CRUZ, Arthur Christion

AAC for Children – An Introduction

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is defined as any method of

communication other than s p _eech
___

AAC includes:
• Communication boards
o Pages with line drawings or photos
• Signs and g _estures
______
o Provides additional quick vocabulary
o Helpful for frequently used vocabulary
• AAC devices
o Wide variety of representation and access methods
o Also called a speech
_ _ _ _ _ _ g _enerating
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _device
_____

AAC intervention should provide support for all c _ommunicative

___________ partners,
including: family members, educational staff, and peers

Successful AAC interventions for children include:

• The use of a f _amily
_ _ _ _ - _centered
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ approach
o Role of family members is especially important
o Family has greatest knowledge of the child’s current experiences and g _oals
___

• The development of p _ersonalized

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AAC systems
o Should be based on the i _nterests
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and skills of the child
▪ Developmentally appropriate representation of v _ocabulary
________
▪ A ccess
_ _ _ _ _ strategies that are physically and cognitively appropriate
▪ Vocabulary that supports c_ognitive
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and linguistic development
▪ Easily learned organizational s_tructure
_______

• Support for the child’s use of AAC in partner communication opportunities

• P_ick_ _ a motivating opportunity
• P _rovide
_ _ _ _ _ appropriate AAC supports
• O_ffer_ _ _ an opportunity to communicate
• W_ait __
• R_espond
_____
• + Model throughout the interaction

https://aac-learning-center-moodle.psu.edu (10/19)