Designing Your AAC Philosophy: Key Considerations and Approaches

Speech therapists are expected to be the experts in AAC and most are lucky if they had even ONE GENERAL class on the topic. BCBAs and teachers aren't trained in developing language, but with AAC being a more physical form makes it seem like it's something easier to teach, and worse yet AAC is frequently turned to when trying to fix problem behavior. So an addition layer of pressure and considerations in decision making are changing the priorities instead of language being able to develop naturally vocal communication isn't/is minimally working. Imagine not teaching a child who is Deaf/Hard of Hearing sign language until their behaviors got bad enough because they're making some slow progress with lip reading and speech. We wouldn't imagine that, but yet it happens to children with ASD all the time. These variety of factors coupled with the VITAL importance of communication in our lives, leads to much confusion and many conflicts between professionals. Almost ALL of which can be minimized if in alignment in understandings, priorities, understandings, and beliefs. Aka, an AAC philosophy.

Objectives for Webinar:
- Explain why there are no prerequisites to AAC, nor any reason to wait
- Explain the MOST important thing people get wrong in selecting vocabulary
- Describe the importance of motor planning in an AAC system.