Components of Successful AAC Therapy for an Awesome School Year

Course Number: ABIO2117

When: Course content will be available between available October 8, 2021 – October 31, 2026

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

Description: This session discussed 3 ways to know if a strategy is evidence-based and explored several common strategies currently used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) therapy. This session also discussed the necessary components to consider for successful AAC implementation to make language learning empowering and fun for every user.

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.
Any professional with extensive AAC background and knowledge

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.

Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC‐SLP

Christopher R. Bugaj is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools. Chris co-hosts the Talking With Tech podcast featuring interviews and conversations about augmentative and alternative communication and has hosted The A.T.TIPSCAST; a multi-award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. Chris is the author of The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome For All, published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Chris is the co-author of Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of the Year and The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools both of which are also published by ISTE. Chris co-authored two chapters for a book published by Brookes Publishing titled Technology Tools for Students with Autism. Chris co‐produces and co‐authors the popular Night Light Stories podcast which features original stories for children of all ages. Chris has presented over 500 live or digital sessions at local, regional, state, national, and international events, including TEDx.

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.

Christopher Bugaj has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: International Society for Technology in Education – Publication Royalties & Conference Registration Fee Waiver, Smarty Ears – App Royalties and Former Podcast Sponsor, Texthelp – Former Podcast Sponsor, Don Johnston – Former Podcast Sponsor, Pearson – Former Podcast Sponsor, WPS – Former Podcast Sponsor, Smart Box – Former Podcast Sponsor, Double Time Docs – Former Podcast Sponsor, Speech Blubs – Former Podcast Sponsor, PicSeePal – Former Podcast Sponsor, Assistive Technology Industry Association – Registration Fee Waiver, Future Educators Technology Conferences – Registration Fee Waiver, Loudoun County Public Schools – Full-time Salaried Position, Shenandoah University – Former Instructional Stipend, Presentations for Various Organizations

Christoper Bugaj has the following nonfinancial relationships to disclose: CAST AEM Center Advisor, Former Center for Technology & Disability Faculty, Brookes Publishing – Author, Former XceptionalEd Podcast Network Member, International Society for Technology in Education Member, Virginia Society for Technology in Education Member, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Member

Learning Outcomes

As a result of this activity, participants will:

Identify three ways to know a strategy is evidence-based and how this applies to current methodologies, such as, Designing With The End In Mind, The Least Dangerous Assumption, & Spontaneous Novel Utterance Generation
Describe vocabulary considerations for an AAC user
Describe the transfer of motor planning into motor memory
Describe the least to most prompting for aided language stimulation
Describe at least 2 ways to make language learning empowering and fun for the client
Describe a collaborative approach to AAC selection
Describe a specific language system first approach to AAC

Agenda

10 min	Introductions and Backgrounds
5 min	Discussion of three ways to know a strategy is evidence-based
7 min	Discussion of vocabulary considerations for an AAC user
6 min	Discussion of how to support the transfer of motor planning into motor memory
8 min	Discussion of the least to most prompting for aided language stimulation
9 min	Discussion of how to make language learning empowering and fun for the client
10 min	Description of a collaborative approach to AAC selection and a language system first approach
5 min	Live Question and Answer session with guest speakers