Aligned, Not Replicated: Creating Effective AAC Support Across Home and School

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

Format:

lecture

Subject Level:

intermediate

Age Span:

infant / toddler
preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12
adult

Target Audience:

AT specialist
autism specialist
consultant
deaf / hard of hearing
educator
family member / caregiver
healthcare administration
K-12 administration
paraprofessional
special educator
speech language pathologist
university professor / personnel

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.01

ACVREP CEs:

1

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Atrium 7

Description:

This session focuses on aligning AAC practices across home and school without expecting families to replicate therapy. Participants will learn how to identify communication patterns across environments, define shared communication outcomes, and collaborate with families using real-life data and current assessment tools such as Social Networks and the Communication Matrix. Emphasis is placed on creating meaningful communicative opportunities within daily routines, planning functional goals that apply across settings, and revisiting strategies over time as communication needs evolve. Attendees will leave with knowledge of practical tools and strategies for strengthening AAC implementation through respectful, sustainable home – school alignment.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Participants will be able to identify and compare a minimum of 3 types of communication patterns across home and school environments to better support AAC users.

• Participants will be able to describe the 2 similarities and differences between replicating therapy and aligning meaningful communication opportunities at home.

• Participants will be able to use shared data to collaboratively plan, monitor, and adapt AAC supports across settings over time between a minimum of 1 family member and 1 therapy/educational team member.

Disclosures:

Heather receives compensation for independent consulting services and for conducting Certified PODD trainings. She is not employed by any company or organization and has no other relevant financial relationships. She has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Financial disclosures: Kelly does small contract work and training for educational agencies and for several A.T. companies, but is not a full-time employee of a company or receiving any compensation from those companies for presenting this content. She is the co-author of 2 Books on QIAT: Quality Indicators in Assistive Technology. She receives compensation from CTG for preconference presentations.
Non-financial disclosures: Kelly is a volunteer leadership team member of QIAT and the Wisconsin AAC Network.. She is a member of CEC, ISTE, NATE, NOAT, RESNA, and USSAAC/ISAAC.
Joni receives a salary from the Attainment Company. She receives no royalties for products created. She has no other relevant financial relationships. Joni’s relevant non-financial relationships include membership in ASHA, WSHA, ISAAC, USSAAC, and patient-provider communication network.