child on a quad bike

Welcome to our Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Guided Pathways course

The materials are freely provided for anyone supporting very young children with severe speech and language difficulties who need to use other methods of communication such as symbols and assistive technology.

Do join us whether you are a teacher, therapist, parent, support assistant, carer or family member.

Study Times

The training is divided into three levels. Each level will take around six hours to complete and will be broken up with a series of topic units containing activities and quizzes.

The Levels are aimed to support general, intermediate and more advanced AAC knowledge and skills, linking with the European Qualification Framework.

Objectives

   The aim is to guide participants through the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) training materials in a sequential manner.

   The three levels start building on very limited knowledge and skills and move to level 2 where basic knowledge and skills can be put into practice to complete tasks.

   Finally, at level 3 it will be possible to gain more knowledge about the facts, principles, processes and general concepts with skills to support assessment, implementation and adaptation on the AAC journey. 

Choosing where to start ...

Depending on your level of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) confidence, choose the level at which you would like to start learning.

Knowledge

  • Understanding of a typical child’s speech and language development
  • Awareness of the types of AAC available for initial use.  
  • Knowledge of Assistive Technologies provided to encourage communication.

Skills

  • Initial experience of how to use AAC symbols with those who require aided communication.
  • Use of AAC activities provided by others
  • Basic use of Assistive Technologies provided to encourage communication.

Knowledge

  • Recognition of the importance of communication partners and family
  • Understanding impact of speech and language impairments (sensory, physical and cognitive)
  • Awareness of individual AAC user needs for assessment purposes

Skills

  • Able to adapt Assistive Technologies and symbol presentation on boards and devices
  • Support AAC activities within the family’s daily life and school curriculum
  • Customise AAC/AT to different situations and user skills

Knowledge

  • Have a good understanding of communication difficulties related to the use of AAC
  • Understand impact co-occurring physical, sensory and cognitive difficulties have on learning and progression.
  • Able to Identify and report child’s needs with strategies required for progression

Skills

  • Share knowledge about the design and creation of different vocabulary boards
  • Advise about AT use for different strategies and skills
  • Implement and train others.
  • Evaluate progress, report and respond to outcomes.

Level 1

This course introduces the concept of AAC and how symbols can help those with limited or no speech and language skills.  It touches on the involvement of communication partners and setting out on the AAC journey. 

Level 2

This level explores the process of assessment, different frameworks, strategies for inclusion using the SETT Framework and the provision of classroom activities that reflect the use of AAC.

Level 3

Level 3 provides practical ways of designing symbol sets, developing communication boards, vocabularies, reporting and planning for progression whilst evaluating outcomes.