AI and AAC for Young Learners: Supporting Voice, Identity, Language, and Early Literacy

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

early childhood development

Format:

lecture

Subject Level:

intermediate

Age Span:

infant / toddler
preschool
kindergarten - grade 6

Target Audience:

AT specialist
autism specialist
consultant
deaf / hard of hearing
educator
family member / caregiver
healthcare administration
K-12 administration
occupational therapist
paraprofessional
special educator
speech language pathologist
teacher of the visually impaired
university professor / personnel
vision impairment specialist

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.01

ACVREP CEs:

1

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Edina

Description:

This session explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can support young AAC users in developing language, identity, and early literacy skills. Early communication is not only about expressing wants and needs, but about building voice, perspective, and participation through language. Participants will learn how to use AI as a scaffold to expand expression while preserving authorship and supporting authentic voice in early communication. The session will highlight how AI can provide access to varied vocabulary and sentence structures that support language growth and emergent literacy. Practical strategies will focus on play-based interaction, modeling, and supporting children in selecting and refining language that reflects their ideas. Emphasis will remain on maintaining the child as the source of meaning.

Learning Outcomes:

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

• Identify two ways AI-supported language expansion can support early language, identity, and literacy development in young AAC users

• Describe how to maintain authorship and agency when using AI with early communicators

• Implement two play-based or literacy-based strategies that integrate AI to expand AAC expression in young children

Disclosures:

Financial relationship: Brenda does not receive a financial commission from any company that manufactures, distributes or sells AAC related products. She receives fees for evaluating, training, speaking and consulting.
Non-financial relationship: Cofounder and President of a Nonprofit, Believe Beyond Ability.