So We Got an SGD!Now What?!

Melissa Hoffmann, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP

Speech-Language PathologistMary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital

Definitions

• SGD=Speech Generating Device• Dedicated Device=one

purchased by insurance through a vendor that is locked into communication app/software for use only for face-to-face communication

Resources

Vendors/

Outside Tx

Device specific

Social Media

School specific

General Advice

Tech Support

Getting Started

• Subscribe to the newsletter for the device or app you are using

• There are often free or inexpensive workshops listed in there

• Articles• Lesson Plans

Use Vendors/Outpatient Therapy

• Vendors will help with initial set up and training

• Some can install mounts when applicable

• Can point you to specific resources• Outpatient therapy can provide 1:1

training and focus on training for longer periods of time

Use Technical Support Liberally!

• Tech Support all dedicated devices are excellent at troubleshooting and even walking the “non-technically inclined” through correcting issues

• Do research on communication apps re: the availability of tech support before purchasing

Social Media

• My preferred:– Twitter– Facebook– Pinterest– YouTube

• Search by topic or author

• Follow specific company or app• Follow specific bloggers

– Geek SLP– Carole Zangari– Lauren S. Enders– Vicki Haddix– Jeremy Legaspi– Chris Bugaj– Kate Ahern– Megan Sutton

• The iMums• Communication Matters• The Speech Knob• SLPeeps• PrAACtical AAC• AAC through Motivate, Model, Move

Out of the Way• AAC-Alternative Awesome

Communicators• AAC for the SLP• Consonantly Speaking

General Resources

AAC Institute

• https://aacinstitute.org/• Free and inexpensive CE modules• Variety of AAC Resources

USAAC/ISAAC• http://ussaac.org/• https://www.isaac-online.org/englis

h/home/

• Good general resource• Good resource on emergency

preparedness• Every other year-conference in

North America

Closing the Gap

• http://www.closingthegap.com/• Annual Conference (Minnesota)• Webinars-inexpensive CEUS

– Many school specific• Covers general AT in addition to

AAC

Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)• http://

www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

• 2 annual conferences (Chicago and Orlando)

• Inexpensive webinars• AT/AAC focus

Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Association of North America

(RESNA)• http://www.resna.org/• Offers certification (ATP-Assistive

Technology Professional)• Professional Development• Annual Conference• AT focus• Cognitive Technologies

speechpathology.com

• http://www.speechpathology.com/slp-ceus/aac-technology/

• Unlimited CEUs for $99/year

• 44 AAC courses at last count

Device/App Specific Resources

Prentke Romich, LAMP, Words for Life

• Live and On Demand classes on the website

• Live workshops• Live Chat

AAC Language Lab

• https://aaclanguagelab.com/• Free and subscription based

resources for parents, educators and SLPs

• Lesson Plans• Activities• $84/year

The Center for AAC & Autism

• http://www.aacandautism.com/• The source for everything LAMP

(Language Acquisition through Motor Planning)

• Several upcoming workshops in Michigan

Minspeak.com• http://minspeak.com/• Information for users, families and

educators• Pixon Project-classroom materials• Pittsburgh AAC Language Seminar

Series• http://www.minspeak.com/Pittsbur

ghAACLanguageSeminarSeries.php

Tobii DynaVox

• SLPs can get copies of Compass (iPad or Windows) and Communicator (Windows) to work on pages without taking away a student’s device

• Accessible Literacy Learning (All)-Windows or iTunes

• Pageset Central https://www.mydynavox.com/PagesetCentralEducational and/or communication pages made by others and shared

Make a MyTobiiDynaVox Account:• https://

www.mydynavox.com/Account/Login– Allows editing of your students pages

as well as access to resources• http

://www.dynavoxtech.com/training/

• http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/north-america/training/

Saltillo/TouchChat

• https://saltillo.com/training• https://touchchatapp.com/support/

touchchat– Webinars and Tutorials

– Facebook user groups

Proloquo2Go

• http://www.assistiveware.com/support

• Live trainings• Online support• Public and private Facebook groups• Forum

School-Specific Resources

News2You

• https://www.n2y.com/products/news2you/

• Can receive by app or through TouchChat/NOVA Chat

• Focused on current events• 5 different versions dependent

upon needs

Unique Learning System

• https://www.n2y.com/products/unique

• Online, standards-based set of interactive tools specifically designed for students with special needs to access the general curriculum

• 6 grade bands• Differentiated materials

• The Inclusive Class http://www.theinclusiveclass.com/• Practical AACwww.practicalaac.orgTechnology in (SPL) Educationhttp://appymall.com/techinspecialed/

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

• SIG 1, Language Learning and Education

• SIG12, Augmentative and Alternative Communication

• SIG 16, School-Based Issues• http://www.asha.org/slp/schools/pr

of-consult/aac_resources/