From Tools to Connections: Using AAC to Reach Every Student

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

Format:

lecture

Subject Level:

intermediate

Age Span:

preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12

Target Audience:

AT specialist
autism specialist
consultant
family member / caregiver
K-12 administration
occupational therapist
paraprofessional
physical therapist
special educator
speech language pathologist

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.01

ACVREP CEs:

1

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Atrium 7

Description:

In the pursuit of the “perfect” AAC solution, we often focus on a single high-tech device. However, a single classroom may house a diverse “symphony” of low, mid, and high-tech tools. This session shifts the focus from managing devices to supporting students through a multi-modal lens, effectively putting the “I” (Individualization) back into the IEP. Grounded in recent research by Srinivasan et al. (2024), we explore how “buy-in” is not just a technical skill but a social-relational process among the classroom team. We will provide a blueprint for supporting diverse communication repertoires—ranging from core boards to robust speech-generating devices—without staff burnout. Attendees will learn to move beyond “one-size-fits-all” templates to create communication-accessible environments that honor every student’s unique voice. Participants will leave with practical tools to foster team collaboration and ensure sustainable, individualized AAC success.

Learning Outcomes:

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

• Participants will be able to identify one environmental factor that is key to teacher positioning and continuous access to communication boards.

• Participants will be able to describe 'buy-in' for AAC

• Participants will identify a minimum of 3 tool(s)/strategies to achieve multimodal communication for an individual student within a classroom.

Disclosures:

● Relevant Financial Relationships: Green Bay Area Public Schools: Salary from Employment;
● Relevant Non-Financial Relationships: Member of ASHA;
Green Bay Area Public Schools: Salary from Employment;
Building AAC, LLC (private practice-owner) salary
Consulting fee from independent contractor work.
● Relevant Financial Relationships: Attainment Company: Salary from Employment, receives no royalties related to products
● Relevant Non-Financial Relationships: Member of USSAAC; Member of ISAAC; Member of ATIA; Member of ASHA; Member of WSHA,
and Member of Patient Provider Communication Network