Rick Hoyt's New Autobiography: A Must Read!

Rick Hoyt (http://www.teamhoyt.com/ ) has written his autobiography. You can purchase it through this link: http://www.civinmediarelations.com/Store-Front.html . Rick has been a wonderful mentor to many people. Please take a look at this interview and remember that your students and staff should be reading these books.

Update to Free Symbol Project

Please see the Free Symbol Project Page. We now have an email account people can send suggestions, ideas or volunteer through. freesymbolproject@ssec.org

Mrs. Riley It's In The Cards....

This is anther good resource if you need to develop communication supports, language systems or adapt materials. There is a cost to it but there is a lot you can do with this and it is pay as you go vs. a long term commitment. It was recommended by Brittany Tellier who is a talented new teacher we are lucky to have in the field. Mrs. Riley It's in the Cards...

Communication Resource

This website Tots N Tech has some great resources for  teachers and families. The one in particular that I like gives you examples of how to set-up language displays for a topic specific conversation using core words with contextual vocabulary. The various displays give a number of ideas on how to facilitate both conversation and language usage. Visual Displays

Paralympic Update

It is getting closer to the Paralympic London Games 8/29-9/9. Let's take a closer look at Team USA . This site highlights each athlete. They all have amazing stories. This reminds me of a suggestion  made in the Educator Ideas & Actions page. The mini autobiographies are perfect for our students to read and learn about. Please make sure you integrate them into the September curriculum. What a wonderful unit of study to start off the school year with! If you live in Massachusetts there are athletes competing such as Natick's Anjali Forber-Pratt . You may also want to read about: Michael Prout, and Dorian Weber .  

Core Words & Phrases Lists

We have discussed throughout several posts the importance of core words. Core phrases are equally as important in supporting conversation and more meaningful and sustainable dialog. The combination of these two things will facilitate greater conversational independence across more communicative partners of the person's choosing. Vocabulary and phrases must work together in an efficient manner to minimize fatigue, frustration as well as time in phrase formation and actual conveyance of the message. The flow of the conversation must support a natural exchange with reduced time spacing due to the efficiency of the entire process. Here are some very helpful links. This link Core Words & Phrases has many vocabulary and phrase list you may find helpful. This link Generative Language & AAC,  provides an overview of language acquisition and applies it to AAC users. It has many helpful suggestions. Here is one last resource which includes many resources within it. It is put out by PRC: Developing Expressive Language Through AAC.

International Disability Rights

On May 9th & 10th 2012, there was a U.S. Leadership Conference on International Disability Rights. There continues to be very serious violations including what may be referred to as mercy killings of children with disabilities and infanticide. If you do a search you will find a number of articles on both sides of this. The Conference and others are supporting the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which addresses this issue and many others. I have included some video from the conference. We must all be a part of these discussions and make sure those with disabilities are always included. How can you tell at birth what types of contributions someone will be making? I cannot tell you how many of the families I have known throughout the years were told to place their children in institutions, or that they will never walk, talk, think etc. Each time the medical professional was wrong and sometimes significantly wrong. Some of these children graduated from college. Some only see difference and limitation. We need to put the person first and help others do the same.

OneNote for Lesson Planning

Irene Macdonald, an incredibly talented teacher at the South Shore Educational Collaborative in Hingham, MA has developed a wonderful system for classroom/lesson planning which also allows you to share with other teachers. She uses Microsoft OneNote to organize her curriculum as well as to document meetings. Take a look at what she has done. This is incredibly easy.

Special Child & Teen

Please take a look at this informational site. It has a range of activities, trainings etc. to support people with disabilities. Special Child & Teen  You can subscribe to their newsletter.

Study shows voters with disabilities face access barriers

USA Today reported on a study which looked at accessibly issues and barriers for voters who have a disability. This is of serious concern given it is 2012 and The Rehabilitation Act has been in effect for 39 years and the Americans with Disabilities Act for 22 years. Another area of concern is how much time we actually spend educating people with more significant disabilities who may be under some type of guardianship on the voting process, their rights and freedoms and the democratic process overall. As citizens, people with disabilities must have access to full participation in our democratic society. Anything less is inexcusable. We have to work harder at noticing these barriers when we see them and becoming much more proactive. It should not take a Presidential election to address these barriers.