How Do I Create Opportunities To Practice Using AAC?

Shared Reading

The Comment, Ask, Respond (CAR) strategy explained.

Modeling on AAC while reading a book is a fun activity that builds literacy skills while reinforcing what words mean.

Comment on the pictures.

Ask an open ended question like "What do you see?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Focusing on specific words provides repetition necessary to learn how they are used.

Comment on what is happening such as "I like" and "don't like."

Ask an open ended question like "What do you like?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Model on AAC while reading a book.

Model on AAC in a variety of context before or after reading a book.

Modeling can happen anywhere, all day long. Shared reading can happen to introduce or reinforce the meaning of a word.

Comment on what is happening in the environment such as "Turn on" and "My turn."

Ask an open ended question like "What should we do?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Cooking

Modeling on AAC while making brownies or other snacks together can be fun, engaging, and yummy!

Comment on the brownies using phrases like "It is good", "I like it", and "I put it in."

Ask an open ended question like "What's next?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Model on AAC while making cookies.

Model on AAC while making pizza.

Modeling on AAC while making pizza or preparing other meals together can help teach meaningful life skills while learning language.

Comment on the actions using phrases like "I put it on", "It goes in", and "Time to take it out."

Ask an open ended questions like "Where does it go?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Make homemade ice cream using commonly found materials around the house while modeling on AAC.

Comment on the cooking using words and phrases like "Put in", "Big", and "Let's go!"

Ask an open ended question like "What do we do now?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Model on AAC while making ice cream.

Playing

Model on AAC while playing your dog, cat, or other animal!

Pets can be a fun and engaging way to evoke language while modeling on AAC.

Comment on actions using words and phrases such as "like it" and "like that."

Ask an open ended question like "What do you think?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Playing with toys can be a fun way to model language using AAC.

Comment on actions using words and phrases such as "Go" and "It is fun."

Ask an open ended question like "Where does it go?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Model on AAC while playing with cars is fun!

CRafts & Projects

Projects where learners make things can be an engaging and fun way to model AAC.

Comment on actions using words and phrases such as "I like" and "don't like."

Ask an open ended question like "What do you like?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Model using AAC while drawing.

Model on AAC making a paper flower for Mother's Day.

Making things for other people can be a motivating way to model language using AAC.

Comment on actions using words and phrases such as "I want" and "I do."

Ask an open ended question like "What do you want?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Unmaking things can be a just as fun as making things when modeling language use on AAC.

Comment on actions using words and phrases such as "Go away" and "Put on."

Ask an open ended question like "Where should it go?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

Model on AAC making (and unmaking) a big, green monster!

CHORES

Model on AAC while helping out around the house.

Modeling on AAC can happen during typical, everyday routines such as doing laundry and washing dishes.

Comment on the action using phrases like "It goes in", "I take it out", and "We can help."

Ask an open ended question like "Where does it go?"

Respond when the child communicates anything.

More Resources

An Introduction to Augmentative/Alternative Communication from The Virginia Department of Education's Training and Technical Assistance Centers Assistive Technology Network

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