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AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) means all the different ways that people communicate besides talking. This includes:
Facial expressions: Smiling or frowning to show how you feel.
Gestures: Waving or pointing to communicate.
Signs: Using manual signs.
Picture symbols: Using pictures to show words or ideas.
Simple switches with voice output: Pressing a button to hear a message.
Devices with communication apps: Using special devices, tablets or computers to communicate.
These tools help students with limited speech or unclear speech to communicate better.
What is a Mid-Tech AAC Device?
These are simple devices that are battery operated and can store pre-recorded messages. These devices allow students to gain someone's attention, participate in group activities with simple messages, and engage in social interactions with others (e.g., greeting, asking questions).
What is a High-Tech AAC Device?
These are more sophisticated devices such as an iPad with specific communication apps loaded to allow students to communicate for a variety of communication functions such as requesting, refusing/portesting, commenting, providing information, asking/answering questions, etc. The communication apps provide students with robust vocabulary that they can use to communicate with others.
Who is an AAC device for?
AAC devices are for individuals who are non-speaking, as well as individuals whose speech is limited or unclear.
If you have any concerns about your child's speech or communication skills, please speak with your child's teacher so your child's learning profile can be discussed at a School Support Team (SST) meeting with the school Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) present.
AAC at Home
Families may access AAC funding through the provincial Assistive Devices Program (ADP) of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The ADP helps people with long-term physical disabilities pay for customized equipment such as communication aids. Students who meet criteria can be referred to this program by an SLP.
To learn more about ADP funding for AAC and the eligibility criteria, please speak with your child’s school SLP.
Supporting your child's communication skills and language development using AAC at home:
Aided Language Stimulation, Natural Aided Language, or simply Modeling is a strategy families, caregivers, and educators can use to support an AAC user's communication and language skills development
Modeling involves using an AAC system to talk to your child. Your child needs to see what communication using AAC looks like in real conversations.
By modeling words throughout the day, we help our AAC users to learn what the words mean and how they can use these words to express their thoughts. Like learning a new language, a beginner AAC user needs to be surrounded by people who communicate using AAC.
To model AAC, we point or press a word or number of words on the AAC system as we speak.
Start small by modeling single words or keywords on the AAC system as you speak complete and grammatical sentences.
Over time, as your child starts using single words on the AAC system, start modelling 2- to 3-word combinations. When they start using 2- to 3-word combinations, try modeling 4- to 6-word combinations, and so on.
Model AAC to communicate different messages such as requesting (e.g., I want ___), protesting (e.g., "no", "not", "stop"), commenting (e.g., "look", "see"), directing (e.g., "go", "wait", "give"), asking questions, greetings, etc.
For more information about modeling or to learn about other strategies to support your child's communication and language skills development, please speak with your child's teacher.
Please also visit the TDSB - Speech Language Pathology website
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