Enlighted Hound

Little Jyo has proved himself to be a super fast learner! I’m so excited to see how quickly he picks up using his own AAC board! It’s been really interesting and fun to not only work on teaching AAC buttons to a puppy as opposed to Marshall who is 7 and less easily molded, but also to work within totally different lifestyle constraints than my own.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I think finding solutions and work around a to the barriers that come up in teaching AAC has been one of my favorite parts of the whole experience so far. The journey is never boring! I’m gathering lots of good material for the little side project I’ve been working on!!!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Happy first day of Autumn!!! In honor of the change in the seasons I’m throwin’ it back today to one of my favorite fall photos and dearest rescue pups that I had the opportunity to foster and work with!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This is Chickapee, a little Chihuahua x Pug with one the biggest personalities I ever did see! This girl may have been tiny, but man you did not want to be on her bad side. But what stands out in my memory was the way that she softened with love, and the right dog to stand beside her. I very nearly foster failed with this sweet girl simply due to the bond that she and Marshall quickly formed, if not my admiration for her punchy “don’t mess with me” energy.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Thinking about you today baby girl, and wondering how far you’ve come on your journey with the beautiful family you were blessed with!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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SAY IT BACK⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Repeating a word back is a great way to reenforce a correct button press, but also gives your learner an opportunity to consider their choice one last time through a different lens! Was that what you meant to push?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This has been really important while getting used to our new set up because Marshall is doing explorative button pressing with some of his words. He wants something, but doesn’t actually know where the button is... so when he’s clearly “hungry” for his breakfast but he presses the “home” button instead, which sound somewhat similar coming out of the button, by repeating back to him “yes we’re home” he is given a second chance to consider his selection and realize that it may not have been what he intended.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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SELF TALK⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I happen to talk to myself all the time so applying this strategy to our routine hasn’t been too difficult! By narrating what I’m doing using our target vocabulary, and making use of our AAC board, I increase likelihood of complex understanding of the meanings of our target vocabulary.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I also show Marshall that using the soundboard is fun, and I want to do it too! This increases opportunities for modeling and enhances the positive energy surrounding our relationship with the buttons!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🐾💕⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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