Device in the Drawer: A Systemic, Team-Based Intensive for Turning AAC Abandonment Into AAC Success

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

Format:

networking session / discussion

Subject Level:

beginner

Age Span:

preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12

Target Audience:

autism specialist
consultant
educator
family member / caregiver
paraprofessional
special educator

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.01

ACVREP CEs:

1

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Plaza 5

Description:

This session examines the systemic factors driving AAC abandonment and guides participants through a practical, team-informed implementation framework in two focused segments. Participants will use a brief self-assessment tool to identify breakdown points in their own settings, then engage with stakeholder-specific strategies for caregivers, educators, and behavior analysts through a guided case scenario and facilitated practice. Behavioral strategies including prompting procedures and reinforcement of communicative attempts will be demonstrated and practiced using a provided implementation fidelity checklist. Participants leave with a Starter Implementation Plan and a focused toolkit ready for immediate use.

Learning Outcomes:

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

• Use a structured self-assessment tool to identify at least two systemic AAC abandonment risk factors present in their own home, school, or clinical setting and select at least one targeted strategy from the session toolkit to address each identified risk factor.

• Demonstrate at least two behavioral strategies for supporting spontaneous AAC use — including a prompting procedure and a reinforcement procedure — using a provided implementation fidelity checklist as a self-evaluation guide during a facilitated case scenario.

• Complete a Starter AAC Implementation Plan that includes an identified stakeholder role, at least one routine-based implementation opportunity, and a data collection method for communicative functions.

Disclosures:

Financial relationships to disclose: Jennifer Kraft receives a salary as Clinical Director and owner of Krafted Care ABA, an independent ABA practice. She also derives income from Digital ABA Boss, a digital product brand offering ABA-related educational resources. Neither Krafted Care ABA nor Digital ABA Boss manufactures or sells any device, software, or commercial product discussed in this presentation. Any apps, devices, or tools referenced will be presented solely for educational comparison purposes, and no commercial endorsement is intended or implied.