SWAAAC

02/26/2026

New to the loan library: The B Woofer Guitar!
Acoustic? Electric? Hound Dog? It’s your choice with this switch-adapted guitar toy. The switches play familiar tunes and puppy-themed songs, and the chord buttons and whammy bone bar and strings allow for adapted music-making all day!
Check it out from the Loan Library today at swaaac.goalexandria.com!

[Image: B Woofer Guitar toy in the shape of a howling dog with colorful buttons.]

This post does not constitute an endorsement of products or services.

02/25/2026

February’s list of library Hidden Gems is all about OCR Tools. This curated list of tools helps support literacy, low vision, translation, and more. Examples include the ScanJig Pro, C-Pen Exam Reader 2, ClaroRead Plus, and the OrCam Read.

All of these, and more, are available to borrow from the SWAAAC Loan Library! Click on the link in our bio to access the library and/or to make a request.

[Image: OCR tools including the ScanJig Pro, C-Pen Exam Reader 2, ClaroRead Plus, and the OrCam Read]

This post does not constitute an endorsement of products or services.

02/24/2026

Join us June 4-5, 2026, at the virtual Conference for Assistive Technology in Education (CATE)! Click on the link in our bio to register and learn more.


[Image: Photo of two children sitting at a table in a classroom with headphones and computers. Logos: The Colorado Department of Education, SWAAAC, Early Intervention Colorado, and The Center for Innovative Design and Engineering.]

02/24/2026

This recent article published by Closing the Gap (pages 21 - 26) offers an inside look at the curriculum one Massachusetts school team developed to teach self-advocacy skills for their students using AAC as a primary means of communication. Using the Communication Bill of Rights as a foundation for teaching they address explicit vocabulary instruction, customized social stories, a wide vaiety of learning activities, and training for paraprofessionals and communication partners.

Dec 22/Jan 23 Closing The Gap Solutions - Collaborating With Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Users Gains A New Perspective To Best Support Clients By Lydia Dawley

02/19/2026

Total Garbage by Rebecca Donnelly is now available as a Literacy Kit for Older Students! Check it out today from the SWAAAC loan library! swaaac.goalexandria.com
Image: book cover for Total Gargage, depicting a boy sitting at the top of a mound of garbage

02/18/2026

The SWAAAC Loan Library has several Accent Devices of varying sizes available now! Accent devices are robust dynamic display windows-based AAC devices from PRC-Saltillo with language systems including Unity, LAMP, Unidad, Essence, and WordPower. Accent devices have a durable case with a handle, strap, kickstand, speaker, and a mounting plate. Check one out today!

[Image: An Accent Device with an AAC page set visible.]

This post does not constitute an endorsement of products or services.

02/17/2026

Checkout this quick easy read with so many simple solutions: Whole-Class Strategies to Support Students With Fine Motor Difficulties

Elementary teachers can use practical activities aligned with Universal Design for Learning to help students develop their fine motor skills.

02/17/2026

It’s week 13 of digging into the US Department of Education's document clarifying common AT misconceptions! Today we’re covering the terms Accessible technology and AT. To learn more, visit the link in our bio.

[Image: Text reading, "Myth 13: Accessible technology and AT are the same thing; Fact 13: Accessible technology and AT are not the same. Accessible technology is used to describe technology that is designed to support many different users, while AT describes a piece of technology selected to perform a specific task for an individual child with a disability."]

This post does not constitute an endorsement of products or services.

02/12/2026

In Colorado, students with disabilities must begin transition planning on or before their 15th birthday. An FAQ document, Assistive Technology & Transition, was created in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Education, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Center for Innovative Design and Engineering to address the most common AT related questions. This document is part of the SWAAAC Foundations Learning Guide available on the SWAAAC.org website. Find this resource and many others curated to support educators and service providers who are new to the provision of AT devices and services in public education.
Image: young man using a variety of AT devices

02/12/2026

Accessibility Tip! When typing in a document, avoid using the ENTER key on your keyboard to create space. Instead, use the Paragraph Spacing menu. A 12 pt space after a line will create a similar spacing effect as using the ENTER key with 12 pt font. This will create a more consistent look and feel to your document and be more accessible to assistive technology users!


[Image: Simple laptop. Screenshot of paragraph spacing parameters in Microsoft Word.]

02/11/2026

The National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials and Instruction (NCADEMI) has updated its Quality Indicators for the Provision and Use of Accessible Materials—a powerful guide to help states and districts ensure that all students, with and without disabilities, can access and use the learning materials they need to succeed. [ncademi.org]
These indicators come in two easy‑to‑use sets:
📘 Accessible Digital Educational Materials
📗 Accessible Formats
Both sets outline the essential steps districts can take to build and sustain strong systems for digital accessibility.

👉 Learn more and explore the Quality Indicators: https://ncademi.org/sustain/quality-indicators/

NCADEMI (pronounced "N-cademy") supports state and local educational agencies in delivering timely, accessible digital materials—removing barriers to learning for students with disabilities from preschool through graduation.

02/10/2026

🌟 Attention Caregivers and Users of Dynamic Seating 🌟
We’re excited to invite you to participate in a groundbreaking research study led by Dr. Becky Breaux and her team at the University of Colorado Denver.

We're seeking insights from individuals with cerebral palsy and related conditions, as well as their caregivers. Your experiences matter!

📊 What’s in it for you?
Share your perspective through an online survey
Opportunity to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card 🎉

🔗 Take the survey here: https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bfR4ZWhOrmsUZaS
🗓️ Deadline: 3/15/2026

Questions? Contact Dr. Becky Breaux at becky.breaux@ucdenver.edu

This study is supported by a National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research grant (NIDILRR number 90SFGE0077). Thank you for your consideration, expertise, and time. Please share this information widely!
COMIRB #25-2812