Augmentative and Alternative Communication Certificate Series

This course will review the components of social stories, task analysis, visual supports, and video modeling as strategies for improving client participation. The components of a core communication board or use of picture symbols for engaging clients with limited/absent verbal communication will be discussed as a means for improving client participation within your sessions. The various functions of behavior combined with completion of a reinforcer assessment will improve client motivation and strengthen the rapport between therapist and client. Strategies for gaining instructional/behavioral control will be discussed to improve outcomes and productivity during sessions. This workshop will give therapists a greater level of success when treating clients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

• Immediately improve your client's functional communication skills using practical techniques
• Practical behavioral strategies for therapy and evaluation sessions that you can use the next day
• Effective, evidence-based tools to help build compliance & client engagement during sessions
• Describe how to create social stories, visual supports, task analysis and video models for use with clients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Apply use of a core communication board and/or picture symbols for use within sessions to increase client engagement for those who are non-verbal or have limited/absent communication

As speech-language pathologists, we understand the complexity of communication and the importance of functional communication skills for any individual, but more specifically, for a child. Through the implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), we can provide an immediate means of communication for children with speech/language delays and disorders. Unfortunately, while a child may show great promise or progress in our speech sessions, they may receive little to no carryover in their classrooms or other settings, which can drastically impact their functionality and overall carryover of their skills.Research supports that the use of AAC in the classroom not only supports a student's communication skills but also their academic and social skills.

This course is designed to provide therapists with the knowledge and skills necessary to support AAC users andincrease the implementation and carryover of their device use in the classroom and school environments. Throughout this course you will learn how to provide individualized interventions and vocabulary sets, aid in creating supportive communication environments, and how to effectivelyintegrate AAC into everyday activities and routines, thus, ensuring meaningful communication experiences for AAC users. The course emphasizes the importance of sustained carryover, providing practical guidance on promoting consistent AAC usage across various contexts and with different communication partners. By the end of the course, participants will demonstrate a deeper understanding of AAC principles and a toolkit of evidence-based strategies to empower AAC users, educators, and their communication partners.

The content of this program is germane to children, students and clients 3-22 years old.

• Acquire actionable strategies for immediate implementation in classrooms that benefit students, teachers, support staff, families, and caregivers
• Examine practical insights applicable to speech-language pathology practice for empowering Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users

In the technology-boosted post COVID-19 world, individuals, families, and school districts are easily influencedto purchase AAC products that do not necessarily fit the needs of the individual. AAC is abandoned 30% - 50% of the time when the device does not meet the need of the user. This course examines the basics of AAC assessment and the premise for matching AAC tools, language, physicalaccessibility needs and device types to avoid improper and/or ineffective placement of AAC. Participants will learnpositive approaches to AAC assessment and coordination with all stakeholders to produce the best long-term outcomesfor consumers. The participants will be introduced to hands-on tools for assessment and will leave with resources that are available for computers, tablets, and in consumable form that can be immediately applied in their setting.

• Practical evidence-based assessment and re- assessment tools and strategies for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Identification of a range of functional communication deficits and underlying conditions that can benefit from AAC
• Integrate learning to your SLP/PT/OT practice through case examples

An estimated 3.5 million Americans have speech disabilities so significant that they struggle to be understood by others. Yet many never gain access to the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices they need. The process of identifying the right system can be daunting,with a vast array of access methods, device features, and individualized user needs making AAC assessment complexand often inconsistent. Studies show that up to 40% of AAC systems are abandoned, often because of poor feature matching or a lack of collaborative assessment. This not only limits communication but can lead to frustration, loss of funding, and reduced functional outcomes. On the other hand, effective AAC assessment leads to improved communication success, greater client engagement, and optimized clinical outcomes. Clinicians are no longer just matching devices. They're matching lives with opportunities to connect. This workshop provides a clear, practical framework for AAC assessment, offering hands-on tools, real-life case examples, and strategies that can be implemented immediately. Participants will learn to identify communicative intent, trial appropriate access methods, and make informed decisions that support lasting, functional communication outcomes in schools, clinics, and community settings.

The content of this program is germane to children, students and clients ages 3-22 yearsold.

• Immediately improve your ability to select and utilize AAC assessment tools to fit your clients with the bestAugmentative Communication system for their needs
• Practice and review 10 formalized assessment tools as well as reviewing dynamic assessment practices to support the funding process
• Practical assessment and re-assessment strategies for identification of candidates for AAC and assessment procedures you can use the next day

Supporting children and young adults with complex communication needs requires an individualized approach to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) assessment and intervention. This course provides detailed descriptions and examples of various tools to conduct comprehensive AAC evaluations for pediatric clients, including feature matching, access considerations, and integration of family and educational team input. Participants will develop meaningful, functional goals that align with academic standards, developmental milestones, and real-life communication needs across home, school, and community environments. This course will share practical strategies, case studies, and goal-writing templates that clinicians canput to practice immediately.

The content of this program is germane to children, students and clients ages 3-22 years old.

• Improve goal writing skills by learning how to create functional, measurable, and person-centered goals that support real-life communication skills
• Access and information about various tools for AAC evaluations
• Practical application of both evaluation and goal-writing skills that you can immediately apply in your practice

This course will review the components of visual supports/tools as strategies for improving client participation. In addition, we will review the fundamentals of Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) to better engage clients with limited/absent verbal communication. The functions of behavior combined with the completion of a reinforcer assessment will improve client motivation and strengthen therapport between therapist and client. The course will reviewthe importance of considering sensory integration dysfunction as an integral area to be addressed in collaboration with the occupational therapist. This workshop will give therapists an understanding of the complex needs of our clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and help create an inclusive and multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.

• Immediately improve your clients' functional communication skills using practical techniques
• Practical behavioral strategies for therapy and evaluation sessions that you can use the next day
• Examine how sensory integration, behaviormanagement, and functional communication needs affect your client's performance in therapy
• Effective, evidence-based tools to help build compliance & client engagement during sessions
• Increase understanding of the complex needs of our clients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)