Grace Reinke Speech Therapy

04/29/2024

So true!

10/01/2022

Communication is SO much more than just making choices!

Nonspeaking people have more to say. Providing access is crucial to help them communicate what they want to say. This AAC Awareness Month, we’re introducing , a campaign to challenge assumptions about people who cannot speak. Read more here: https://assistivewa.re/3UOKOGG

[Image description: An image of a 2x2 square comic
Top left is an illustration of a dad holding up two shirts on hanger and asking, “Which one?” to his child. The child is sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the shirts with an unhappy face.
Top right is the continuation of the dad and child and the child is is thinking about a green and orange striped shirt - an option not offered by dad. Dad has a sad face.
Bottom left dad, still holding the two shirts on hangers up, is asking the child, “Point to your favorite”. The child looks glum.
Bottom right Dad is sad and no longer holding up the shirts. The child has folded their arms in frustration and thinks, “I can point, but I have MORE to say.”
Under the comic is hashtag More to say and the branding AssistiveWare logo and name.]

09/13/2022

Speech delays became more common since COVID. High quality speech therapy? Harder to find.

08/06/2022

Some great ideas of when you can incorporate AAC at home!

07/28/2022

The goal should always be for children to be independent and effective communicators. Children who have some words shouldn’t have to rely on someone anticipating their needs, translating for them, or always prompting them. It’s so important to recognize and accept all modalities of communication - not just mouth words. If a child has limited communication skills, AAC can be a great tool to give children a reliable way to express themselves.

07/19/2022

It’s so common to see people asking AAC users questions in an attempt to get them using their AAC.

Stop talking.
Stop questioning.
Stop demanding responses.
Stop requiring output.

Stop and listen.
Respond.
Respond to what your child initiates with their AAC.
Even if it appears random or doesn’t match what’s happening at the moment - respond.

06/10/2022

Love this thinking!

"And so when we stop thinking about [special education] as a place, and start thinking about it as portable services, we really can do a lot to create a more equitable system." - Julie Causton (Think Inclusive Podcast, 2019)

Listen & Subscribe: https://buff.ly/3trUhYq

[image] quote with white italicized letters on dark green background with MCIE logo in the bottom left corner

06/05/2022

“Forward is forward no matter the speed…forget the milestones, the checklists, the standardized tests. As long as your child is taking baby steps forward we’re moving in the right direction.”
- Cari Ebert

Instead of focusing on what a child can’t do, let’s build relationships with children and learn about their strengths and interests.

Loved hearing from Cari Ebert Seminars on this episode of the Speechie Side Up podcast! Check it out!

05/28/2022

Core words can take longer to teach than “fringe words”, but they’re an important part of language development and robust AAC systems. Core words give children the vocabulary they need to communicate lots of different things and become independent and autonomous communicators!

This doesn’t mean that “fringe vocabulary” isn’t important as well! Many children’s first words are often nouns. Words like “cookie”, “Spider-Man”, “juice”, “doggy”, “excavator”, and “bubbles” are important to children and can be highly motivating. I love combining core words + fringe words to make learning more fun and meaningful to each child.

What are some ways we can combine “core words” and “fringe words”?
⭐️ I eat cookie
⭐️ where my Spider-Man
⭐️ drink juice
⭐️ my doggy
⭐️ big excavator
⭐️ want more bubbles

To learn more about core vocabulary words check out:
https://www.project-core.com
https://aaclanguagelab.com
AssistiveWare
PrAACtical AAC

images by drawntoaac