Augmentative and Alternative 
   About AAC   Communication
   • AAC includes all of the ways we share our ideas and feelings 
    without talking. We all use forms of AAC every day. You use 
    AAC when you use facial expressions or gestures instead of 
    talking. You use AAC when you write a note and pass it to a 
    friend or coworker. We may not realize how often we 
    communicate without talking.  
   • “People with severe speech or language problems may 
    need AAC to help them communicate. Some may use it all 
    of the time. Others may say some words but use AAC for 
    longer sentences or with people they don’t know well. AAC 
    can help in school, at work, and when talking with friends 
    and family.”  
   • Source: American Speech, Language, and Hearing 
    Association (ASHA)
   • https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/
  • AAC uses a variety of techniques and tools, including picture communication boards, line drawings, 
   speech-generating devices (SGDs), tangible objects, manual signs, gestures, and finger spelling, to 
   help the individual express thoughts, wants and needs, feelings, and ideas.
  • AAC is augmentative when used to supplement existing speech, and alternative when used in 
   place of speech that is absent or not functional.
  • AAC may be temporary, as when used by patients postoperatively in intensive care, or permanent, 
   as when used by an individual who will require the use of some form of AAC throughout his or her 
   lifetime.
  • Source: American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA), found in the Practice Portal
  • https://
   www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Augmentative-and-Alternative-Communication/
                  2 Main Types of AAC
  • Aided: This type of system uses a tool or device- basic or high tech.
   Basic: pen and paper, pointing to letters, words, pictures on a board
   High tech: speech generating devices
  • Unaided: All you need for an unaided system is your
   body- examples are sign language, gestures, facial expressions, body language.
  Speech and Language Pathologists can help determine the appropriate type of AAC for each person. 
  Multimodality communication is encouraged even after a specific type of AAC is chosen.
  Video of Dr. John Costello, director of Augmentative Communication Program at Boston Children’s 
  Hospital, explaining multimodal communication and why it is important: https://youtu.be/FVmHxguSm-k
    When using AAC with children…
  • Get down on their level
  • Model!!!
  • Interact with items that are motivating to them to inspire communication (toys 
   they like, snacks, bubbles, things that light up, etc.)
  • Focus on core words… 
  • But don’t forget fringe vocabulary!
  • Use AAC across all settings, not just at home or school, or when child needs to 
   request
  • Try to avoid hand over hand on speech generating devices
  • Use peer modeling
  • Pause to give time to respond
    AAC For Caregivers Manual
  Specialized Assistive Technology Centre (ATC) SPD of 
  Singapore released a fantastic free resource for families 
  and caregivers called the AAC for Caregivers Manual.
  There are 8 major strategies detailed in the manual. I 
  will describe 5 of them on the following slides. To see 
  the entire manual, go to this link:
  https://
  www.spd.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Manual-A
  AC-for-Caregivers-2019.pdf