AAC Intervention

Tip of the Month 2005

January 2005 - Color Coding	July 2005 - Managing Graphics (part 2)
February 2005 - Glad Pad	August 2005 - Un"stuffing" and Un"zipping"
March 2005 - Participation Scripts	September 2005 - Sights & Sounds
April 2005- Talking Pillow	October 2005 - Managing Sound Files through Audacity
May 2005 - Visor Mitten	November 2005 - Stories in a N.Y. Minute!
June 2005 - About Graphics (part 1)	December 2005 - Self-Constructed Scripts

Tip of the Month 2006
Tip of the Month 2004
Tip of the Month 2003
Tip of the Month 2002
T ip of the Month 2001
Tip of the Month 2000
Tip of the Month 1999

pdf File Information

December 2005 Self-Constructed Scripts
By: Caroline Musselwhite

This tip describes how an individual who uses a device with extensive language can pre-prepare a script for an activity. That script can then be stored into a highly portable step-listing device (e.g. Step by Step, Sequencer, Hip Step Talker) so that the individual has access to a self-constructed social script while in a situation (e.g. on a picnic, at the beach, lying in bed) where the high-tech device is not readily accessible.

Self-Constructed Scripts.pdf
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November 2005 - STORIES IN A NEW YORK MINUTE!
By: Caroline Musselwhite and Karen Erickson

Here is a strategy that you can do TODAY so that your students have appropriate . . . and inviting . . . materials to read TOMORROW! This step-by-step approach supports developing light tech or high tech stories to support your students – especially older students who
are beginning readers. Stories may be written for or WITH your students.

Stories in a New York Minute.doc

October 2005 -

Managing Sound Files through Audacity

To make our programs really reinforcing, whether we use Classroom Suite, My Own Bookshelf, PowerPoint, or any of a number of other multimedia authoring tools, we must carefully select both our graphics and sound files. The tips of the month from June and July 2005 address graphics, so it seems time to address SOUND files.

Sound Files and Audacity.pdf

September 2005 - Sights and Sounds: Adding ZIP to Computerized Books!
By: Caroline Musselwhite

Many students with disabilities respond well to sound effects and interesting graphics in computerized books. Gretchen Hanser offers this list of websites for locating that perfect picture or sound for YOUR books!

Sights & Sounds.pdf

August 2005 -

To Stuff or Not to Stuff...

Stuffing/unstuffing and zipping/unzipping go beyond the question of what to do with tight clothes after a big feast. Have you ever downloaded a file that was in *.zip or *.sit, or some other compressed format, and wondered how to open it? Then, this tip is for you.

Managing Compressed Files.pdf - the 'whys' and 'how-tos' of the job.

Stuffit Standard Version - a link to one of the utilities that easily manage this task!

July 2005 -

Managing Graphics (part 2)

***jpg/pct/bmp/tif/png/cdr/gif***

What happens when you have a great idea for a multimedia project, but lack the necessary clipart to finish the job? This document gives general information about the "whys and hows" of using graphics in projects. It includes:

Storyboarding as a tool for organizing your project
Getting graphics from the internet
Managing "screen captures" from your display

Managing Graphics.pdf

June 2005 -

About Graphics (part 1)

***jpg/pct/bmp/tif/png/cdr/gif***

Ever get confused about the different graphics files? Wonder which one you might use in which situation? This document gives you both beginning and intermediate information on different graphics files.

About Graphics.pdf

May 2005 - Visor Mitten
By: Caroline Musselwhite

The Visor Mitten is a device accessory that fits over the visor (sunguard) of a small AAC device. It provides a place for adding symbols to support language and literacy.

Visor Tip.pdf

April 2005 - Talking Pillow

By: Pam & Josh Harris

This ingenious pillow represents the language on the 'main page' of a communication device. Pam took a digital picture, then had an embroidery service reproduce the top page on a small, washable pillow.

Talking Pillow.pdf

March 2005 - Participation Scripts

By: Caroline Musselwhite
Students spend much of their day engaged in class activities that may offer limited opportunities for interactive communication. This is especially true in fast-paced general education classrooms. Social scripts designed for participation offer an opportunity to maximize classroom activities such as studying for a test, giving directions, or engaging in cooperative activity. For more on how to do this, click on the pdf below.

Participation Scripts.pdf

February 2005 - Glad Pad

By: Caroline Musselwhite
In anxious anticipation of spring, we bring you the Glad Pad - made from a garden kneeler. Enjoy this wonderful tip from Caroline and know that spring is right around the corner!

Glad Pad.pdf

January 2005 -

By: Caroline Musselwhite

Color Coding black and white symbols (e.g., Mayer Johnson picture communication symbols) allows the user and facilitator to locate symbols more easily. To learn more about the useful technique, use the pdf handout linked below.
Color Coding.pdf

pdf File Information
Please Note: Many of this years tips are in the form of .pdf files. Click on the name of the file - highlighted in blue - and that will take you to the .pdf.
If you are having trouble, here's another tip:

OPENING ADOBE ACROBAT FILES:
1) Drag the document into a folder on your desktop
2) Plan A: Double-click the document and see if it opens in Adobe Acrobat

Plan B:

Go to Find (under File menu when you're in the Finder) and type Acrobat - see if Acrobat Reader is on your computer.
If so, open it
Then go to File/Open and open the desired file from within

Plan C: If you don't have Acrobat Reader on your computer, go to their website and download it: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html