AAC Consideration Toolkit

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Systems trial kit and resources for considering use of AAC with pre-K through high school children.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) emphasizes that no one should be without a way to communicate. The ASHA Communication Bill of Rights states that all "people have the fundamental right to communicate in every part of their lives. These communication rights help ensure full participation across a person’s lifetime."

Access to AAC systems is essential to assist students that need support for effective communication. With so many AAC system options available, IEP teams and others who support children ranging from pre-K to 12th grade may find it challenging to know where to start. Identifying the right AAC system based on a child’s individual needs requires time and exploration. The AAC Consideration Toolkit can help.

Introduction and Purpose
AAC Toolkit Contents
Apply for a Toolkit
Related Resources
FAQs

Introduction to AAC Systems

What are Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) Systems?
Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. Some people use AAC throughout their life. Others may use AAC only for a short time, like when they have surgery and can’t talk. A person may use different types of AAC because there are many ways that we all communicate. An AAC system means all of the tools of this type that a person uses.

No-tech and low-tech ACC options include things like:
- Gestures and facial expressions; writing or drawing,
- Spelling words by pointing to letters, and
- Pointing to photos, pictures, or written words.
High-tech ACC options include things like
- using an app on an iPad or tablet to communicate and
- using a computer with a “voice," sometimes called a speech-generating device.
Who are ACC Systems for?
Current research shows that there are no specific requirements nor prerequisites for using augmentative and alternative communication. AAC can benefit people at any age. AAC can be customized to help people regardless of their cognitive abilities, language skills, or motor skills. A person does not need to learn nonelectronic AAC (like a communication pictures) before using electronic AAC (like a communication app on an iPad). In fact, sometimes electronic AAC systems are easier to use than nonelectronic systems because they can automatically advance to additional pages of vocabulary or combine picture symbols with corresponding voice output.

Purpose of the AAC Consideration Toolkit

What is the AAC Consideration Toolkit?
The AAC Consideration Toolkit is a kit of low- and high- tech AAC tools and instructive documents, for trial use with an individual student/child over an 8-week period. The AAC Toolkit was developed to help a child’s support team decide if they can benefit from AAC. The Tookit is free of charge for use with pre-K through grade 12 children in Minnesota. The AAC Toolkit gives professionals, such as IEP teams, the opportunity to trial multiple AAC Systems with a child to determine if the child would benefit from a formal AAC Evaluation. If the team determines the child would benefit from AAC, a comprehensive AAC evaluation led by a speech-language pathologist and IEP team is recommended to find the best AAC system for a student.

The toolkit helps IEP teams answer these questions:
- How can the student benefit from an AAC system?
- What AAC system features match the student’s needs?
- What AAC teaching strategies will help the student succeed?
- Which AAC systems should be trialed during an AAC evaluation?
Kit Components:
- AAC Systems:
  - Non-electronic: The kit includes: Communication Boards.
  - Electronic (light-tech) options: single- and multi-message speech devices that allow for recording and playback of messages. The kit includes: Talking Tiles, LITTLE Step-by-Step, and GoTalk 20+ Light Touch.
  - Electronic (high-tech) AAC options include: an iPad with case and charger, pre-loaded with AAC Apps, including: TouchCHat HD with WordPower, TD Snap, Proloquo2Go. The iPad also comes loaded with AAC Genie, an AAC evaluation app you can use to lorem ipsum dolor.
- AAC Consideration Toolkit Guidebook
  The AAC Consideration Toolkit Guidebook instructs a child’s support team through an 8-week plan and includes activity ideas, resources and strategies.
- Data Collection Forms
  Use these forms during the 8-week trial period to learn about the AAC Systems, get helpful tips and document the features and strategies that worked best the child:
  - AAC Comparison Form (PDF): Compare different AAC apps of page sets within apps (without the student)
  - AAC Data Collection Form (PDF): Collect data to compare student’s performance when using AAC apps or page sets
  - Data Collection Form: AAC Use (PDF) Collect data about child’s acceptance and operational skills with an AAC app
- Outcomes Summary form
  Summarize the AAC Systems trialed and make a recommendation for AAC systems to trial in a formal evaluation. MN STAR credentialed staff can sign and endorse this form to substantiate the need for a comprehensive AAC evaluation with school directors and administration:
  - Outcomes Summary Form (PDF)
Disclaimer: The MN STAR Program recognizes the importance of making AAC intervention decisions based on each student’s individual needs and does not endorse specific AAC systems or vendors.
How to apply for the AAC Consideration Toolkit

Getting started:

Step 1
Review the AAC Consideration Toolkit Guidebook to get an overview of the week by week process plan, the AAC systems available and the resources included. Determine if the student(s) you’ve dentified with possible AAC needs could benefit from this trial.

Step 2
Fill out the Application Form [Basic info TBD/support team+SETT+Initial Features Matching] for each child you are working with. This form will help you identify members of the child’s team that will need to be involved in the AAC Consideration process, identify a starting point to consider AAC, and the AAC Systems in the Toolkit that would be appropriate to trial with your student.

Step 3
Request the Toolkit at STAR’s MNAT4All website. Be prepared to upload the completed Application Form.

Have questions about the application process? Contact Amy Perron or Jamis Wehrenberg at the MN STAR Program to learn more....
Related Resources
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FAQs
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