AAC Around the School & Beyond!

For the August Strategy of the Month, we have been thinking, writing, & talking about AAC in School.  School is where AAC learners spend a large portion of their days. There needs to be multiple opportunities for students to USE and LEARN AAC each day.   More than that though, we strive for full participation and interaction for students who use AAC.  Students should not have to prove that they can do these things before they have ACCESS to AAC strategies and intervention. Here are some things that can be done to help build AAC participation for both students and educators.

1. Provide ACCESS to AAC devices and visual supports throughout ALL activities in ALL places in school and on school sponsored trips/community based instruction.
2. Provide Aided Language Input when teaching AAC to students.
3. Use a Core Word approach when teaching AAC to students but don’t forget about Fringe Vocabulary.
4. Learn and use partner assisted communication strategies.
5. Provide literacy instruction for ALL AAC learners.
6. Learn about the communication and inclusive power of single message devices and then use them.
7. Create a visual immersion environment.
8. Build communication circles for AAC learners.
9. Be an AAC  Mythbuster Around School.
10. Have fun through meaningful language experiences with AAC in all school classes (don’t forget academic classes as well as electives, ‘specials’, clubs, etc.). 

More Ways to Learn and Implement AAC in School and Beyond…

PrAACtical Resources (Free)

• Places in My School- Picture Ring Kit by PrAACtical AAC on Teachers Pay Teachers
• Visuals to Support Students in the Classroom by LunchBuddiesPlus
• Helping Hands Visual Support by PrAACtical AAC on Teachers Pay Teachers
• Boardmaker Achieve (some specifics- device charging checklists, AAC it’s easy as 1,2,3
• 5 Free Resources for making Communication Boards & Supports
• Dade County Schools- Pre -Kindergarten the Right Beginning

PrAACtical Reading About AAC & School

• Essential Tricks for Supporting AAC in Schools:  Part 1
• Essential Tricks for Supporting AAC in Schools: Part 2
• Supporting Teachers of Students with AAC Needs with Jane Farrall
• AAC in the Classroom with Joan Bruno
• Essential Assistive Technology for the Inclusive Classroom by Tim Villegas from Think Inclusive
• AAC & Academics 
• AAC Must Haves for the Classroom and Room

PrAACtical Videos About AAC & School

• AAC & Alternate Assessments for the Common Core
• School Strategies for EVERYONE Includes Visual Supports
• Highfurlong School Commentary on Special Access Technology
• AAC for School Age Children with Intellectual Disabilities: Strategies for Long Term Intervention
• Enrique Finding His Voice
• Watson Institute You Tube Channel
• Language Stealers (A must watch about core words if you have not seen)

PrAACtical Pinterest Boards

• All Pinterest Boards by Lauren Enders
• AAC School Resources  by VSU Communication Sciences & Disorders
• PrAACtical AAC