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Students with complex communication needs are students with unique combinations of functional needs that impact communication, access, and learning in the classroom. Children with complex communication needs have the highest rate of unmet needs for communication and communication devices when compared to other disabilities. This session is a foundational session to support the understanding of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as a part of a total communication system. Many people focus on the tool when considering AAC. When the only focus is on the tool, it often leads to abandonment. This session will provide resources and strategies to go beyond the tool and consider the development of a communication system for these complex students. Shannon Paige, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech language pathologist serving as the Education Project Manager for the Texas Technology Access Program, the Texas state AT program. She is a US Navy veteran. Shannon is a member of the ASHA Sig 12 coordinating committee & a member of the Quality Indicators for AT (QIAT) leadership team. She has supported the use of AAC in schools throughout Texas for over 20 years & utilized the QIAT indicators & matrices through coaching & training to promote systemic AT improvement. She has presented at conferences locally & nationally to encourage increased collaboration & decision making in support of students. |
