Awe and Wonder Podcast Series 5
Awe and Wonder S5 E9: Krista Wilkinson
Dr. Krista Wilkinson published an article on evidence-based approach to AAC design for individuals with cortical visual impairment (CVI) based on the experience of Emma, a young woman with CVI. In this episode Krista explains the three pillars of an evidence-based practice approach (service providers, researchers, and families/clients) and describes three domains that are important considerations for AAC users with CVI: skills brought by the individual, responsibilities of the communication partner, and design choices for the AAC system.
Awe and Wonder S5 E8: Whitney VanKlinken
Whitney Van Klinken is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at Yakima Children’s Village-Multicare. She talks about her experiences working with children and adults doing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) evaluations, including for those with vision impairments. She and Brenda discuss considerations when evaluating communication systems for students who are blind or have low vision or CVI. Together they share stories of using switches with students, observing vision behaviors and examples of the power of presuming competence.
Awe and Wonder S5 E7: Lynn Elko
Lynn and her daughter Emma struggled to find a way for Emma, who has Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI), to have access to a robust vocabulary. Together, working through page setup, navigation methods and symbol representation, they figured out what worked for Emma and called it See CVI, Speak AAC.
Awe and Wonder S5 E6: Kathee Scoggin & Emma Packard
Kathee Scoggin and Emma Packard both work with students who have combined vision and hearing loss including deaf-blindness and support the Washington DeafBlind Program.
In this episode of the podcast Kathee and Emma share stories from their numerous experiences working with students who have combined vision and hearing loss. These stories call out important tips for working with this population, including: considerations for starting tactile symbols, what a good relationship between adults and students can do to improve communication skills, and what adults can learn when they provide adequate wait time for students with combined vision and hearing loss.
Awe and Wonder S5 E5: Marci Revelli
Marci Revelli is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who has completed numerous AAC evaluations for kids with complex needs including vision. In this episode she talks about questions SLPs can ask families that give clues about the student’s vision and shares stories of AAC evaluations with students who have low vision or CVI. Marci shares that pulling in all team members (especially family), taking AAC evaluations/trials slow, and trialing AAC systems in different settings with different people are key to finding the right AAC system for a child with low vision/CVI.with students and instead asking ourselves what the student can still do with their sensory access. Ting also stresses the importance of introducing technology- any tools or systems that help people access and engage with information better- as soon as students are seeking and needing access to their environment.
Awe and Wonder S5 E4: Ting Siu
Ting is a Teacher of Blind and Low Vision Students (TVI) and coordinates the Northwest Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT-NW) at the WA State School for the Blind (WSSB). In this episode Ting cautions about the ableist perspective of prioritizing vision with students and instead asking ourselves what the student can still do with their sensory access. Ting also stresses the importance of introducing technology- any tools or systems that help people access and engage with information better- as soon as students are seeking and needing access to their environment.
Awe and Wonder S5 E3: Tanna Neufeld
In this episode of the Awe and Wonder AAC & AT podcast Tanna Neufleld, SLP, discusses which students may be at risk for vision involvement and behaviors parents and practitioners can look for that might give clues that vision is impacted, and about using a student’s preferred sensory modality. Tanna also talks about how her own vision diagnosis plays a role in her life and about the technology supports she uses in various settings.
Awe and Wonder S5 E2: Amanda Soper
Amanda Soper is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Teacher of the Vison Impaired (TVI) in Washington D.C. In this podcast she discusses cerebral vision impairment and characteristics or visual behaviors you might notice in children. Amanda also explains how she uses semantic compaction language systems like Unity to support students with low vision.
Awe and Wonder S5 E1: Luis Perez
Luis Peréz is the Disability & Digital Inclusion Lead for CAST where he promotes the creation, delivery and use of high quality accessible educational materials and technologies to support equitable learning opportunities for all students. In this episode Luis references resources available from CAST, but also shares his own lived experience of having low vision, urging people to challenge assumptions around disability and be proactive in how we provide supports to low vision and blind students.
