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. That led me to searching for simple data collection tools that will provide quick, easy-to-understand guidance and can be used in both home and school settings.  I found a few I liked and then modified one to specifically meet my needs.  I hope you find this helpful.

TheData Collection Checklist for AAC uses basic questions and prompts to introduce this process. It is not a form for recording daily data, but provides an introduction to the process so that anyone working directly with the student can become more attune to responsive actions and behaviors. The list supports the identification of activities/scenarios familiar to the child that can be modified for communication and engagement, pairs activities with communication partners, gathers input about existing modeling activities, and provides descriptors for recognizing indirect and behavioral responses during communication activities.  In making sure the families and caregivers using the AAC interventions understand the purposes and “know what to look for”, we hope to assure collection of relevant information.

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”.

Previous
Previous

Learning About Safeguarding Practices with AAC

Next
Next

AAC for Pediatricians