boardmak= er Resources

You must have Boardmaker installed in order to open any of these resources.

Adapt= ed Storybook Overlays - Adapted L= ibrary – The Baltimore City Public School system has an adapted library of m= ore than 700 book overlays formatted - Boardmaker Yahoo Group – Join this group of over 1500 members to share Boardmaker visuals, communication boards, lessons, social stories, etc. Some are pdf but for most you need Boardmaker to access.

Discovery School – = over 3,000 clip art images and exclusive Discovery Channel images.

Google Images – Did you know you = can get images of just about anything you can imagine? Select Images on the Google search engine. Just type in the obje= ct you are looking for and enter. Cl= ick on the image you want, then right click and select “save image” to save to your hard drive.

Logos & Trademarks –= ; from Digital Wisdom – this website has over 16,000 images of common logos = in both color and black and white. While these are for purchase, it appears that you can click on their alphabetical catalog listing, print the pdf page and cut out the logos you want.

MediaGlyphs Project – Visuals paired with various languages

Microsoft f= ree clip art

Pics4Learning – 1000̵= 7;s of copyright-friendly image library for teachers and students.

Speaking of Speech – There are some great resources in their “Materials Exchange” sections but it is not organized very well. You will have to scroll through th= e info but teachers, SLPs and parents will find some real gems.<= /p>

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Products to Buy

Augmentative Res= ources - Good, though slightly pricey, source for pre-made communication and visual storage and display items – some portable, some for in-class or in-ho= me use. Lots here, too, for folk= s who make social stories or adapted books and need clear plastic sleeves bound i= nto book form OR literacy ‘cubes’ with clear plastic inserts on each side of cube to insert pix. <= o:p>

Bo= okreading Communication Displays – from AAC Intervention – intended to support generic book reading

Communipack - This cos= ts $89.95, but if you’re looking for a multi-purpose communication tool = that can go with your child across the lifespan, across environments, etc. check this out. Note the price does= NOT include visuals; this is an organizational and storage tool only.

Mayer Johnson – the maker = of Boardmaker and other products, has some pre-made communication boards and a materials exchange section. Families can now buy a Boardmaker at Home version of the software.

Picture It and PixWriter –= ; from Slater Software, Picture It includes over 6,000 literacy support pictures f= or reading and writing

Talking Pillow= – from AAC Intervention – shows you how to make an iron-on vers= ion of a communication device onto a washable pillow.

Starting your own AAC group

A= AC In the Community– article on why you should start your own AAC commu= nity group

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