AAC Awareness Month Ideas

In our part of the world, October brings pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween costumes, and apple cider. But no matter where you live October is more than pumpkins and Halloween. It’s internationally recognized as AAC Awareness Month and it offers a wonderful opportunity for spreading the word as to how we can support people with complex communication needs. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Make an AAC Awareness Bulletin Board in your school or clinic.
  • These materials can be used to create an AAC Awareness display.

Download the files, print on color paper, and you are ready to assemble your display.

• • Punch up the display with an AAC poster, like Lauren Enders’ AAC Boot Camp-Getting AAC Users to Communicate or Kate Ahern’s The Periodic Table of AAC . Other ideas:
    • Print, hang, or give someone an AAC awareness image
    • 10 Commandments of AAC Devices
• Spice up your AAC instruction with music.
  • Ms. Marlowe has a nice selection of AAC-related songs on Youtube.
  • Speech and Language Songs focus on core vocabulary. SLP Stephen Neece comes out with new ones pretty regularly (and you can also purchase personalized songs).
  • Tanya Lockwood’s songs also have a lot of AAC practice opportunities.
  • These songs from Maple Leaf Learning are action-oriented and would be great for a brain break.
• Learn from AAC users who share their work online. Check out the work of Justin Smith (Justin Smith Writes), Michael Phillips (My Own Expanse I Cannot See), Alyssa Hillary Zisk (Yes, That Too), and others.
• Expand your AAC connections with social media.
  • Watch AAC-focused videos by Speech Without Limits and the Belleville Area Special Servies Cooperative AAC/AT Department.
  • Stop by Susan Todd’s site AACtual Talk, for some great AAC information.
  • Kim Rankin writes beautifully about their family’s journey with AAC and shares more on her Facebook page, Hold My Words.
  • Susan Berkowitz shares a lot of AAC content at Kidz Learn Language.
  • Shannon Werbecke’s Speechy Musing site has a good deal of AAC content, like this post with AAC implementation tips.
  • You can also check out Kristen Ponce who blogs at AAC to the Core.
  • Amanda Samperi (@aaciswhereitsat) shares lots of prAACtical ideas at her site, AAC Is Where It’s At.
  • Check out some videos by AAC mom Deanne Shoyer of Small But Mighty
  • Becky Edge (@autismslpadventure) posts about her work at My Autism SLP Adventure.
  • Kacy Barron (@beach-therapy-slp) shares a lot of AAC content that you can explore.
  • Visit Anne Page’s site, Beautiful Speech Life. You can also see what she’s sharing on her YouTube channel.
  • Venita Litvack and Kimberly Tice also have a lot of AAC content on Speechie Side Up. If you are a fan of podcasts, check out their site for an episode with Gail Van Tatenhove.
  • Follow some enthusiastic professionals and families who share their AAC journeys on Instagram, like @slp_schotzihalley, @watraac, and @giggles_with_ellie.
  • Follow the hashtag for AAC Awareness Month on Twitter:  #AACaware19.
• Stock your AAC toolkit by taking advantage of deep discounts on AAC apps. Lauren Enders does a terrific job of creating a graphic to help us see what is available. Click here for the first set of sales. Each week, we’ll publish an updated list.

• Hire an AAC user, like Glenda Watson Hyatt, as a speaker at an upcoming event.
• Read a Tar Heel Reader Book with an AAC learner
• Consider providing an AAC training. Browse Tabi Jones-Wohleber’s original PPT material for inspiration OR tune into her 11-part MASTER PAL series here. Slides, talking points, activity ideas, video links, and handouts are all included (free downloads).
• Enjoy some AAC-inspired books by I Want to Tell You Books.
• Check out the Core Calendar Club, run by Venita Litvack, Kristen Ponce, and Anne Page, and join their Facebook challenge.
• Expand your AAC toolkit with resources from the ACE Centre. Don’t miss their free iBooks:
  • Getting Started with AAC: Designing and Using Alphabet Charts
  • Getting Started with AAC: Using Low Tech Symbol Based Systems with Children
  • Getting Started with AAC: Access to Low Tech Symbol-based Resources When Pointing is Difficult

Do you have AAC awareness activities that you’d like to share in a future blog post? Reach out to us here so we can help to spread the word about AAC.

Let’s get this party started!