Classroom Toolbox Training

The Classroom Toolbox is a virtual toolbox of resources to help teachers provide adapted communication supports to students in their classrooms. In here you'll find the Classroom Communication Supports Checklist to help you determine what supports you already have in place, ones you have but aren't using, and ones you are interested in exploring. For every communication support, there's a learning module to explore, with photos, descriptions, components, links to comprehensive resources and curated YouTube videos. These modules will help you confidently increase the communication supports for your students!

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Building the Communication Classroom Series

  • Getting Oriented (3 lessons)​
  • Present Level of Performance: How do my students communicate? (3 lessons)​
  • Can You Hear Me Now?   Classroom Routines, Expectations & Visual Supports (7 lessons)​
  • Simple Communication Systems: Light Tech (5 lessons)​
  • Embedding Communication Into Your Classroom (5 lessons)​
  • IEP Time! Progress, Present Levels and Goals (2 lessons)​
  • AAC 101: Simple Steps for Student Communication​
  • The Core Word Classroom​

There is a wealth of information and materials for you on our website, so you may be asking yourself, "Where in the world do I start?" No worries, we've got you! This is the first stop in your training! In this unit we will be answering some primary questions to get you started!

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Starting Young: Communication in Early Intervention & the Preschool Classroom

Our specialized training hub dedicated to supporting communication success in Early Intervention in the home and our preschool classrooms

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Communication Systems Series

  • Getting Started with a New Communication System (3 lessons)​
  • Understanding Robust AAC Systems (3 lessons)​
  • AAC Feature Considerations (5 lessons)​
  • Speech Generating Devices & Applications (3 lessons) ​

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Partner Strategy Kits

  • Interaction Strategies (3 lessons)​
  • AAC Access (3 lessons)​
  • Engagement (3 lessons)​
  • Language Support Strategies (5 lessons)​

Partner Strategy Kits

AAC Partner Strategy Kits are engaging posters/handouts, descriptions and short videos explaining and modeling techniques for you to use to help your student be willing, and able to communicate using their AAC system!

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AAC Assessment Series

  • Communication Matrix:  Forms & Functions​
  • Student Communication Goals Grid​
  • Every Move Counts, Clicks & Chats: Motivators, Sensory Needs, Forms & Functions​
  • Communication Sample & Analysis​
  • Dynamic AAC Goals Grid (DAGG)​
  • AAC Evaluation Genie Training​
  • AAC Communication Skills Assessment-2​
  • Dynamic AAC Advanced Consultation FORM​
  • Team & Family Involvement

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DTA Schools Evaluation and Funding

  • DTA Schools Process Introduction​
  • DTA Schools Referral & Records Review​
  • DTA Schools Dynamic AAC Assessment & Trials Process​
  • AAC Funding Sources​
  • SGD Evaluation Report Writing​
  • Working with SGD Manufacturers
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Empowering Families: AAC At Home

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High Frequency Core Words & Messages

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AAC 101

5 steps to move from training to talking, give you a clear path for you and your student learner. Learning to communicate is a shared journey between the learner and their partners, and that makes sense! Communication is a shared activity between two people. It is the means for us to make connections, meet our needs, engage socially, participate in shared experiences, and bridge the gap between our experiences and sharing these their partners.

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Communication Assessment in Early Intervention: Myths & the SETT Framework

Why would we use AAC supports for our very young students? In this training we will debunk AAC myths and consider all of the reasons for using AAC. We will spend the remainder of our time learning how to conduct a contextually relevant assessment using the SETT Framework, developed by Dr. Joy Zabala, in which we use a team approach to describing the child, his environment, what he needs to be able to do as a communicator, and finally, what supports we might add to help him develop more advanced communication skills.

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Communication Assessment in Early Intervention: Communication Skills & Goals Development Using the Communication Matrix

Lesson

AAC All Day: Embedding AAC Into Daily Routines

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Lesson

My First AAC System

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Beyond the Starter System: AAC Assessment for Preschool

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Reading and Writing in Preschool

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Communication Assessment in Early Intervention: Communication Skills & Goals Development Using the Communication Matrix

In this 30 minute video, we are discussing the use of the Communication Matrix, a free or low-cost on-line assessment tool to determine how and why our student communicates, and applying this knowledge to our goals determination!

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Lesson

Cultural Responsiveness in AAC for Early Intervention

In this video, Stephanie Ponte explores the critical role of cultural responsiveness in AAC interventions. She emphasizes the need for practitioners to consider the unique cultural values and beliefs of families when introducing AAC tools and strategies. By balancing empirical evidence with cultural sensitivity, Stephanie highlights how effective communication and mutual respect can lead to better outcomes for children using AAC.

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Lesson

1

Communication Assessment in Early Intervention: Myths & the SETT Framework

Why would we use AAC supports for our very young students? In this training we are looking at myths, reasons for using AAC and how to conduct a contextually relevant assessment.

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Lesson

2

Instructional Strategies for Preschool

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