Tag Archives: #CommunicationTakesAACcess

{Dear ASHA} With all due respect…..

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Dear ASHA, in response to your “with all due respect” reply, a poll of 3,000 of 186,000 ASHA members and only 307 respondents does NOT reflect the opinions of the majority of us. Instead of providing an unbiased opportunity for members to express our thoughts on the top concerns facing our profession and the families we serve, this poll had a slant towards the negative aspects of tech. What about all the fabulous possibilities of tech such as AAC use, adapted play & therapeutic use of an iPad with high quality apps?
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Instead of just repeating the standard advise parents receive regarding limiting tech from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Technology Association, National PTA or reporters, ASHA is the position to provide important information about how we can support parents in developing communication, language and play skills with their children through appropriate uses of technology such as:
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  • Ideas on how to support play and language acquisition through technology for toddlers with special needs.
  • The importance of early access to robust AAC options and information about how to find the Assistive Technology Lending Library programs and SLPs who specialize in AAC in each state.
  • Ideas on how to incorporate technology and social language skills/small talk interventions for adults and teens who use AAC.
  • Ideas on how to incorporate video modeling into language interventions for children who are keen video fans/youtube enthusiasts.
  • Ideas on how technology can be used to support emergent readers and writers who cannot use traditional materials such as paper books and lead pencils.
  • Ideas on how parents can talk with their children as they actively engage in interactive play with apps such as Toca Boca Tea Party, My PlayHome, Sago Mini Friends, etc.
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    These ideas were inspired by this fabulous comment by Mary-Louise Bertram on your post: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/posts/10153650304700318?comment_id=10153650653710318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R3%22%7D

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As I stated previously, many parents and SLPs who see your posts and videos don’t differentiate between the “purposes” for the technology. I have seen countless posts in a variety of Facebook groups where SLPs and parents have commented about not pursuing AAC for young children due to needing to “limit screen time”. This misperception is extremely concerning!
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On your Facebook page you encouraged members to “speak up” during BHSM yet when we voiced concerns about our own organization we were redirected to e-mail. The canned reply you get when you take the time to submit your concerns to ASHA formally via the e-mail they provided can be seen in the image at the top of this post and here: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/photos/a.433610663356611.117461.174264525957894/1138548532862817/?type=3&theater

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Wow. Thanks for dismissing those of us who work in the trenches with kids with complex communication needs and their families everyday. I think I’ll stick with public forums and social media.
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The slogan of BHSM 2016 is “Communication Takes Care“. One of the definitions of “care” is “serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk.”. Kind of ironic since you seem to be taking very little care in how your BHSM campaign is being perceived and the potential damage that it may do.

The solution isn’t difficult. You just need to be more thoughtful, balanced and inclusive in your posts and videos. Please “take care” by doing posts that highlight kids with complex communication needs and innovative ways of using tech to meet those needs for AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps. There are several parent authored blogs that are well respected and have huge followings who I’m sure would be more than glad to share their stories.

Please listen. It’s far past time for the voice of ASHA to speak for kids of ALL needs & abilities.

~ from a concerned ASHA certified SLP & dues paying member for 26 years

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The poll that you mentioned: http://www.asha.org/uploadedFiles/BHSM-Member-Poll-Results.pdf

No mention of AAC or appropriate uses of tech in any of these BHSM posts:
* http://www.asha.org/bhsm/ten-tips-blog-post/
* http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7802751-asha-risks-of-tech-overuse-poll/
* http://www.asha.org/uploadedImages/BHSM-Infographic.jpeg

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FYI – For those who may not know, all states in the USA are supposed to have an Assistive Technology Lending Library program where parents & professionals can borrow AAC devices, iPads with AAC apps & other AT for short-term trial. It’s a great way to try various options out before making purchasing decisions. There are lots of great AAC devices and apps. It’s important to do a good feature-match and trial of options. Find the AT Lending Library in your state: http://www.ataporg.org/states.html. Also can look on: http://www.resnaprojects.org/allcontacts/statewidecontacts.html. They may also have helpful info about SLPs in your area who specialize in AAC and any funding resources that may be specific to your state.

This website has good info regarding potential funding sources: http://ectacenter.org/topics/atech/funding.asp

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In case you missed it, OMazing Kids blog post:

https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/05/04/what-were-they-thinking-again-ashas-misguided-assault-on-kids-technology-for-better-hearing-speech-month-2016/
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#CommunicationTakesAACcess #GiveThemAllTheWords #SeeMeSeeMyAAC #SLPblogger #SLPeeps #BHSM #BHSM2016
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{What Were They Thinking…. AGAIN!?!} ASHA’s misguided assault on kids & technology for Better Hearing & Speech Month 2016

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OMazing Kids blog post in response to ASHA BHSM 2016 anti tech campaign

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Dear ASHA, this ASHA certified SLP (dues paying member for 26 years) had prayed that you would have a better campaign in mind for this year’s Better Hearing & Speech Month…. ’cause we are still dealing with the fallout from last year’s fiasco. But unfortunately here we are again in 2016 with a tech shaming focus for BHSM.

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I know you didn’t intend to do harm with last year’s campaign or this year’s but you have. The issue is that your posts and videos don’t include any caveats for appropriate uses of tech such as AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps. They just convey a black and white “tech is bad and needs to be swapped” message. Many parents and SLPs who see your posts and videos don’t differentiate between the “purposes” for the technology. I have seen countless posts in a variety of Facebook groups where SLPs and parents have commented about not pursuing AAC for young children due to needing to “limit screen time”. This is a ridiculous battle. What’s silly is that in the era when all we had was traditional dedicated SGDs nobody ever called that “screen time” yet an iPad with an AAC app locked in Guided Access is a dedicated SGD.

The solution isn’t difficult. You just need to be more thoughtful, balanced and inclusive in your posts and videos. Please consider doing posts that highlight kids with complex communication needs and innovative ways of using tech to meet those needs for AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps.

There are several parent authored blogs that are well respected and have huge followings who I’m sure would be more than glad to share their stories. Please listen. It’s far past time for the voice of ASHA to speak for kids of ALL needs & abilities.

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Interesting post about tech shaming: http://www.sunshineandhurricanes.com/please-stop-saying-technology-is-ruining-childhood/

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Dear OMazing Kids peeps – You can join us in voicing concerns using the #CommunicationTakesAACcess hashtag and by commenting on this post on the ASHA FB page: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&theater

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You can also followup with an e-mail to bhsm@asha.org. Based on ASHA’s responses to the FB comments so far, we may not be able to do much about the tone of this year’s BHSM but hopefully can prevent a “threepeat” in 2017.

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And feel free to post comments on this video on ASHA’s YouTube channel:

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Update: Well it looks like all of our posts and comments have at least caused The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to mention that their new infographic excludes tech used for AAC. But the issue is that statement is only visible in the text of their FB post so this infographic viewed outside that context can still do great harm. I left a comment asking that they update the infographic itself. Several others have now commented asking that they also remove the stipulation about “severe” communication disorders. Also…. Not sure what they mean by polling their members. I’m a member and I never received info about this poll.

Love this comment posted by Mary-Louise Bertram: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/posts/10153650304700318?comment_id=10153650653710318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R3%22%7D

 

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My OMazing Kids FB post in late April: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/posts/1134222826628721

& my blog post voicing concerns in 2015: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2015/05/16/what-were-they-thinking-ashas-misguided-assault-on-kids-technology-for-better-hearing-speech-month-2015/

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Check out these posts from others who have spoken out. I will be updating this blog post to add more throughout the month:

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Hold My Words: https://www.facebook.com/HoldMyWords/photos/a.841100355997445.1073741829.824970217610459/971098362997643/

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Uncommon Sense Blog: https://www.facebook.com/123130417730793/photos/a.124083530968815.9496.123130417730793/1067490493294776/?type=3&theater and Dana has boldly posted several comments in the post over on ASHA’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153646803975318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22}, https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647772650318&reply_comment_id=10153647794580318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22} & https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647772650318&reply_comment_id=10153649462875318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22}

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Rachael Langley is a fellow SLP and AAC enthusiast who creates fabulous memes: https://www.facebook.com/RachaelLangleyAAC/photos/a.1593847960833847.1073741828.1593841367501173/1734541580097817/?type=3&theater

 

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Speak for Yourself is the only AAC company that I’ve seen so far speak out against the BHSM 2016 campaign. I love Heidi’s boldness to speak up: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakForYourselfAAC/posts/1019817461386869 (one of several posts) & https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647815075318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D

 

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}