Overview

OCALI works hard to create an inclusive culture. We understand that people find strength in their identity, so OCALI may use person-first language, identity-first language, or a combination of the two at different times based on the person or audience. By having respect for the different perspectives that empower the people we serve, we promote greater access and understanding to make peoples’ lives better and to inspire change in our communities.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be helpful to autistic individuals who are unable to get their communicative needs met through speech alone. AAC refers to a constellation of tools, strategies, and techniques that are used to supplement existing communication or replace communication modalities lost due to illness or disease. For autistic children and adults, the goal of AAC is to allow them to say whatever they want, regardless of context. Autistic AAC users can communicate effectively using unaided communication (e.g., gestures, manual signs) as well as AAC technology that ranges from simple to sophisticated. The selection of AAC tools and the development of an intervention plan are both conducted as a team process, with the autistic individual and their families playing a key role in the decision-making.

Estimated Time to Complete: 2 1/2 hours

What's Included
52 pages
Pre/post-assessments
Free Certificate

Participants should be able to:

Discuss at least two benefits of AAC for autistic individuals
Compare and contrast the profiles of autistic AAC users at the emerging, context-dependent, & independent stages
Discuss the characteristics of AAC-friendly environments for autistic individuals
Explain the benefit of using AAC to mitigate behavior challenges in individuals with ASD
Describe 2 AAC support strategies that communication partners should use throughout the day

Authors:

Carole Zangari, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ASHA-F, BCS-CL
Erin Brooker Lozott, Ed.D., BCBA-D, CCC-SLP

Module Content

You can download a document that includes all content from the module, with the exception of videos. This resource can support your learning while completing the module or be saved for future reference.

Table of Contents

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