#TalkingAAC 2025

This session will focus on PRC-Saltillo AAC apps LAMP Words for Life and TouchChat HD-AAC w/ WordPower. We will  review features and built in settings that can be customized. Case studies and hands on activities will be used to problem solve what customizations could be implemented to optimize  success.
Presenter: Darcy Lees, AAC Consultant
Vendor: PRC-Saltillo 

All Means All.  All people have a right to the relationships, experiences, and instruction that help them develop communication skills. This requires access to a language system, which can be either low-tech (as in a paper-based booklet), high-tech (as in a dedicated device), or some combination. AAC support is critical to effective literacy instruction since learners must express their thoughts, ideas, and wishes during early or emergent routines. Additionally, effective literacy instruction is socially constructed. Therefore, all learners must have the means and the opportunity to engage actively, constructively, and socially.

Beyond providing AAC support for language use and development, laying the foundation for literacy and language growth is predicated on providing comprehensive literacy instruction. Accordingly, the development team at Building Wings created at literacy program to reflect this evidence-based approach for young learners. Throughout this four-year program, parents and teachers can access implementation supports (real-time videos plus paper-based instructional guides) to quickly and seamlessly deliver daily cycles of the five emergent routines that comprise comprehensive literacy instruction (Erickson & Koppenhaver, 2017). These include shared reading, predictable chart writing, alphabet/ phonics instruction, and daily opportunities to engage independently with reading and writing.
Presenter: Karla Rachfal - Educational Solution Specialist 
Vendor: Building Wings, LLC 

This session will walk you through key features of both the Core First and Motor Plan Pagesets.  Audience members will be able to feature match both options for their AAC user’s needs.  We will participate in a robust discussion about pageset selection and benefits for a wide range users.
Presenters: Brigitte Evariste, Pediatric Solutions Consultant Michigan East & Joel Allchin, Solutions Consultant Michigan 
Vendor: Tobii Dynavox

This session focuses on the various types of AAC we see used in our buildings. Currently, many of these devices are only used for a single individual and that leads to a focus on that individual standing out from others. We look at ways to take these devices and bring them into alignment with all environments, supporting both the individuals who need them as well as others who may come in contact with these devices. In order to create levels of inclusivity in all aspects of education and the workplace, we need to be able to introduce devices in ways the demystify them as well as supporting those individuals in ways beyond just communicating, helping them from a mental health standing as well.
Presenter: Dr. Ray Heipp
Vendor: School Health Corporation

Want beautiful, engaging, and evidence based materials that go with your favorite picture books to support comprehensive literacy instruction but don’t have time to make them? LessonPix has got time-crunched educators, parents and therapists covered with their In a Story resources. In a Story has ready-made resources aligned with the principles of Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write (Erickson and Koppenhaver, 2020) for over 70 beloved children’s picture books. The session will detail how to use these resources as a part of comprehensive literacy instruction. All participants will be given a 2 month free trial for LessonPix so that they can explore, download and make their very own instructional materials. Participants will have the opportunity to make a custom resource during the session.
Presenter: Beth Poss
Vendor: LessonPix

We often talk about the various competencies we should support in AAC. Many are aware of linguistic, operational, social, and strategic competencies (Light, 1989). A fifth competence, emotional competence, was proposed by Blackstone and Wilkins in 2009. While social and emotional competency is often supported and developed with speaking children, it is less likely to be thoroughly supported with persons who use AAC (Blackstone and Wilkins, 2009).  

Emotional competency includes an awareness and understanding of emotions. This competency includes empathy, coping, self-regulation, societal norms, sensory regulation, expression of feelings, and cause and effect of actions. Blackstone and Wilkins claim “Emotional competencies are intricately related to pragmatics, social communication, and communication with one’s self” (2009). This would suggest communication is the crux of healthy emotional development.

The importance of emotional competency within AAC is further highlighted when we consider the mental health statistics of those with communication disorders. The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that in 2020, 21% of US adults and 16.5% of US youth aged 6-17 have experienced mental health issues (NAMI.org, 2022). Recent research indicates that the rate of mental health issues is much higher among those with complex communication needs (Watson, Reghavendra, & Crocker, 2021). Therefore, people using AAC should have access to and understand how and when to use language to discuss their mental health and wellness thus developing their emotional competency.

Grid 3 communication software offers access to mental health, wellness, and socially connective vocabulary and strategies. We will tour vocabulary and grid sets available and highlight emotional competency tools that have been specifically oriented within the software to more fully allow the AAC user opportunities to discuss and tend to their emotional competency. We will discuss how similar tools could be integrated into other software.

In this presentation, we work to summarize and explore vocabulary, tools, and best practices in increasing an AAC user’s advocacy and emotional competence.  We examine the research and pitfalls for those who support AAC users while highlighting the importance of this critical competency that tends to be the missing piece. We delve into moving beyond labeling emotions, to discussing emotional situations, talking about others’ emotions, developing an inner voice, and supporting advocacy and self-regulation skills.
Presenter: Abigail Warner, MA, CCC-SLP 
Vendor: Talk to Me Technologies and Smartbox