4 images sign language hands, a book with 2 faces with speech bubbles, a go talk now device, picture symbol communication board

Alternative and Augmentative Communication – AAC

Overview:

Many students do not yet have verbal speech that meets their daily communication needs. The use of speech generating devices (i.e. talkers or communication devices) is an important part of their daily interactions and learning. Having access to words allow them to a) learn language as they need it, 2) interact with their friends and teachers, 3) advocate for themselves and 4) participate in the class learning.

People need AAC for different reasons, different amounts, and for different lengths of time. Some students need AAC to help them to learn language—seeing it visually represented allows them access to the words that are flowing too quickly past their ears. Some students speak, but are not well understood at least some of the time. These students may use AAC only for repairing communication break-downs. Some students have complex communication needs as well as other needs such as access and vision—they may use a robust system long-term for most of their communication needs.

Communication encompasses a broad set of skills that children acquire across their day and throughout the years—it takes time and opportunity and exposure and encouragement to learn to communicate. Adding the component of technology to communication complicates the process of developing skills, but the principles of learning to communicate are exactly the same. They need a way to communicate, someone showing them how to communicate what they are telling us in different ways.

These resources aim to give families and school teams knowledge, strategies, and tools to encourage and support communication in the moment, and to see and create more opportunities to learn and to practice communicating in meaningful ways.

Key Points when Supporting Someone with a Talker:

    • Advocate for the availability of the student’s communication device (talker), and make sure the talker is functioning well, i.e. charged and at an adequate volume
    • Support the student in participating in activities and communicating their messages; use routines to prepare-and-share rather than only expecting response-in-the-moment
    • Advocate with their communication partners for understanding and extra time to process information and compose messages; normalize acceptance of communicating with a talker, champion the student’s message, and help others to value content rather than method
    • Remember learning is a process no matter what the skill is; see challenges as information to prepare for the future; there is nothing more important than the ability to communicate.

Strategies and Resources:

Strategies & Tips:

What is Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC) and Why is it Important

Strategy & Tips Supporting Language Development for Autonomy and Independence with a Talker

Strategy & Tips – Modelling on the Talker (TALKER IMMERSION)

Strategy & Tips Core Word Approach

Strategy & Tips Fostering Literacy with AAC

How-to: Shared Reading with a Talker

How-to: Daily Routines as a Communication Learning Opportunity with a Talker

How-to: Actively Teaching New Vocabulary with Talker

How-To

Touch Chat

HOW-TO-TC Basic Editing

HOW-TO-TC Locks

HOW-TO-TC Visual Scenes

HOW-TO-TC Vocab Copying and Air Dropping

LAMP

HOW-TO-LAMP Basic Editing

HOW-TO-LAMP Locks

HOW-TO-LAMP Vocab Copying and Air Dropping

Speak For Yourself

HOW-TO-SFY Basic Editing

HOW-TO-SFY Locks

HOW-TO-SFY Vocab Copying and Air Dropping

Online Resources

AAC AACtivitiy Round Up  (talker activities; all symbol sets/language systems)

Touch Chat Chat Corner – Saltillo  (Touch Chat resources and activities)

LAMP AAC Language Lab (LAMP resources and activities)

Speak for Yourself (Speak for Yourself resources and activities)

Project Core Professional Development Modules  (learning opportunities using universal core language)

SD71 Comox Valley Schools Core Books Project (Collection of books using Core Vocabulary Words) 3 AAC apps (Touch Chat, LAMP and Speak For Yourself)

In 3 file types

        • PDF (to print)
        • ePub to download onto an iPad and read in the Book Creator App
        • Online Book Creator Books to read on the computer.

Videos:

*under development

For Further Information or Support:

Please contact the AAC Speech-Language Pathologist: Jennie Rankin, M.Sc. R-SLP jennie.rankin @sd71.bc.ca