Modeling without expectation is a low-pressure way to model AAC use in a natural environment. Read more about AAC, who can participate in “modeling without expectation,” and tips for doing so! What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication? Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is used to augment (increase) an individual’s ability to communicate and/or provide an alternative way of communicating. It may be used over a long period of time, temporarily, or situationally. Individuals who have difficulty communicating by speaking may benefit from AAC. There are many different forms ..read more

If your child or loved one uses an augmentative or alternative communication (AAC) device, you probably want to support them in the best way possible. However, it can be difficult to know what to do. There is no clear handbook on where to begin and there are a ton of AAC systems/softwares out there. We know that it can be overwhelming, which is why we’re here to help! Continue reading to learn about 5 ways to help support your child’s AAC use. What is AAC? Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an umbrella term for different communication methods. AAC is often used by individuals ..read more

We love bundling because we also love saving! Quickly access one of our newest bundles via Gumroad (below) or in our Teachers Pay Teachers store! Loading... Each goal bank is adaptable and a great guide for helping you figure out what skill your client needs to focus on next... Just select your own combination of DO + CONDITION + CRITERION (and consistency) statements to develop personalized and measurable goals. Easy. & don't forget about the BONUS AAC goals page included! Click here to find this product in our Teachers Pay Teachers store! Have questions or want to connect? Reach o ..read more

Our LARGEST goal bundle yet - with the most SAVINGS! Quickly access via Gumroad (below) or in our Teachers Pay Teachers store! Loading... FOUR comprehensive speech therapy goal banks included in this School-Age PREMIUM BUNDLE: Speech Sound Disorders, Language (receptive, expressive, pragmatic), Fluency, & AAC. Over THOUSANDS of possible goal combinations! *NOT just goals - pages and pages of resources also included!* As an SLP, writing goals is necessary for ALL of our clients. Save your $, time, and energy researching - stop here! No more last minute searching for Common Core links ..read more

What is the Fitzgerald Key? The Fitzgerald Key was developed by Edith Fitzgerald in 1929 (Lautenschlager, 2016). At the time, the primary focus of this tool was teaching grammar to individuals who were hearing impaired or deaf. This visual support system has since expanded and evolved over time. The Modified Fitzgerald Key, as it relates to AAC, is a system of using color-coded display designs within an AAC system to increase visual access and linguistic relationships (Thistle & Wilkinson, 2009). [Modified] Fitzgerald Key: Now Presently, the term Modified Fitzgerald Key has extended to th ..read more

Individuals who have complex communication needs (CCNs) may benefit from the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). An individual with CCNs may not be able to speak, write, read or listen without support, which is why AAC has the potential to be very valuable to these communicators! Individuals of all ages use AAC every day to communicate. Why Use AAC? AAC allows individuals with CCNs to increase their ability to communicate their wants, needs, and ideas. Using AAC can increase an individual’s ability to get their message across to their communication partner(s) (aka - the i ..read more

What are Core Words? Core words, also known as core vocabulary, are the words that make up most of what we use to communicate. These approximately 200 words are about 60-80% of the words we use every day. Core words can be used in many different contexts, which is why they’re important to understand! They can include verbs, pronouns, prepositions, and more. The rest of the language we use is made up of fringe words or fringe vocabulary. How to Teach Core Words Individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) often benefit from intervention that specifically targets the u ..read more

What are core words? Core words, also known as core vocabulary, are the words that make up most of what we use to communicate. These approximately 200 words are about 60-80% of the words we use every day. Core words can be used in many different contexts, which is why they’re important to understand! They can include verbs, pronouns, prepositions, and more. The rest of the language we use is made up of fringe words. How to Teach Core Words Individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) often benefit from intervention that specifically targets the use of core words. The ..read more

We are looking forward to using Smarty Symbols to create communication boards, visual schedules, games, and activities in speech therapy this year! Communication Boards Communication boards are great low tech AAC systems that can be used alone or in conjunction with other forms of AAC (i.e., multimodal communication). Check out some of our previous posts about all things communication boards here. I made this core word communication board using Smarty Symbols. Depending on the client, I may customize this to make the symbols bigger/smaller. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy and quick to do this on ..read more

What are communication boards used for? Communication boards are used to support functional communication, like any Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system. They are considered a low tech version of AAC because it requires the user to use a tool outside of one’s body. For our full post on them, check out our post on How to Make a Communication Board. Proloquo2Go Crescendo ™ quick communication board © 2020 AssistiveWare B.V. All rights reserved. Symbols © 2020 SymbolStix, LLC. In that post, we named a number of companies that could be used to create communication boards. These ..read more