Creating engaging and practical learning experiences is key. For students using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, simulations provide an excellent opportunity to practice and strengthen their communication skills in real-life scenarios. Simulating various activities in school settings can be a great way to help students learn and practice using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Here's a list of 12 activities that can be simulated in school: 1. Going to the Doctor's Office:    - Simulate a visit to the doctor, including checking in, waitin ..read more

 Happy Spring!  I know it still doesn't feel like Spring everywhere, but the warmer weather will show up.... Hopefully soon! Today I want to talk about the power of story sequencing in building language skills for students. I'm talking about the importance of sequencing activities, exploring how they stimulate language development, critical thinking, and social communication. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, this post gives you some practical strategies for incorporating story sequencing into your therapy sessions. I hope you enjoy it. Story sequ ..read more

 Navigating the challenges of getting staff buy-in for AAC use is, well...... challenging. It's something I've struggled with for years, and the same lament I've heard from SLPs everywhere.  Why the resistance? 1. Lack of awareness: Many educators - and especially paraeducators - are not completely aware of the benefits of AAC, or they may harbor misconceptions about it. 2. Resistance to change: Implementing AAC requires some shift in teaching methods and adds a new dimension to what they do in the classroom. Nobody likes change. 3. Time: Staff are already stretched for time - and so ..read more

 I’m always excited to share a variety of effective language therapy activities for students with language learning disorders and those who have complex communication needs. Incorporating engaging activities can make the learning process both enjoyable and effective.  In this post, I'll explore 5 activities designed to enhance language skills, from story sequencing to interactive show-and-tell sessions. 1. Story Sequencing: Enhancing Narrative Skills:    One powerful way to boost language skills is through story sequencing. By providing students with a short story or s ..read more

Looking to add a tried-and-true resource to your toolkit for teaching students how to answer Wh-questions? Tired of endlessly creating lists of Wh questions to use in therapy? Get off the treadmill, get back your time, and give your students success with WH questions What doing, Who, Where, and When. This app uses research based methodology and has been reviewed as the first breakthrough in Wh questions for sooo many students!  In fact, when I first started using this method decades ago with my students, parents were amazed and begged me to publish it. In 2011 it finally became an app. Qu ..read more

 Introduction: In the world of speech and language therapy, some activities have truly stood the test of time, proving their worth in fostering effective communication and cooperation skills. Among these treasured classics lies a versatile and engaging activity known as Barrier Games. Whether you're an SLP, educator, parent, or anyone seeking interactive learning experiences, Barrier Games offer a fun and educational adventure. What Are Barrier Games? Barrier Games are an old-time SLP staple in the therapy materials repertoire. This interactive activity is designed to enhance various l ..read more

 Hi there,  Get ready, because I have some exciting news to share! As a speech-language pathologist with over 45 years of experience, I can remember when there were absolutely no materials on the market I could use with my students. I had to make it all up as I went along!  Now I make resources for other SLPs (special educators and parents, too) to use. Today, I’m excited about the latest step in our journey to give every nonspeaking child a voice. Say hello to  "Early Language Development for AAC" – the software app that's going to supercharge the way we build language ski ..read more

 Speech-Language Pathologists are used to hearing, “All you do is play!” - as if that’s a bad thing.  But therapists know the benefits of play-based strategy. This strategy is based on the fact that oral language is learned spontaneously in childhood by most children, mostly by imitation, and through play and daily living routines.  Play is children’s work. Play is very important to the development of future skills. The brain develops through the child's play. The experience of play changes the connections and the neurons in the brain. Without play experiences, those neurons ..read more

 Of course, there is no right answer to that question. In spite of many years of pushes for inclusion of students with “special” or different needs in general education classes, the debate still remains about the benefits of inclusion for all students. In my 8 years in a public school district (and throughout my more than 42 years of practice) I saw both sides of the argument played out clearly.  In spite of all the benefits to inclusion, there are students who do not fare well in classrooms with general education students who are not sympathetic or teachers who are not trained t ..read more

A tale is a story. A narrative is a story. And stories can take a variety of different forms; from fictional stories about imagined things or relating of experiences that really happened. Narrative skills are, at heart, the focus of speech-language therapy.  We want to develop competent communicators, and telling stories about one’s experiences are very important to communication competence. Narratives require, at the level of competence, vocabulary, morphology, syntax skills, and more. But it is possible to develop narrative skills at much more basic levels. Narrative skills develo ..read more