AAC for Behaviorists

One of the most common questions I get from parents is, "Can I bring my child's ABA therapist to my parent AAC training?" and I always say, "YES!" These fantastic professionals are such a great resource, and often get to spend many hours per week with kids after school. But I've found that there are some common pitfalls which can occur when SLPs and Behavior Specialists try to communicate about how to work with AAC users. This information is intended to help prevent communication breakdowns between our team. 

One challenge is the term "modeling". SLP's use it to mean, "aided language input" (giving a child examples of how to use their device with no expectation of immediate repetition). Those familiar with ABA may think of it as, "an example of a word or desired behavior that you expect the child to imitate". Below you'll find a 15-minute video series with further explanation, and a handy 1-page version of the same information. 

If you have questions or suggestions for how I can improve this page, please contact me! 

Special note: CVUSD Staff members taking this course for credit should ensure they have an understanding of the terms "ABA", "DTT", and "ABC" (explained in this article) before going on to the videos.

AAC for Behaviorists, Part 1: 

AAC for Behaviorists, Part 2: 

AAC for Behaviorists, Part 3:

For more information about why VBT/DTT is ineffective for teaching spontaneous communication, and links to research evidence for aided language input, please check out this wonderful article from Heidi LoStracco: "Let's Talk about Appropriate Behavior". 

AAC for Behaviorists, Written Handout: