Easter Seals Lily

Easter Seals Outreach Program

3920 Woodland Heights Road

Little Rock, Arkansas 72212

501-227-3770, 501-227-3686 TDD/TTY, 501-227-3771 Fax

Toll-free: 877-533-3600

 

Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC)

What is it?

Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) involves the use of strategies, techniques or assistive technology to compensate for a severe expressive communication impairment.  The use of these strategies, techniques or devices may be either temporary or permanent.  AAC may be appropriate for individuals who are nonspeaking or whose speech is severely unintelligible.  If the individual’s current communication system does not meet their needs, they may benefit from the use of AAC.

  A Communication Bill of Rights

Goals of AAC

A Crash Course for Beginners

 

Where Do I Start?  

 

The first step in determining appropriate intervention is to obtain thorough evaluation information.  While an AAC evaluation by an individual with expertise in the area of AAC may eventually be necessary, it should not be the first step taken by the IEP team.

 

  

Tools 

 

Information about "low tech" or "no tech" devices and strategies that will help you lay the groundwork for developing functional communication skills for your students.

  

Learn More 

 

Get answers to frequently asked questions and learn more about various topics related to AAC.

  

Next Step 

 

A formal evaluation by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of VOCAs, will be required by most funding sources, including private insurance and Medicaid.  When the IEP determines that expertise in the area of AAC is needed, the Assistance Request Form should be completed and returned to the Outreach Program. 

 

  AAC InterventionStrategies 

 

Information about therapeutic intervention and teaching strategies regarding AAC.

  

Case Studies  

 

Review actual student cases and some of the strategies and techniques that are being developed to address their educational programs and augmentative communication needs.

 

 

  

Funding

 

 

 

For further assistance, e-mail

Nancy Dunn or Linda Petersen

 

 

 

Where do I start? 

IEP Assistive Technology Consideration

Communication Checklist

Augmentative Communication Assessment

AAC Protocol

What We Are Learning About Early Learners and Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology

Interaction & Cognitive Skills in Young Children

Four Secrets for Success

Functional Vision Skills for AAC System

State Regs and Tests 

 

Tools

Visual Strategies and Communication Boards

Visual Strategies Information

Where to Begin with Visual Supports

Using Tangible Symbols

How to Use Visual Strategies

Choice Boards and Menus

Communication Board Construction

CLIPCASE Communication Board Ideas

Augmentative Resources

Use Visual Strategies

*  Symbol Resources:  Mayer-Johnson, Pyramid Products, Kid Access, Do2Learn, Internet Picture Dictionary, Enchanted Learning

 

Low Tech Devices

AbleNet

Early Communication Activities

Augmentative Communication Devices

Saltillo Communication Devices

GoTalk Products

Advanced Multimedia Devices

Communication Aids

 

Switches and Switch Training

Assistive Technology Training Online Project

Developing Switch Skills

Adaptive Switch Access

 

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Beginning Communicators – Stages of Communication

AAC for children with vision impairment or multiple disabilities

Apraxia-KIDS

 

Next Step 

         ASHA Position Statement

ASHA Knowledge and Skills for Service Delivery

ASHA Introduction to AAC

 

AAC Intervention Strategies

USSAAC - What is AAC & What Should It Include?

AAC intervention  

Augmenting Play and Communication 

Activities to Encourage Communication

Thematic Units

"Make It Yourself" by Simplified Technology 

Overview of AAC Delivery in Public Schools 

 

Case studies

1.  Chad:  Chad is a 10 year old boy with a diagnosis of autism.  He has very limited communication skills and has a challenging sensory processing disorder.  He is in a self-contained classroom.

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES:  

A.  Learn more about communication and autism:

Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Exchange Communication System

EnablingDevices--More Toys for Special Children

B.  Provide Visual Supports:

UseVisualStrategies

Symbol Hierarchy

Symbol and Symbol Systems  

AbleNet Products

 

2.  Julia:  Julia is a 6 year old girl with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.  Her communication consists of some vocalizations, facial expressions, eye gaze, and limited gestures.  She receives homebound instruction because of her medical involvement.

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES:  

A.  Provide opportunities for choice making throughout the day:

IRSA Choice Making

B.  Use Eye Gaze:

Developing an Eye Gaze Communication System 

Augmentative Communication Devices

C.  Begin light/head pointing training:

Zygo Lazer Pointers

Lite Maker 

D.  Begin Switch Training:

Developing Switch Skills

Inclusive Technology Switches

AbleNet

A Switch In Time

EnablingDevices--Toys for Special Children

 

3.  Erica:  Erica is a 14 year old girl with a diagnosis of autism.  She uses very limited speech and primarily communicates by spelling single words or short phrases on a computer.  She is in the 9th grade.

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES:  

A.  Introduce Portable Text-to-Speech Device with Word Prediction:

Text Speech and Word Prediction

Text to Speech

Word Prediction

Vantage Plus

The Great Talking Box Company

DynaWrite Communication System

    

Funding

USSAAC - general funding information

Funding Guide for Arkansas

ICAN Funding Guide

The Road to Funding

DynaVox Funding 

Using Mini Grants and Other Funding Information

 

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