Welcome to the first quarter newsletter of the WI AAC Network.
Parents get excited to hear their child talk for the first time. I remember seeing my brother and sister -in- law get so excited hearing their son Griffin say his first word. And yes I was excited about it too. But when you have a child with a communication disability, you wonder if they can speak and do they understand what is happening around them. I cannot imagine how hard it is for parents not knowing what happens when you are not there and wondering what they need and want.
Some parents that I know, bought an iPad and put a communication app that they picked themselves. They think that is all they need to do and do not need an AAC evaluation. Parents I can understand that, but this way might be easier but it will be harder down the road. An evaluation gives the team information about the following things: how many icons can the child have, how can they access their device, do we need to look at their vision, do we need to look at their sensory, what are the environments that they would be using this device in, and opportunities to trial multiple devices.
When the family just buys an app without an evaluation, I like to say that is like buying a car without going on a test drive. Would you do that? I know that I would not, because I want to see how the vehicle rides, check out the tires, and many other things. A communication device or a communication app is as important as a vehicle. So take the AAC device or app for a test drive. Now once you have a communication device, you will need to find support.
Good news about that, because this whole newsletter is on different societies and organizations that support family members, AAC Communicators, and professionals.
By Mike Hiple
Some of the organizations that you might not be aware about
Wisconsin has many many disability organizations to help professionals, families, and adults who have a disability, it is hard to find out about all of them. We will list some of these for you to learn from. Note these organizations are not AAC specific, but have a lot of information to support you. Please check them out and learn.
ACT Today is an organization for military families to get what they need. They can ask for anything that they need to help the child. This organization gives out grants to families quarterly, but you can apply for an emergency grant any time throughout the year. Things that they fund are the following: an iPad or a tablet for communication, a fence to keep the children safe, therapy, swimming lessons, sensory room, and anything that the family needs. https://www.act-today.org/
Waisman Center Communication Aids and Systems Clinic (CASC)
Evaluation and treatment services for AAC devices located in Madison. https://www.waisman.wisc.edu/clinics/communication-aids-systems-casc/
ECHO AAC
Virtual learning and networking opportunity.
Respite Care
Do you know about the Respite Care Association of Wisconsin? The association does a lot of cool things to help you find caregivers or a caregiver for your loved one. The association offers training and information about respite care and how to get started with respite care. It is important to take some time for yourself and respite care allows this. Please visit their website to learn more at https://respitecarewi.org/?fbclid=IwAR2_o6_zXv62zZ-Tsl9bM_QfDFx86OHXb3tOliV_8yHmShlmlpKatoEjSj0
Cooking
Okay I’m going to date myself here, but back in the early days of News To You they had a recipe of the week. Sometimes my mom and I would make it and it was a fun way for me to use my device. I was reading the February assistive technology forward’s updates, guess what they found a website called Accessible Chef. On that website they have recipes and assistive technology tools in the kitchen that make baking easier!! Please check them out.
Surveys to help the state of Wisconsin know what you need
Please take the survey to help the state health services know what you need.
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6950331/No-Wrong-Door-Focus-Group This one is for families.
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7114672/BCS-Survey-of-Professionals This one is for professionals.
ECHO on Autism
We already told you about ECHO AAC. But did you know that they have an ECHO on Autism too? You can check them out at this website.
College Fair
You might have a child or students that are wondering about can I go to college? This fair is for you. It is on February 11th at Marquette University and it is free. It is never too early to think about attending college and more important start planning. College isn’t for everyone so please really think and have an open discussion with the person. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wisconsin-precollege-fair-2023-tickets-492924589717
From The Desk of BPDD
These are upcoming happenings for the Wisconsin Board for People who have Developmental Disabilities. Disability Advocacy Day is back in person on March 23rd which is a Thursday. This is an excellent opportunity to show your legislators and others what AAC Communicators can do. You have set up visits with your legislators to discuss the issues that are going on. In the morning you listen and learn about the issues that will impact you then in the afternoon you go with a group of people that live around you, you’re going to talk about the issues as a group to the legislators. The day is very powerful to them, because most of them don’t have any background on disability issues and this day you are the teacher and they are the students. Please think about coming.
Another BPDD’s event is the Youth Leadership Forum, which is a week-long leadership and advocacy training session for teenagers. The camp is at Edgewood college in Madison, Wisconsin. The camp runs the week of 8th to the 14th, camp applications need to get in by March 17th. Also, we want to wish BPDD a happy 50th anniversary and a huge thank you for what you do in Wisconsin for everyone in the disability community!! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7BTQ3NRSh1FthYl3mB1YCUzZJqdRUbmHOEPVBvYLqDiH3yQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0Pkdz8myIO-tfT9bm7Hz0AGZOOxUrZ70P6HLcoLgvFMlZepxcZc2haICg&fbzx=31559297629218655
This quarter AAC Stars
We were lucky enough to have four students who are the AAC stars to kick off the program. Congratulations to Elia, Zacharie, Myles, and Sophia who have been doing an amazing job with using their communication device. We are so proud of you!! Keep up the amazing work. If you know an AAC star or stars please tell us about them using this form. Please remember to tell us your email address, so we can send you something for the AAC star or stars. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uODYi6uZDfWNTtHEzpIcLgiuIYN89u-M7bUUEvx4Ss8/edit
From The Desk of USSAAC
United States Society of Augmentative Alternative Communication [USSAAC] is the only society that works for and with family members , AAC communicators, and professionals. Their membership year go from January 1st to December 31st, so you can join today and you can get a full year of member benefits including free ASHA CEU from watching webinars, discount of attending ATTIA and ISAAC conferences, and NEW BENEFIT is 25% off from any book orders from the Plural Public. https://ussaac.org/