A Vibrant Mind Hidden In Plain Sight

2016-11-10T10:11:25-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Cross Disability, Editor's Picks, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Martin Pistorius, author of the New York Times best-seller, Ghost Boy: The

Five Reasons You Need to Read ‘Ghost Boy’ by Martin Pistorius

2016-11-10T10:11:29-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Assistive Technology, Author, blog, Books You Need, Cerebral Palsy, Editor's Picks, General, Lauri Swann Hunt|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

For over ten years Martin Pistorius was trapped in his own body, fully cognizant, but unable to speak or move. He was surrounded by people who believed he was incapable of thinking and tried desperately to get just one person to notice. His story serves as a wake-up call for all of us to drastically change our assumptions about speech and intellectual capacity as well as the need to radically reform expectations and treatment of people with complex communication needs.

How Being Included Changed This Boy’s Life

2016-11-10T10:11:29-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Accessibility, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, General, Inclusion, Inclusive Education, Search Categories|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Having opportunities to learn with everyone could access more opportunities for all.

The Importance of Opportunity

2016-11-10T10:11:35-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Advocacy In Action, Author, blog, General, Henry Recommends, Inclusion, Inclusive Education, Lauri Swann Hunt, Search Categories, Videos|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Dillan Barmache, a 14 year old autistic student, delivers his powerful 8th grade commencement speech using his iPad and brings the crowd to their feet.

Life for Lief ~ “See Me As Smart”

2016-11-10T10:11:37-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Advocacy, Articles, Disability Rights, General, Neurodiversity, Ollibean Family, Parenting|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

“Some people think that kids who are autistic can’t handle getting a transplant. Kids with autism can handle it.” Lief O'Neill

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite Shares Strategies to Promote Literacy for ALL

2016-11-10T10:11:42-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Articles, Assistive Technology, Disability Rights, General, Inclusion, Inclusive Education, Literacy|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite addresses the topic of overall good literacy

How AAC and assistive tech make classrooms better for all : Paula Kluth

2016-11-10T10:11:43-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Assistive Technology, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General, Inclusive Education|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In 2009, I published an article in The Reading Teacher

11 Year Old Jacob On The Right Thing To DO

2016-11-10T10:11:43-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Advocacy, Advocacy, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, General, Henry Recommends, Inclusion, Neurodiversity|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I said a long time ago that I would not only be an real student In a school that supports me but also a self advocate for those lost in segregated settings echoing the dreaded lives of people in the world that are like me without the right supports.

5 Ways to Elicit Language from PrAACtical AAC

2016-11-10T10:11:44-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Articles, Assistive Technology, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, Disability Rights, Editor's Picks, General, Inclusion, Inclusive Education|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

PrAACtical Suggestions: 5 Ways to Elicit Language Without Asking a

The Power of Presuming Competence

2016-11-10T10:11:44-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Advocacy In Action, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, General, Inclusion, Inclusion Resources, Inclusive Education, Resources, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

"Thasya", a mini film by Dan Habib, highlights the power of presuming competence, differentiated instruction and augmentative and alternative communication. Inclusion works.

Disabilty and Civil Rights: Standing On the Right Side of History

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Advocacy, Advocacy In Action, Author, blog, Cross Disability, Disability Rights, General, Inclusion, Inclusion Videos, Inclusive Education, Lauri Swann Hunt, Ollibean Family, Ollibean Mama Spotlight, Videos|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

"If we were to go back to the 1960s and we were to talk to those leaders who were vehemently against desegregation, we would hear the conviction in their voices of them stating why they believe their decisions and what they were doing to those children were just. Just as I believe that some of you and some of the board members that have spoken believe that their decisions are just. But, I fear that the Hillsborough County School Board is standing on the wrong side of history."

I Am Here To Make A Difference For My People

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Advocacy In Action, Author, blog, Cross Disability, Disability Rights, Editor's Picks, General, Inclusion, Inclusion Videos, Inclusive Education, Lauri Swann Hunt, Ollibean Brothers & Sisters, Ollibean Family, Ollibean Thought Leaders, Videos|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

"I am here to make a difference for my people. I hope that you listen to what I have to say. I want people like you to stop judging me." Tres Whitlock

Because I Stood With Henry

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Amy Sequenzia, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Featured (Homepage), General, Henry, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Because I stood with Henry I am happier today and you should too. Henry not only got his rights, he proved that presumption of competence should be the default for every student.

Untitled

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is not directed at anyone in particular. It is about several people I’ve met throughout my life. I sometimes need to remind myself that being me means following my own agenda and not pleasing the ones who will not be part of my story.

AAC Helps Learners with Complex Communication Needs Reach Their Full Potential

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Accessibility, Assistive Technology, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

" A lot of these kids end up not reaching their full potential because they suffer from low expectations. People think they don't speak well, so we shouldn't have them in the regular classroom, but a lot of the kids I work with, they're cognitively fine. They're perfectly capable. They just need a viable means of communication to really help them through that." Cathy Binger

Ariane Zurcher: Non-Speaking Autistic Woman Writes Book

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Around the Web, Articles, Assistive Technology, Featured (Homepage), General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Barb Rentenbach's funny, poignant and beautiful must-read book, I Might Be You: An Exploration of Autism and Connection, is now available as an audiobook.

PrAACtical AAC | Presuming Competence and Using The Least Dangerous Assumption

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Ableism, Articles, Assistive Technology, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, Editor's Picks, General, Inclusive Education, Resources|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

PrAACtical AAC's latest post on the importance of presuming competence.

Amy Sequenzia: Does it matter?

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Should it matter that some of us are labeled intellectually disabled? Read the definitions, look at us in a realistic way and ask yourself; Does it matter? Aren’t we all worthy?

Everyone Communicates

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Assistive Technology, Editor's Picks, General, Resources, Resources We Love|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of our favorite resources for all things AAC!

The Most Important Information About AAC Use in the Classroom

2016-11-10T10:11:53-05:00By |Categories: blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Presumption of competence combined with support and collaboration from team members helps the learner with complex communication needs have a voice in the classroom.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay Stand Up for Inclusion

2016-11-10T10:11:54-05:00By |Categories: Around the Web, Autism, Events, General, Inclusion|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Presented and discussed will be the importance of inclusion and friendship for youth with disabilities. The cast and of the acclaimed feature documentary, Wretches & Jabberers will be joined by The National Center on Inclusive Education’s Mary Schuh, PhD, and Tampa advocate, 13 year old, Henry Frost.

April and Autism Acceptance at Tampa Theatre

2016-11-10T10:11:54-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Autism, Editor's Picks, Entertainment, Events, General, Inclusive Education, Media Representation, Neurodiversity, Ollibean Foundation|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Get your advocacy on. April and Autism Acceptance is in Tampa. The rock stars of disability advocacy- Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette- are back.

Ollibean Art for Change at USF: April. Autism. Advocacy. Acceptance.

2016-11-10T10:11:54-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Autism, Entertainment, Events, Inclusive Education, Ollibean Foundation|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A day of inclusive education, community acceptance, and self-advocacy at USF with Academy Award Winning Director and Stars of the Acclaimed Documentary Wretches & Jabberers, NCIE's Mary Schuh, PhD, and Tampa advocate Henry Frost. CARD (The Center for Autism and Related Disorders) at the University of South Florida) will host at USF's Marshall Hall.

Ten Things I wish My Teacher and SLP Knew about AAC : Pat Mervine

2016-11-10T10:11:55-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Articles, Assistive Technology, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General, Inclusive Education, Resources We Love, Search Categories|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Pat Mervine has a great website and is the author

Ido In Autismland

2016-11-10T10:11:59-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Assistive Technology, Editor's Picks, General, Resources, Resources We Love|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

We love Ido In Autismland, a blog by Ido a young autistic advocate who types to communicate.

It is About Respect

2016-11-10T10:12:00-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Respect for one another is one basic quality if we want to have meaningful conversations and relationships with other human beings. The ableism that disabled people experience is a form of disrespect.

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