All Are Welcome: How to Diversify Your AAC Therapy

Course Number: ABIO2118

When: Available between available October 8, 2021 – August 17, 2026.

Where: Available under “Course Content” at the bottom of this page.

Description: This session discussed considerations related to multicultural and multilingual AAC users. This session also identified current needs of AAC apps/software used with diverse AAC users and solutions to diversifying AAC apps and supports. Resources available to diversify AAC materials and supports were also explored.

Who This Course Is Good For:

Any ASHA member, CCC holder, or other professional that is licensed or credentialed to practice speech-language pathology (SLP) or audiology or preparing to earnASHA CEUs.
A professional who works with pediatric clients that have limited natural speech
A professional who works with pediatric clients that use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems or may be good candidates for AAC
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) who works in a school-based setting
A professional who works with pediatric clients that exhibit challenging behaviors

Who This Course Isn’t Good For:

Any professional who is not familiar with the term AAC
Any professional that does not currently work with any pediatric clients or plan to in the near future
Professionals that solely provide one on one therapy in a medical setting as this course is focused on AAC implementation in a school-based setting.

Presenters:

Venita Litvack, M.A, CCC-SLP

Venita is an Assistive Technology (AT) Consultant in south Florida. She has a passion for using AAC, AT, and literacy to support individuals with complex communication needs, autism, and other disabilities. Venita has delivered poster presentations on several topics related to AAC at ASHA and co-presented several ASHA CEU accredited courses. Venita co-authored two articles published in ASHA Leader’s online publication, as well as the Lou Knows What to Do book series published by Boys Town Press. Recently, Venita started utilizing the power of social media to empower and motivate educators across the country through the Speechie Side Up podcast, blog, Instagram account, and YouTube channel.

Christina Royster, EdD, CCC-SLP

Christina Royster is the owner/founder of Play on Words Therapy, LLC. She is licensed in Maryland and Washington DC and has been practicing for over nine years. Christina specializes in working with complex communication needs and language delays. She also specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), as she works on an AAC team in the public school setting. Christina is a co-creator in Diverse AAC, which aims to increase awareness and provide information related to diversifying AAC for multicultural AAC users. Christina is also passionate about increasing diversity in the SLP field. She is a member of the ASHA Special Interest Group 12 (AAC), International Society for AAC (ISAAC), Maryland Speech-Language-Hearing Association, DC Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing.

Disclosure Statements

Venita Litvack has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: ownership interest in Speechie Side Up, LLC and Tassel Learning, LLC; royalties from the Lou Knows What to Do book series.

Venita Litvack has the following relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose: member of the ASHA Special Interest Group 12.

Christina Royster has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: ownership interest in Play on Words Therapy, LLC and compensation for this course.

Christina Royster has the following nonfinancial relationships to disclose: member of the ASHA Special Interest Group 12 and ISAAC.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of this activity, participants will:

Describe at least two considerations related to multicultural and multilingual AAC users.
Identify current needs of AAC apps/software used with diverse AAC users.
Describe at least 2 current workarounds and solutions to diversifying AAC apps and supports.
Explore resources available to diversify AAC materials and supports.

Agenda

10 min	Introductions and Backgrounds
9 min	Discussion of considerations related to multicultural and multilingual AAC users
12 min	Description of current needs of AAC apps/software used with diverse AAC users
13 min	Discussion of workarounds and solutions to diversifying AAC apps and supports
11 min	Discussion of resources available to diversify AAC materials and supports
5 min	Live Question and Answer session with guest speakers