Pati King-DeBaun

FAVORITE TIP

Don't just read to a child. Engage them!It's hard to know just how much a child is understanding. So, until you know that, don't forget to stop often and engage them. You can ask them to respond on their app. But sometimes it's fine just to ask for a smile or a frown. Just make sure you make reading a shared activity!

Pati King-DeBaun

SLP/ Early Literacy Expert

Biography

Pati King-DeBaun, M.S. CCC-SLP is a certified speech language pathologist who for over 30 years has specialized in communication and early literacy instruction for children with severe and multiple disabilities. Pati speaks and consults in a variety of classrooms nationally and internationally on the topics of augmentative communication, interactive communication, and early literacy for children with disabilities. Pati has written several books and software programs, including the Storytime Series, Emergent Literacy Success, Progressing Monitoring Assessment, Tango to Literacy, and Tango Assessment. She has developed apps including the Adapted Play Book Series, MyOwnBooks2go and AAC2go Apps. And she has consulted with various technology companies including Blink Twice, Don Johnston, Dunamis, AbleNet, IntelliTools (Cambuim), Leap Frog, Zygo, PRC, Dynavox/Mayer-Johnson, and Attainment.

Pati directed the language and literacy team for the Tango communication device and language system. She consulted with the New York City Board of Education and the Manhattan School for Children Inclusion Project working with integrating language and literacy into instruction for their AAC students. And she has been adjunct professor for the Special Education Department at the University of Utah. Known for her creativity innovative and hands-on approach to technology and solutions for children with disabilities, she owns the company Creative Communicating.