11-Year-Old Girl Scout Creates More Inclusive Play Experience

 Wanting to complete a service project with lasting community impact, 11-year-old Luna Bowles raised about $3,600 to build an augmentative and alternative communication board at a park. Read More >

Apple Rolls Out Accessibility Features Aimed At Users With Developmental Disabilities

 Apple is introducing a host of new features to make the iPhone and iPad easier to use for people with cognitive disabilities and those who are nonspeaking. Read More >

Twitter Encouraging Users To Make Tweets More Accessible

 Twitter is rolling out a new feature aimed at making the platform more accessible to people with disabilities. Read More >

Robots Give Students An Assist With Communication Skills

 Originally created to help students who have autism, classroom robots named Milo and Carver are helping students struggling with communication, processing delays and social emotional learning. Read More >

Apple's iPad Gets Assistive Technology Boost

 Through a partnership with a venerable name in the world of assistive technology, people with disabilities can now control Apple's iPad using nothing more than their eyes. Read More >

Google Seeks Help From People With Speech Issues

 

Google wants to make it easier for people with disabilities that affect their speech to communicate with those around them and they're looking for some help. Read More >

Families Of People With IDD Rebuild Frayed Ties As Pandemic Eases

 Families of those with developmental disabilities have had their lives upended by the pandemic more than most, research shows, and now they're reuniting and trying to make up for lost time. Read More >

Google Improves Tool To Help People Who Are Nonverbal

 Google is introducing new technology designed to help people who are nonverbal communicate with those around them while also making strides toward more inclusion at the company. Read More >

Ban On Group Home Visits Hurting Residents, Critics Say

Months into the pandemic, some are pushing back against one-size-fits-all bans on family visits for group home residents with developmental disabilities. Read More >

Comic Book Helps Those With Autism Understand Changes Brought By Coronavirus

In an effort to help their daughter who's on the spectrum understand why her routine has been upended by COVID-19, a family created a comic book.  Now, it's being published online. Read More >

With Blog, Teen with Autism Gains Voice

After being nonverbal for years, a teen with autism learned to spell his thoughts one letter at a time. Now, he's working to show the world that others like him shouldn't be underestimated. Read More ;

Woman With Cerebral Palsy Pens Script For Disney

She has cerebral palsy and talks via a communication board on her wheelchair, but that's not stopping Erin Feeney who just saw her first script for Disney's "Doc McStuffins" come to fruition. Read More >

Google Seeks Help From People With Down Syndrome

From Siri to Alexa, voice assistants are everywhere, but the technology tends to miss every third word that people with Down syndrome say. Now a new effort is underway to change that. Read More ;

Proponents Of Discredited Communication Method Defend Practice

Critics say facilitated communication is scientifically discredited, but others argue that a world where people with disabilities don't have access to the method is not an inclusive one. Read More;

Company Looks To Mind-Reading Technology To Aid Those Who Are Nonverbal

An artificial intelligence company is developing software aimed at detecting patterns in order to predict a person's thinking and eventually, speak on their behalf. Read More ;

For Those With ASD, Improv Classes Can Aid Communication

The Second City is known for churning out some of the country's top comedians, but now the group is using improv to help those with autism enhance their communication skills. Read More ;

Aided Language Stimulation Explained by Cartoon!

Aided Language Stimulation is a researched based type of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) intervention that has been around for decades.  Basically, with this strategy, the communication partner (i.e. mom, dad, teacher, friend, etc.) uses the AAC device of the child with the disability along with verbal speech to communicate with the child.  This modeling of the communication system in many cases can build a strong communication foundation and can encourage the child with the communication disorder to use the device.   AAC Language Lab has a great handout to explain this strategy with references.

GoTalk NOW App

GoTalk NOW App

Mom, Nonverbal Son Win Jimmy Fallon's 'Say Mama' Contest

When Jimmy Fallon and the "Today" show put out a call for cute videos of kids saying "mama," they probably didn't expect one from a boy on the spectrum who's never uttered a word. Read More ;

Experts on Helping Children with Autism Communicate Answer Your Questions

Rhea Paul and Donia Fahim, authors of Let’s Talk: Navigating Communication Services and Supports for Your Young Child with Autism, have offered to answer questions from Friendship Circle readers on how to help your child with autism learn, play, communicate, make friends, succeed at school, and get the best services. Today, we’re happy to feature the first two questions and answers. If you’d like to submit a question, add it in the comments here or on our Facebook page, and you may find the answer in a future blog post. Coping with Perseverative Speech My son wants to have the same short conversation over and…  Read in browser »