10 Strategies to Train Parents and Improve Carryover for Students Using AAC

Editor’s note: We’re hearing from school-based speech-language pathologists who want resources to share with parents during the COVID-19 disruption. Several SLPs told Leader editors they want to help parents ease changes in structure that might significantly affect their children with communication disorders, while also providing activities to continue their speech-language progress. Look for a series of blog articles starting soon that feature members’ stories of how they’re handling COVID-19 by work setting. Often when I visit schools as an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) consultant, school-based SLPs and other school staff report carryover in AAC from school to home as their biggest challenge in helping a student become a more independent communicator. Often, SLPs and educators include parents in deciding what AAC system to use, but not in training and implementation. Various reasons make including parents in AAC training difficult—no time for staff to train parents, parents can’t come to school during the day, a language barrier, other scheduling issues and more. Especially as we navigate COVID-19-related school closures, providing parent training and resources for using AAC at home is will help keep students communicating. Although I’m only starting to do this, after a few sessions I see virtual parent training as an effective tool effective for parents of AAC-users. Today, for example, one of my students wanted a hug from h...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Tags: Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Intervention Source Type: blogs