SLPs in AAC Integrators 2023-2024 School Year
AAC Integrators: Building a Communication Community
https://indianaaacsummit.com/indiana-aac-summit-2024
A need for a cohesive understanding and implementation of AAC across school buildings was recognized by a team of SLPs within a school district. The developmental preschool-12th grade Life Skills classrooms were chosen as the pilot classrooms to embark on an AAC implementation journey. For 7 months of the school year, a different foundation of AAC was highlighted each month for the classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, PTs, OTs, and other school personnel. Participation opportunities for the teachers and paras provided baseline data for knowledge of AAC, opportunities for collaboration, and fun prizes for team-building. The team of SLPs worked through challenges, adjusted plans where needed, and celebrated the big and small victories.
Have you ever felt like implementing AAC can be overwhelming and daunting, especially across different ages, classrooms, and teachers? Have you ever felt like there is not enough time to collaborate with other professionals? A team of SLPs in one school district recognized a need for a cohesive understanding and implementation of AAC across school buildings. The SLPs embarked on a quest to break down AAC foundational skills into smaller, more manageable units throughout the 2023-2024 school year through a group called, “The AAC Integrators”.
The developmental preschool-12th grade Life Skills classrooms were chosen as the pilot classrooms to be participants. For 7 months of the school year, foundations of AAC were highlighted, one per month, for the classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, PTs ,OTs, and other school personnel. The AAC skills targeted were defining core words, defining communicative functions, modeling without expectation, using wait time and pausing, making sure AAC is within arm’s reach, and using meaningful communication. Technology features used to engage, collaborate, and create a community were Google Chat, Jamboard, Google Forms, Google Slides, Google Docs, Canva, QR Codes, and random name spinners. Creative and fun incentives were used to encourage participation and engagement.
Participation opportunities for the teachers and paras provided baseline data for knowledge of AAC, opportunities for collaboration, and fun prizes for team-building. The team of SLPs worked through challenges, adjusted where needed, and celebrated the big and small victories. As the year progressed, engagement and collaboration increased in learning AAC skills.
During the presentation, the participants will have an opportunity to learn how specific AAC skills can be implemented in classrooms across all grade levels. They will have an opportunity to learn specific technology tools that support the learning of AAC skills. They will be able to learn how SLPs came together to create a fun digital space to engage teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, and administrators. They will learn mistakes made by SLPs, celebrations accomplished, and insight into the plans for the next school year.