Effective Augmentative and Alternative Communication Practices
A Handbook for School-Based Practitioners

Effective Augmentative and Alternative Communication Practices provides a user-friendly handbook for any school-based practitioner, whether you are a special education teacher, an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) consultant, assistive technology consultant, speech language pathologist, or occupational therapist. This highly practical book translates the AAC research into practice and explains the importance of the use of AAC strategies across settings. The handbook also provides school-based practitioners with resources to be used during the assessment, planning, and instructional process.

UNIT 1: Students with Complex Communication Needs and the Instructional Team Chapter 1: Students with Complex Communication Needs Chapter 2: Understanding Communication Competencies Chapter 3: The Instructional Team Chapter 4: Identifying the Barriers in the Environment UNIT 2: Assessment: The Student and The Communication System Chapter 5: Identifying the Student’s Present Level of Performance Chapter 6: Identifying the Student’s Literacy Skills Chapter 7: Defining and Identifying Unaided Communication Systems Chapter 8: Defining and Identifying Low Technology Aided Communication Systems Chapter 9: Defining and Identifying High Technology Aided Communication Systems UNIT 3: Goal Setting and Implementation Practices Chapter 10: Goal Setting for Students with Complex Communication Needs Chapter 11: Implementation Practices for Students with Complex Communication Needs Chapter 12: Implementing Augmentative and Alternative Communication Across Settings

M. Alexandra Da Fonte is Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University, USA.

Miriam C. Boesch is Associate Professor in Special Education at the University of North Texas, USA.