What is AAC?

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?

• An area of clinical practice that addresses the needs of individuals with significant and complex communication disorders.

• Communication impairments may include speech-language production or understanding, in spoken or written communication.

• Speech language pathologists are the professionals that provide AAC.

Who can benefit from AAC?

• Anyone of any age who cannot communicate effectively and efficiently in all environments and with all partners is a candidate for AAC.

How do I know which type of AAC to use?

• An augmentative and alternative communication assessment will determine what type of AAC that best meets the communication needs.

Who completes the AAC assessment?

• A Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) is the professional responsible for completing the augmentative and alternative communication assessment.

• The SLP will work with the support team to identify the individual’s skills and communication needs and then match to appropriate features in an AAC system.

How do I request an AAC assessment?  

• Contact the SLP at your school or early childhood developmental center for an AAC assessment.

• You can also ask your primary care physician for a referral to an SLP for an AAC assessment.

• The Wyoming Assistive Technology (WATR) can help your support team with completing an AAC assessment. Contact twofford@uwyo.edu for more information.