Supporting AAC use Through Telepractice…

AAC At HomeAAC ImplementationAAC SelectionCommunication & AAC BasicEducational SessionsTelehealth AAC Services
Written By Janice Reese


Who would have ever imagined the way things are around the world right now?! The Tennessee Talks project was designed to provide direct, onsite support and guidance to speech therapists and special education teams across Tennessee to help them identify AAC resources for students with complex communication needs. That’s really tough to do when no one is at school!  While we are all staying safe at home, we are also 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.

Telehealth practices may be new to many of us but, thankfully, there are experts out there who have experience in this area willing to inspire and guide us.  If you love a good podcast, check out Talking with Tech, hosted by Chris Bugaj and Rachel Madel. Just last week, she shared some great information on AAC and telepractice that you will definitely find helpful. Her session is filled with practical solutions for anyone considering this mode of outreach and instruction, especially those working with AAC student users. This information is from a session she will be offering at the (free) virtual conference that you should also check out, AAC in the Cloud on June 23-24, 2020.   Here are links for the handouts, tips for coaching, and a link to Rachel’s podcast!

Handout from the presentation: bit.ly/teleAAChandout

Free Coaching Guide: www.rachelmadel.com/aaccoach

Rachel’s Free Communication App List: www.rachelmadel.com/applist

Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech!

Visit bit.ly/twtpod for access to previous episodes, resources, and CEU credits that you can earn for listening to TWT episodes!

Janice Reese

My name is Janice Reese and I LOVE assistive technology! I worked as an Occupational Therapist for more than 15 years, earned a Master’s degree in Education Technology, and I’m RESNA certified as an Assistive Technology Profession (ATP). I have worked in the school system for many years now and I love using technology to enhance the lives of children with disabilities. Since my first love is teaching, I’ve spent just as much time training wonderful teachers everywhere to use these tools in their classrooms. AT4Kids, llc was founded in 2008 in an effort to provide quality instruction and resources for teachers, therapists, student users and parents who wanted to know more about using AT.

I currently serve as Director of the Center for Assistive Technology, a state-supported program of the Little TN Valley Educational Cooperative. LTVEC is a non-profit agency whose goal is to provide rehabilitation services and accessibility supports for students with special needs in east Tennessee. My AT4Kids blog is designed to be as a one-stop resource for ideas and information for those wanting to learn more about the use of AT with children in the special education setting.

I hope to offer helpful hints, program and product reviews, AT recommendations, links to great new finds on the web, and lists of resources for “all things AT”.

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