Charting the Cs logo with black and blue text Charting the Cs Conference 2025: To Literacy and Beyond Cooperation Communication Collaboration AAC Consideration Kits for MN Schools April 29, 2025 Rebecca Tetlie - MNSHA AAC Committee Amy Perron –MN STAR Program Director Learning Outcomes Department of Administration, Assistive Technology - STAR •Participants will learn about the MN STAR Program and its lending library. •Participants will identify the contents of the AAC Consideration Kits. •Participants will identify how to access the AAC Consideration Kits. •Participants will learn the requirements of borrowing the Kits. •Participants will be able to describe two ways the AAC Communication Kit can helpidentify students who can benefit from AAC Introduction & Disclosures Amy Perron has worked at the Minnesota STAR program for eight years. First serving at the Programs Assistive Technology Specialist and currently as Program Director. •No Disclosures to share •Contact: amy.perron@state.mn.us Amy Perron Rebecca Tetlie MA, CCC - SLP is a speech- language pathologist and has worked with St. Paul Public Schools for 34 years where she led the Assistive Technology Team with a focus on augmentative communication and assistive technology for reading. She retired in 2020 . •Non - financial: Member of ASHA, MNSHA & co - chair of the MNSHA AAC Committee. •Contact: rebecca.tetlie@gmail.com Rebecca Tetlie Minnesota STAR Program •System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR) •Minnesota’s federally funded Assistive Technology Act Program •Providing services to ALL MINNESOTANS oNo proof of disability required oNo cost for program services Minnesota STAR Program written in AAC Symbols. A picture of the state of Minnesota, A picture of a star and a picture of a person at a desk with a question mark over their head Contracted Partners •Minnesota State University Moorhead Regional Assistive Technology Center (RATC) •North Dakota Assistive •Pacer Center •St. Cloud State University •ALS Association •Live Life Therapy Solutions •Lighthouse Center for Vital Living •Southeastern MN Center for Independent Living a pair of hands shaking drawn on a chalkboard with the word PARTNERS written in chalk below the hands Minnesota STAR Program Services •Device Demonstrations •Device Equipment Loans oShort - Term oOpen - Ended (limited availability) •Information and Assistance •Training A young girl looking at an AAC device STAR Demos and Loans Device Demo •Requested by individual, family member, guardian or professional •Demonstrate one or more devices •Compare similar device features •Live and interactive •Assist with decision making Device Loan •45 days or less •Provides an opportunity to test out the equipment in their own environments. •Assist with decision making •Professional Development •Short-term accommodation Online Lending Library: MNAT4ALL MNAT4ALL website STAR's online lending library AAC Consideration Kit Development •Funding & Inception •MN AAC Practitioner Survey •Goals Identified •Content & Resources Development Committee •AAC Kit Assembly •AAC Kit Pilot •Planned Updates AAC Kit Development Icon contains magnifying glass, settings gear, idea light bulb with puzzle piece AAC Consideration Kit Statewide Survey WHO: •90 Respondents •Licensures included: Speech, SPED Teachers, OT, Admin •All age groups •Surveys were distributed to the following listservs: oMN Speech Language (MDE) oMN Low Incidence Network (MDE) oAAC (MNSHA) Survey Icon with clipboard, pencil, checkbox's, smiley faces and two people icons WHEN: •Survey Duration: 12 Days (Nov 22-Dec 4) WHERE? •Responses came from 19 counties o4 Metro counties o15 Outstate counties Survey Icon with clipboard, pencil, checkbox's, smiley faces and two people icons WHAT? •Student Needs: oExpress wants & needs and Highly engaging activities for AAC •Tools: oAAC iPad, Multi - button, Core Word Displays, Wearable, One Button oAAC Apps: TouchChat , TD SNAP, Proloquo2Go •Languages: oEnglish, Spanish, Somali, Karen, Vietnamese, Hmong, Other AAC Consideration Kit: Goals Create an easy - to - use AAC Kit for IEP teams to consider AAC for students which will: •Identify AAC features that enable success •Provide data in feature match to identify AAC systems for a possible formal evaluation •Provide ideas for engaging students for communication success Goal related icon with notebook, checkboxes, target and dart AAC Consideration Kit Equipment •Low Tech Symbol Displays •Talking tiles -6 pack •Little Step by Step •GoTalk20+ Light Touch •iPad Generation 10 oProtective case •iPad Apps oTouchChatHD-WP* oTD Snap oProloquo2Go oAAC Genie* AAC Consideration Kit: Equipment Contents: Talking Tiles, Step by Step, GoTalk 20+ Lite, iPad and case, AAC Evaluation Genie App, Touchchat HD with Word Power AAC App, TD Snap AAC App, Proloquo2Go AAC App Loan Specifics Loan icon with document and fountain pen icons and signiture quiggles Who? Available to MN IEP teams How? Contact MN STAR Program •651-201-2640 telephone •Star.program@state.mn.us •MN.AT4ALL.com Time Period: 8 weeks Includes a guided timeline Where : MN STAR Program and select partners Guiding Principles •Communication Bill of Rights •SETT Framework for AT Consideration •Assume Potential •Evidence-Based Practices Guiding Principles Icon with two uplifted hands, three levitating stars held within Digital Resources How to Use the Kit •QuickstartGuides •Strategies to Boost Success •Highly Engaging Activity Ideas •Guidelines for Choosing an AAC Display Digital Resources icon with hand palm up, folder, speech bubble with mountain and video go icons Consideration •Access Resources •Data Collection Tools How to Use the Kit How to and Timeline Icon with check boxes checked and clock Week 1: Unpack, Get Familiar & Check-In Week 2: Choose Engaging Activities, Access Methods, Specific AAC Symbol Displays Week 3: Try the customized AAC tools with your student Week 4: Try AAC tools with your student & make adjustments Week 5: Try AAC tools with your student in customary environments Week 6: Try AAC tools with your student to add symbols & independence Week 7: Try to add symbols, independence, home environment Week 8: Determine Outcomes & Check-In Quickstart Guides •Description •Written Quickstart •How to Videos Quickstart Guide icon with open book and information icon in speech bubble above the book Guidelines for Choosing an AAC Display General Tips for Success How to set up the iPad as AAC Device Symbolic Users Emergent Users Guidelines icon with finger pointing to a screen with shapes Strategies for Boosting Success with AAC •Engage and Motivate •Model & Pause •Create Opportunities •Follow the Student’s Lead •Honor Any Communication Attempts Strategy icon with heart, thumbs up, three people icons in speech bubbles Highly Engaging Activity Ideas •Young Students •Elementary Students •Secondary Students Engaging icon with a heart and star in speech bubbles above a thumbs up and two people icons Addressing Challenges to AAC Consideration •Collaborate with Specialists •Train communication partners •Motor Challenges •Self Regulation Challenges •Vision Challenges •Engagement Challenges Addressing Challenges icon with idea lightbulb, puzzle pieces, person icons Outcomes •What motivated the student? •What access systems enabled success? •AAC features enabled success? •What implementation strategies enabled success? •What environments did you try the AAC? •What TASKS was the student able to access? •Would the student benefit from an AAC system? •What systems would be appropriate to trial? •What are the Next steps? Outcomes icon with student portrait icon on bulleted paper and pencil to write AAC Consideration Kit: How to Access Application on STAR Home Page Home Bases STAR St. Paul St. Cloud State University Minnesota State University Moorhead Regional Assistive Technology Center (RATC) AAC Consideration Kit: Summer Pilot •Seeking 6 IEP teams to pilot this summer •Timeline: 8 weeks in June-July •Willingness to follow process & submit feedback •How to Apply Charting the Cs logo with black and blue text Thank you! Rebecca Tetlie – Rebecca.Tetlie@gmail.com Amy Perron – amy.perron@state.mn.us images from www.freepik.com