Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a way for a person to communicate when they are not able to effectively use speech or writing. AAC can include pictures on a board, sign language, a device that speaks aloud, or any combination which helps someone communicate. Children may use AAC for a short time while speech skills are developing or for their entire life. Some children use a combination of speech and AAC.
Augmentative - Used to supplement existing speech.
Alternative - Used in place of speech that is absent or non-functional.
A child needs to experience others (family, friends, and educators) using the AAC in order to learn how to use it.
This is often known as modeling. There are strategies that can help you learn how to model on a child's AAC.
A response from the child is not required when you are modeling the use of AAC. You are just showing a child how the words used go together to convey a meaning.
Examples include...
Self Talk - Model what you are doing. For example, if you are getting something from the fridge you could model "open", "hungry", or "want to eat."
Parallel Talk - Model what they are doing. For example, if they are eating you could model “eat”, “like it“, or "it is good”.
Expanding - Model one or two more words before or after what the child says. If the child says “in" model "put in", "in it", "want in", or "it goes in".
The most frequently used words are known as Core Vocabulary Words. Approximately 80% of the words spoken are from a small set of 350 words.
It may take some time for a child to learn how to use these words. The child will likely need to experience these words being modeled many, many times before using it on the AAC independently.
Teach children what words mean by using the words in context. Placing demands on a child can make using AAC feel like a chore, test, or burden.
Model "Here it is!" rather than "Find it!"
Model "Can do!" rather than "Show me on your talker."
Model "I got it!" rather than "Do it!"
Model "You want this" rather than "What do you want?"