Coffee Corner 4.0
What I’m Reading
Disabled Do-It-Yourselfers Lead Way to Technology Gains: I am so impressed all of the recent New York Times articles covering disability rights and advocacy. I found this one particularly interesting given the article discusses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and the lack of representation when selecting a voice for an individual’s speech-generating device.
Meet the Model Agency that is Redefining Beauty in the Fashion Industry: I love reading about increased representation of those with disabilities in the modeling world. So great!
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction, Interprofessional Collaborative Practice, and Students With Severe Disabilities: Always continuing to educate myself on the intersection of communication and literacy for children who use AAC to communicate.
What I’m Listening To
Prepping for a Very Different School Year: Strategies for Parents: PBS Kids has done a fabulous job with webinars over the last few months and this one is no exception. This webinar is a wonderful resource for parents that are preparing their kids for going back to school in-person, continued remote learning, or a hybrid approach.
Marie Forleo Podcast: Mikaila Ulmer on Starting a Business at 4 Years Old: This episode of the Marie Forleo podcast was so inspiring! Mikaila Ulmer is a 15-year-old entrepreneur who started a lemonade business when she was four years old. Marie and Mikaila talk extensively about the importance of “dreaming like a kid” and fearlessly chasing after your goals without reservation. I feel like this is an important reminder for myself as well as the kids I work with.
What I’m Watching
Love on the Spectrum: This 5-episode Nextflix series showcases young adults on the autism spectrum as they explore romantic relationships. While not representative of all individuals with ASD, this was truly a joy to watch! It’s awesome to see more TV shows include those with disabilities.
What I’m Buying
Russell + Hazel Planner: I’m always on the hunt for a good planner. I’ve had my eye on this Russell + Hazel mini binder and inserts to kick off a new school year. There’s nothing quite like a fresh planner!
Resources I’m Loving
Sneeze and Cough Safely with Grover: A really nice Sesame Street visual for kids as we review how to properly cover you mouth when coughing.
Make a Mask: ABCYa is one of my favorite websites for games to incorporate within teletherapy sessions. This make a mask game is a great one as we continue to normalize wearing masks for kids.
Would You Rather /s/ Boom Cards: I love to incorporate Would You Rather questions in my therapy sessions, as these hypothetical questions elicit so much language (e.g., commenting, conversational skills, complex sentences). This particular Boom card version is wonderful, as it allows me to simultaneously target speech and language goals.
Now it’s your turn! What have been your recent favorites?