Elves use AAC, too!

Happy December!

If you are part of an AAC family and you have an Elf on the Shelf, this post is for you (and I need your help)!

Did you guys know that elves love to use AAC?! It's true!

For the past 4 years, our elf has visited one of our talkers, much to the delight of Maya and Will. It's happened once per year----but I have a feeling that this year he may leave a few notes :)  Sometimes he even leaves a photo behind that shows him with the talker! Maya has saved these photos on her wall for years (literally).

photos of our elf using the talker in 2014 and 2015, hanging on Maya's wall

Wouldn't it be fun if our kids could see pictures of all of lots of elves using different talkers? I have a feeling that my kids would love to see AAC-loving elves and the notes that they left behind for other AAC loving kids :)  So here's my proposal---if your child's elf uses their talker on/before the night of December 14th, send me a picture! On December 15th, I'll post a compilation of all of the AAC-using elves. They'll be fun for the kids to see, and fun for us to see how silly those elves can be ;)

What you do:
1. Your elf visits and uses a talker! Hooray! Snap a picture!
2. Send the picture to me in any of the following ways (whatever's easiest-no need to do all!). Also, if you'd like, share some information about your location, child, AAC system, and elf (totally optional). I'll put up whatever you send. For example, "Dabadee the elf came last night and left a note on Maya's talker! It said 'Today would be a great day for some hot chocolate!' We live in New York City and use Speak for Yourself---we didn't know that Dabadee liked to use a talker, too!":

• email to uncommonfeedback@gmail.com
• post on Instagram, use the hashtag #AACelf and tag me @uncommonsenseblog 
• post on Facebook (make sure your setting is public), use the hashtag #AACelf and tag me @Uncommon Sense Blog

3. Get my reply---I will either reply to your email or comment on your social media post--that's how you'll know that I received it!

4. Check back on December 15th to see all of the AAC elves!

Our elf started using the talker in 2014, after I saw an SLP post something on Facebook about AAC and an elf. Here are some examples of what he's done in the past:

2014:

Dabadee (our elf) left a picture of himself using the talker, and a note that said "I left a note for you on the talker!" The note left on the talker read, Only 11 days until Christmas! 

2015

 Another photo and note left behind! I don't remember what was written on the talker this year (oops)

2016

This year the note left on the talker said, "Good morning! Will, I hope you have fun at Mommy's doctor today! Maya, have a great last day of school! Check your stockings for a surprise!"

Happy December, and happy elf season! See you back here on December 15th---and I can't wait to hear about your elf :)

#AACfamily

#AACelf

Scavenger Hunting

(image is of my kids, Will on his scooter and Maya in her wheelchair, studied scavenger hunt pages)

Last week a friend posted a fun neighborhood scavenger hunt on Facebook. This morning we awoke to a picture-perfect autumn NYC morning and absolutely nothing on our schedule. I printed up two copies of the sheet below, grabbed some Halloween stickers, and our family headed out for a lovely, leisurely scavenger-hunting walk.

Image is the scavenger hunt page that we used and a sheet of partially used Halloween stickers. 

This "Scavenger Hunt-Neighborhood Search" page was found at this website---grab and print here!

The kids searched as we walked, and we stopped frequently to put stickers on the squares for items that we spotted (you could also cross them out, stamp them, punch holes, put a fingerprint on each, etc.). 

This wasn't an AAC activity for us today . . . but it got me thinking about how many opportunities there are for language modeling and meaningful AAC use during scavenger hunt activities. These ideas are probably well-used by lots of speech and AAC folks, but they were new to me this morning----and maybe there are some people reading who could use a few easy ideas.

Here's some language that could be targeted during a scavenger hunt (scaffold up or down as needed):

• Attention-getters: Look! Stop! Wait! (Halt! Freeze!)
• Declaration: I see it/one! I got it/one! Show me! (Spotted! Nailed it! Ding! Success!) 
• Narration: I am looking, We are looking (I'm/We're hunting/searching/investigating/spying)
• Questions: What do you see? Where is it?
• Negation: Not here, Can't find, Don't see
• Emotions: Frustrated, excited, confused, victorious!

With some careful image/item selections, scavenger hunts could be crafted to target specific goals, as well. For example, if you're looking to target 2-word combinations the scavenger hunt could contain images like these:

(these images show pumpkins and ghosts of various colors. Images were retrieved via Google image searches)

These images could be hidden around a room (or home, school, yard, etc). When one is located the finder needs to use two words in order to communicate what was found ("yellow pumpkin," "black ghost," etc.). 3-word combinations could be targeted by adding another variable, like size, into the mix (which require the speaker to say "big orange pumpkin" or "small black ghost"): 

(these images are pairs of large and small orange pumpkins, yellow pumpkins, white ghosts, and black ghosts.

Images were retrieved via Google image searches)

The same idea could carry into other word combinations. For example, verbs could be highlighted by using images of different actions. Subject + verb combinations could be targets by using pictures that require both subject and verb to be identified in order to identify the picture (e.g., a boy painting, a girl painting, a boy singing, a girl singing). The subject target could be a pronoun---or, to increase motivation, you could use images of characters from favorite shows. (It's actually surprisingly easy to find images of show characters doing different actions via Google image searches). 

I particularly like the idea of using scavenger hunts for asking questions---sometimes targeting questions feels so contrived, but this is a genuine questioning activity, like this:

-------

You (speech + modeling) : I see one!

(wait)

You: Do you want to know what I found? You can ask, "what?" (model "what")

You (speech + modeling): I see the yellow pumpkin!

(wait)

You (speech + modeling): You see it?

(wait)

You: No? You can ask "where?" (model "where")

---------

When your child indicates that they have found one, you can switch roles in the conversation and ask what and where questions in order to elicit more information.

This won't be a hit for everyone, but my kids are list-lovers. The idea of having a printed list in hand makes this activity really motivating and engaging for them.  Happy hunting!

(image is of each kid pausing to put a sticker on some item that they had spotted)

Ghost Balloons (and free printable)

This week, while browsing Facebook, I saw the coolest little craft project---simple, inexpensive, difficult to mess up, and sure to delight! A librarian friend of mine did this activity with a student group and it was a hit (shout out to all of the children's/youth librarians!), so I stole it. It would be great to use with AAC users (or actually for a variety of speech goals)---or just with your own children at home.

Here's what you need:

• .5 cup vinegar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• balloon
• water bottle 
• optional: index card (helpful for getting the baking soda into the balloon)
• optional: funnel (helpful for getting the vinegar into the water bottle)
• optional: sharpie (for drawing a ghost face, if you'd like)

Here's what you do:

• (Note: Before beginning, I blew up our balloons to stretch them a bit.)
• Draw a face on the balloon (if you'd like). The face will fade a bit as it stretches.
• Measure and pour half a cup of vinegar into an empty water bottle.
• Measure and pour a teaspoon of baking soda into your balloon. Tip: if you roll an index card into a funnel shape and insert the tip into the balloon opening, it's pretty easy to do get the baking soda inside. (Other techniques were not as successful.)
• Carefully stretch the mouth of the balloon over the top of the water bottle---taking care to let the balloon flop to the side so that no baking soda escapes.
• Lift the balloon, dropping the baking soda into the vinegar. The resulting reaction causes a sudden burst of bubbles and inflates the balloon!

I made a quick book to go with this activity. The photos show a pretty clear sequence of steps, although you may want to customize the pages (e.g., take out the index card page if you're not using it) and/or the text. For the sample book, I used simple sentences and repeated some core words (e.g., need, get, put, it, in, look) . . . but this activity could be easily used to target a number of goals and a wide range of vocabulary. The book has been uploaded as a (free) powerpoint file, so you can easily modify the text on each page, or add/delete pages. 

Here are the screenshots from "Ghost Balloons!"

 

The link to download the powerpoint file for this book is here: Ghost Balloons!  (I'm not sure why the file is so big--it says unable to preview because it's so large---which is why I uploaded the whole sample book here. It can still be downloaded from that link, just not previewed.)

If you end up using it, or doing this activity, swing by here or our Facebook page and let me know how it goes!

Pool Noodle Art Robot (and free printable book)

Quick post!

In my sessions tomorrow we will be building an art robot. A few years ago, while at AAC camp, we built a similar robot using a cup---but I just couldn't get it to work at home. A quick google turned up a similar art robot with a pool noodle body, and it works perfectly. Here's what you need:

Must-have items:
-pool noodle (just slice off a chunk a few inches long)
-3 markers (those are the legs)
-tape
-vibrating toothbrush (You can find these at the drugstore. I got a 2-pack at CVS for around $9.)
-paper (for the robot to draw on)

To add extra fun and language opportunities:
-pipe cleaners (arms)
-construction paper and/or googly eyes (eyes, nose mouth----we'll use construction paper to add in extra language choices about which color to use, whether we want big or small eyes, etc)

Assembly is easy! Put face pieces onto the pool noodle. Stick pipe cleaner arms in (we didn't even need to pre-make holes for these, they slid right in). Turn upside down and tape on markers (they should be more or less evenly spaced, and sticking out about the same length, or your robot will tip). Then stick the toothbrush into the center of the pool noodle, turn on, and watch it go!  (I removed the toothbrush head from my toothbrush---it popped off when I tugged/twisted with pliers.) We also had to add a bit of tape around the body of the toothbrush to ensure a snug fit in the noodle.

I made a book to go with this activity. It's very simple and filled with opportunities to model core words for beginning AAC users (need, make, put, on, which, look, take, off, in, turn, it, go, stop, finished). I also plan on turning the robot on/off and modeling: my turn, your turn, on, off, go, stop, more, finished. Body parts (eyes/nose/mouth/arms/legs/body), colors (of markers and construction paper), and size descriptors (big/small) will also be used when we are making choices and assembling.

Here are the screenshots from "Building A Robot":

The book is available for (free) download. It's a powerpoint file and can easily be modified to fit your kids/clients/students! Here is the link to view/download "Building a Robot"

Enjoy!

AAC after school: Most success, success, least success

It's been hot in NYC for the past few days, and heat takes a real toll on Maya. After school yesterday she seemed content, but exhausted . . . and (interestingly?) her verbal speech basically evaporates when she is tired. (Evidence of the need to advocate for AAC for children who are sometimes capable of verbal speech . . . but I digress.)

She told me "No snack today" and I asked "Why didn't you eat your snack?" and she yelled "No!" and wouldn't/couldn't tell me more. So I gave her a snack, set her up with homework, and tried to ask a little bit about her day . . . but I got nothing in response. At all.

So I pulled out Mini, and sat at the table next to her. Without saying anything, I started to tap out the beginning of a sentence (in whisper mode so she couldn't hear what I was saying, because secrets are her kryptonite). And when I finished tapping out "I didn't have snack today because" I slid it over to her and she filled in the rest:

(image is a photo of Mini's screen, which reads "i didn't have snack today because I not open it mon". Maya calls me Mon instead of "mom.")

Victory! I got the information that I wanted (she's been having a bit of a snack stand-off for the past few days, so this answer makes sense to me). I decided to continue the game---I would write a sentence starter and then pass Mini over, and Maya could complete the sentence. It seemed win-win-win: good modeling, good home-use-of-AAC, and a good way to sway Maya into talking about her day.

I grabbed my phone to take a quick video clip, with the thought of sharing this story here. And I got a good one! 

And a mediocre one! 

And a lousy one! 

And while it's kind of the norm to share highlights online, I thought I should just share all three . . . because real-life-AAC-family. In the first part, the strategy works. In the second, you'll hear a distracting little brother, bathroom talk, a mom-who's-trying-to-keep-everyone-focused-and-failing. You'll see Maya get tired, get distracted, and lose interest at different parts. And in the third section, it's just not happening. (Although I should note that AAC use by me, even when rejected by Maya, is still validating AAC as communication that I enjoy and am happy to use---so it's not a failure! It's just the least successful example here.)

Real life, folks. 

Snapshot

She talks so much now.

It takes me by surprise, frequently.

Sometimes she speaks to acquaintances (neighbors, local friends) and I open my mouth to translate exactly as they open their mouth to respond to her, not needing my translation because they understood her just fine.

Other times (like in the video below) people (including me) think they understand, and respond as if they understand, and the conversation turns away from her message, and she often doesn't fight back to correct it. 

Sometimes she is so tired in the afternoon, or when she isn't feeling well, or when she gets too hot or too cold or is somehow off-kilter, and she is silent again. She'll use Mini then, if I bring it to her and sit quietly with her and we take turns tapping things . . . but the quiet, the almost total lack of speech . . . it surprises me, too. Just as much as the talkative times do.

Once upon a time, we fit so clearly into the second A of AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)---her talker was an alternative form of communication, since speech wasn't accessible. Now we straddle the augmentative and alternative worlds---sometimes our device augments speech, sometimes it's an alternate method of communication, and sometimes we have to go and search for it because we haven't used it in hours (whoops).

The video below, in which Maya describes some drama from her bus ride home, is a snapshot of Maya's speech right now. The fact that it includes me responding incorrectly to something she says also shows how important AAC is for people who don't have reliably intelligible speech---she needs a way of clarifying what she says and she also needs a reliable communication method to use with people who won't understand her speech (or when her speech is difficult to access, like when she's tired). Because of this need for AAC, it's important that we keep modeling, so that she keeps her skills up to par, learns where new words are, doesn't forget the locations of other words, etc. It's much easier to drop the modeling ball when Maya herself is favoring speech---but we can't let ourselves off the hook, not if we want her AAC vocabulary to stay solid (and expand!). 

Diagnosed.

So, here it is. The update 8.5 years in the making. 

Back in December, I received a message from a blog reader inquiring about a particular syndrome, and whether Maya might have it (this happens from time to time). She was very nice and explained that Maya looks a lot like a relative of hers, who was recently diagnosed with a rare syndrome. (You may remember that our first exome sequencing was conducted in 2012 as part of a research project. At that time they identified a gene mutation as a possible causative issue for Maya, but we just filed that information away since there was no associated syndrome----yet. And then I intentionally pushed it to the way back of my mind and grew to mostly really enjoy being undiagnosed-ish.) After receiving this email, I dug back in my paperwork from our exome sequencing and found that this reader was naming the same gene that our research team had highlighted as probably-noteworthy-but-too-new-to-really-know (MED13L). 

Fast forward to March, when we met with a new geneticist who happens to be connected to a group conducting research on this gene (actually on a whole group of genes, including this one). She re-ran our genetic sequencing (since the first sequence was done as part of research it wasn't in Maya's clinical file) and last week we found out that this round of testing confirmed the earlier result. Maya has a genetic mutation on the MED13L gene. The test also confirmed that this mutation (one little t nucleotide that should have been a c) was de novo, meaning that it was a chance occurrence (Dave and I were also tested and neither of us carries that mutation).

And so, Maya now has an official medical diagnosis. She has a rare genetic syndrome called MED13L syndrome. The information about this syndrome is pretty limited. There seem to be around 100 people (maybe? maybe less?) worldwide that currently carry this diagnosis, and it's rare enough that it's not even included yet on this list of rare diseases (interestingly, the criteria here for "rare" is 200,000 diagnoses or less, so 100 people is like . . . wow). As whole exome sequencing becomes a more common practice for children with unknown genetic conditions, we expect that the number of people diagnosed with MED13L syndrome will increase. 

Right now, the disorder is only characterized by people who have been identified with the condition. While some of the characteristics that currently define the disorder are a match for Maya (for example, speech problems and ataxia--lack of balance) others are clearly not (for example, she does not exhibit short stature or have a cleft palate, and she has recently revisited a cardiologist and had bloodwork done to confirm that we have no concerns regarding cardiac malformations or leukemia). 

If you think about the people most likely to pursue non-routine comprehensive genetic testing, many of them fall into a few categories: a) those with younger undiagnosed children, who may have access to this newer testing in a more routine manner (when Maya was tested, microarrays were a common last genetic step---now, it seems that exome sequencing is routinely offered to some), b) those who have older children who have continued to pursue non-routine genetic testing or follow up regularly with genetics, and c) those who get an email from a blog reader suggesting it. (I think that third category is pretty small). To that end, we don't expect to gain a lot of information about prognosis----because many of the children are young, and the older diagnosed individuals could disproportionately represent the characteristics of the condition. Basically, the data set is small, and small data sets are shaky.  

Also, we don't know if any of these individuals have had access to the communication and writing technology that Maya has been immersed in from toddler-hood (clearly, we would never have known how clever she is without her ability to write and talk with her device . . . and that lack of knowledge would have impacted her educational opportunities and general life path). What we do hope to find out from other families is possible medical information---what medications work well in our children, which don't, whether there are any complications to look out for, etc. And maybe to makes connections with a new community, too. 

It's interesting to have a diagnosis after almost 9 years of not having one. In the beginning the diagnosis seemed desperately important, but at some point I really grew into being "undiagnosed"---I liked the absence of labels, the fact that no one could google a disorder and somehow think that they knew Maya, or what she might be capable of, based on an online blurb. I'm truly grateful for those undiagnosed years. So . . . bittersweet, I think. Or maybe not even all that meaningful. I'm not sure yet. I've got a lot to learn about, and a lot to process---and I'm sure that I'll share more about all of it as it unfolds, in time. But for right now this transition---this end-of-the-undiagnosed-ness--- it feels like the end of a chapter, and there's something to be said for finishing a chapter and turning the page to start the next one.

(Image is a montage of photos from Tuesday, Maya's 9th birthday, including: Maya and Will blowing out the candles on her cake, Maya and Will in her classroom for a special lunch party, Maya and Will sharing a hug, Maya smiling at a present, and Maya gazing happily at her new nutcracker)

(Image is the typed word "Undiagnosed", a blue marker has crossed out the "Un" and added a the date of our official diagnosis underneath, 5/25/17.)

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program (FREE book for kids!) (visual menu)

I recently found out that Barnes & Noble has a summer reading program for kids (grades 1-6), through which each child can earn 1 free book! 

(image is logo on the front of the B&N Summer Reading journal)

Here's how it works:

1. Read 8 books.

2. Fill out reading journal for these books (title, author, favorite part).

3. Bring completed reading journal to participating B&N store and claim your free book!

(image is the back page of the B&N Summer Reading Journal, listing the free book choices)

There are 24 books to choose from when selecting a free book: eight for grades 1-2, eight for grades 3-4, and eight for grades 5-6. These books are listed (title/author) in the back of the reading journal, but I wasn't able to find a visual menu anywhere online, so I made one. A visual menu of books increases accessibility for those who can't independently read/remember the titles and provides an easier means of selection for those who can demonstrate choice more easily by pointing to an image----and also, who doesn't appreciate seeing the cover when you're choosing a book?  If your child would benefit from a visual menu of the books, this menu can be downloaded (for free) here. 

(Image is the visual book menu. It contains pictures of the 24 available book covers, broken into the 3 grade level categories)

Here's the link to more information about the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program (kind of tricky, scroll about halfway down the page to see the information, including the journal download): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading-for-kids/_/N-2mir

Happy reading!

The Leap: AAC by 18 months, 3 years later

This post is a 3-years-later follow up to my blog post AAC by 18 Months.

Yesterday morning I received a message reminding me that (exactly) three years ago, I shared this status on Facebook. 

Three years ago yesterday was when I decided to lock our modeling/play iPad into guided access and give it to Will, so that he could have his own talker.

He was 17 months old. His speech at the time was on track as a 17 month old---he had a bunch of word approximations (I have them written down somewhere), he would label and request objects, and he wasn’t combining words yet (again, typical for 17 months).

On 2/22/2014 I gave him a talker because he really wanted one. Because it was hard to keep him away from Maya’s talker, and because I thought that introducing him to AAC would deepen their relationship and communication . . . and because AAC is an important part of our family culture.

I also gave it to him because, at that point, I had been running my big mouth online for a few years. I had been shouting into the void that people needed to “provide robust AAC early!” I had argued with parents and professionals in online groups, and confidently declared that “AAC will NOT impede speech development!” and that “When speech becomes easier to access, it will be used!”

And now I had Will, 17 months old, in the adorable early stages of developing his speech, and I was about to put a screen in front of him (a screen! the horror!) and let him use that to communicate.

Guys . . . I was really scared. Like, pit-of-my-stomach, what-if-I’m-about-to-really-mess-up-as-a-mom, it’s-all-well-and-good-to-insist-this-won’t-cause-problems-but-this-is-my-kid’s-future-speech-we’re-talking-about scared. I-can-already-hear-friends-and-family-judging-me-for-giving-my-toddler-a-talking-device scared.

I wish that all professionals could try on this type of fear. With Maya, who had no speech, I ran into the world of AAC with open arms, thirsty to learn and buy and implement and immerse.  Deciding to give AAC to Will, and struggling with the emotions that were a part of that decision, allowed me to understand what the process is like for parents of children who have some speech and are being told that they should add AAC into the communication mix. The fear of losing speech, or slowing speech development, is huge. Parents agonize over all sorts of parenting decisions (If I hide vegetables in brownies will my kids ever learn to eat non-hidden vegetables? Will TV time stifle creativity? Will tricking my children into thinking it’s bedtime 30 minutes earlier tonight lead to trust issues?) . . . and those ones don’t carry potential consequences that feel so big.

I am an AAC parent-advocate. I have read a ton of AAC research. I’m heavily involved in AAC networks.

I struggled.

But I gave it to him.

And 3 years later, I can tell you what has happened as a result of that decision.

• We were able to avoid many toddler tantrums related to not understanding our child’s early speech, because he could use AAC as a back-up, or as a way to give clues as to what he was thinking.

• Will’s speech milestones (2 word combinations, sentences, questions, etc.) all occurred either on time or early.

• He began speaking new word approximations after using those words on a talker (e.g., he may have found “blueberries” on the talker and used that button a lot for a few days, and then I’d hear him verbally producing a form of “blueberries”).

• Will and Maya connected in new, deep, amazing ways. For her, Will reinforced that using a talker is just something that people do. For himself, he got to be like his big sister, whom he adores. They giggled together. She taught him how to find new things. He showed her things he wanted to talk about. They still, to this day, make up games about finding words or saying silly sentences.

• As Will spoke more and words became more clear, he used those words on the talker less . . . just as I had said online (when speech is more easily accessible, it will be used).

• Will became an expert in communication repair. He is the most multi-modal 4 year old communicator I’ve ever seen. If he’s saying a word unclearly or can’t remember a word, he will act it out, give amazing clues, tell us words that it sounds like, etc. When he was 2-3 (and so much speech is somewhat unintelligible) he used the talker for communication repair in clever, fantastic ways.

• Will began reading at an age earlier than expected, which I believe is partially due to text exposure and keyboard use.

• He uses the talker now the way that a child might use a dictionary for spelling---he’ll ask me how to spell a word to write down, but if I’m not quick he’ll grab a talker. Or he’ll start typing in the search feature and then check out spellings of multiple words.

• His receptive and expressive language and vocabulary are very high (above 90^th percentile at last measurement).

It is unlikely, therefore, that early introduction of AAC had any negative impact on his speech or language development.

It’s been good. Enlightening. Endearing and surprising. Stunning, sometimes. Silly and fun and inspiring, in ways. Amazing.

But that leap . . . it’s tough.

Parents, if you are considering AAC for a nonverbal or minimally verbal little one, but holding back because you’re scared, take the leap. Your child deserves the words, in whatever way they can access them right now. The research says that AAC will not impede speech or language development---it will actually support speech and language development as it provides your child with a voice.

Professionals, the fear is real. Parents may not be holding back because AAC is tough to learn, or difficult to logistically manage, or cumbersome, or unfamiliar. They might be really scared of making the “wrong” choice for their child---they might worry that providing AAC to a little one may seem like an easier way to access words right now, at the cost of risking long term speech development. It’s your job to create a supportive, open environment in which these discussions can be had, to acknowledge these (very real) fears, to provide information and support, and to help these families connect with other AAC families (online or in person).

The struggle is real.

The risk feels real.

The leap is big.

The rewards are kind of limitless.

-->

#AACfamily

Why We Didn't Use AAC At All Yesterday

(a (hypothetical) letter from a parent to a therapist)*

Dear SLP,
We didn't use the talker at all yesterday. Not one little bit. I had plans to use it---no really, I did! I had a whole activity in mind! What happened, you ask? Life, homework, and life again.

To start with, things are busy here. I was only home with Maya for 90 minutes, and you might as well call that 45, once you subtract the home-from-school 20 mins (that's for putting coats and shoes away, reviewing items in backpack, fixing a snack, etc.) and the Mom's-about-to-leave 25 mins (that's for making and serving dinner, packing my bags for school, finding the papers that I've misplaced since the morning, etc). So 45 mins. During that time, today, we had to make Maya's "100 Days" poster for school.

Maya had already said she wanted to show 100 cotton balls, and I had cut out "jars" for the cotton balls. I thought about all of the ways that we could use the talker for that project. We could talk about how the glue feels, or counting. Grouping cotton balls, putting them in jars, moving them around, a top row of jars and a bottom row. We could talk about how the cotton balls feel, where cotton comes from, what things in our home are made of cotton. We could make piles of extra cotton balls, or little snowmen, or pretend that they are marshmallows that we could gobble up.

I was ready. I was invested. I was energized!

But Maya was tired. Turns out the Valentine's Day dance had wiped her out. There was much staring into space, and much resting her head on the table. Every group of ten that we counted took several re-starts, since she was kind of just moving her hands without looking and staring into the distance (and I wasn't going to do it for her, so we kept starting over). Modeling + helping to stay focused on counting cotton balls = challenging (maybe pointless?). And the counting was more important than the modeling.

And the glue. My word, the glue. Do you know what happens if you get a little glue on your fingers and then try to count cotton balls? They all stick to you. And to each other. And it's really hard to peel them off, because now they have glue on them and they just stick to your non-glued fingers (by the way, now your non-glued fingers have become glued fingers). There's no way to use a talker with gluey, cotton-ball covered fingers.

The poster was made. The talker wasn't used. But I sure invested a lot of thought ahead of time into all of the great stuff I would model while making the poster. Maybe next time.

Signed,

An AAC mom who's doing her best

*this is a true story, but not a true letter, because we don't have an SLP who assigns AAC homework or checks up on our home use (kind of wish we did!). It's provided to serve a little window into how sometimes a family "who didn't even use the talker at all after school yesterday" may have really tried their best, despite having nothing to show for it in the data log. AAC professionals, the best way for you to foster AAC carryover at home is to create an open dialogue in which families feel comfortable (and not judged) sharing their barriers to home use. Then you can help supply short, simple-to-implement ideas to help increase AAC use at home!

(image is Maya and Will sitting together before Maya's bus came this morning. She is holding her completed 100 days poster. Will is making a silly face because he was saying "look at this poster!"---but he liked this picture and told me to use this one)