SEASON 6 OF INNOVATIVE AAC SOLUTIONS: THE PODCAST  

Welcome to Innovative AAC Solutions: the Podcast, where we will be discussing topics bi-weekly related to augmentative alternative communication. Each episode will have a topic/interview, a techy tip, and an innovative activity to support students who use AAC. 

New episodes for Season 6 are here!

Welcome back to Season 6 of Innovative AAC Solutions the Podcast! 

Season 6 | Episode 12: Spawning Communication: Minecraft, Virtual Games, & AAC

Welcome back to the podcast where we believe communication is creative, collaborative, and sometimes… built one minecraft block at a time. In today’s episode we’re stepping into the world of pixels, portals, and possibility.

If you’ve ever wondered what Minecraft has to do with AAC…

If you’ve ever thought, “Are video games a distraction in therapy?”…

Or if you’ve been curious about how virtual gaming might actually unlock authentic language opportunities…

You are in the right place.

We’re joined today by the incredible Hayden Gandolfi, a speech-language pathologist, and we are diving into the intersection of AAC, virtual gaming, and meaningful engagement. We’re talking about how virtual platforms like Minecraft and Semantris can become powerful tools for language expansion, connection, problem-solving, and spontaneous communication. We explore how gaming environments naturally create opportunities for language, ways to incorporate gaming into speech therapy without sacrificing goals, and how AAC users can become the leaders, strategists, and storytellers inside these digital spaces

So grab your headset. Power up your device. And let’s craft some communication. Let’s build together.  

Hayden is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist (CCC-SLP) with over six years of experience supporting preschool through transition-age students with a wide range of communication needs in school-based and telepractice settings. His work centers on robust AAC implementation, using assistive technology to support learning, and trauma-informed care. As a content creator and presenter on AAC and virtual intervention strategies, Hayden works to make communication science approachable and fun for all audiences. Prior to his clinical career, he worked as a professional musician and continues to create across disciplines as a writer, composer, illustrator, and app developer, bringing a creative lens to communication, learning, and accessibility. 

Make sure you check out the notes below the video for links to the tips and resources. Time stamps and descriptions are also available to better help you navigate the episodes so be sure to look for those in the description below.  

Check below for audio only file available for listening/download. 

Innovative Activity

Resources from this Episode