Teaching Peers to Support AAC Users
Teaching peers about Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) gets easier and easier. Whether elementary age or high school students there are many options to support students who are AAC Users and their new friends. As was described in the 2-hour certificate approved module series TAALC 114 PreK – 12 Peer Mediated Strategies for Students with Complex Communication Needs https://www.hdilearning.org/courses/taalc-114/ no specific information about the student’s disability is necessary. However, some resources may make this discussion easier. The following list includes books, you-tube videos, and other resources about AAC and AAC users for elementary through middle school through high school age students.
Books
Six books are in this list although, there are likely more available. The books in this list are for elementary through middle school-age students. Most are short, easy reads and range in price from $8.00 – $15.00 available from Amazon. Some books have web-site links associated with them.
Books about AAC for Children and Youth
Hartman, Amanda (2022). I talk in different ways. ISBN: 978-0-6451173-1-6 (print) ISBN: 978-0-6451173- 2-5(electronic) https://www.assistiveware.com/learn-aac/what-is-aac
Good for young preschool or elementary age students. I like this one because it shows many ways friends may communicate when they cannot rely on speech.
Hunault, Caylin (no date). Communication is more than words.
Written by a parent of a non-speaking child. Good for Elementary-age students. This one shows the many ways a student may communicate. Includes discussion questions.
Phillips, Tara (2023). The different ways we communicate. ISBN: 9798891217072 www.autismlittlelearners.com
Written by a Speech Language Pathologist, this book for younger elementary age students has a poetry or rhyming format. Also highlights multiple ways to communicate.
Molineux. Eden (2016) ISBN: 978-0-9959216 – 5-8. Something to Say about my communication device. www.somethingtosay.net Written by a Speech Language Pathologist in Canada, this book uses simple language and an AAC user perspective.
www.somethingtosay.net Written by a Speech Language Pathologist in Canada, this book uses simple language and an AAC user perspective.
Holscher, Crystal (2023). Why my AAC device changed my life. Written by a speech-language pathologist. This book tells the story of Caroline, a girl who was given the gift of communication by finding an AAC device specialized for her.
- Draper, Sharon (2021). Out of my Mind. ISBN: 978-1-4169-7170-2
- Draper, Sharon (2022). Out of my Heart ISBN: 9-781665902168
A New York Times Best Seller, Out of my Mind and Out of my Heart is a two-part fictional series about a young non-speaking girl. No one knows that she understands because she has no way to communicate. This is a chapter book for ages 10 and up.
Videos
You-tube videos with clips about AAC users – some animated for younger students such as Dan’s AAC Device or AAC Communication Explained, some produced by high school students for high school students – Martinsville high school student Claire McGuire , Mateo Morino , or Thisisnotaboutme.
AAC Communication Device Explained FOR KIDS/ What is AAC? / What is a Talker? (Speech Therapy Made Simple) Dec 15, 2023 Animated video about Aiden, an Elementary age boy (7 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpmSAcXuK4Q
Dan’s AAC Device (Jake O’Donnell) animated video – younger kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMBEaKpfhEU
Top Tips for Speaking to an AAC User, From an AAC User (High School Age Students) Martinsville High School student, Clare McGuire, shares her top tips for talking to someone who uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Clare completed this video as part of her community service project in collaboration with the PATINS Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upu9398-MZ0&t=17s
Teen with autism: Conversation and modeling with AAC device Teen with autism at having a conversation about French fries at a 5 Guys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY7gYhcmL18
How to Increase conversations with an AAC User Amanda Hartman talks about “5 ways you can support AAC users to participate in conversation” in this video. AAC users can face some challenges in speaking up in day-to-day conversations. Learn how to support and encourage AAC users to take their turn. With some pre-planning and preparation, they can join the conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vosAP7x6jE
McKenzie’s Voice (25 minutes). This 25-minute video highlights McKenzie, a young woman with cerebral palsy who uses AAC in Australia. https://youtu.be/u4gvcS9_F-Y?si=Zdq3eJTGrz_GFSXD
Mateo Moreno on Teaching kids about AAC: https://ussaac.org/speakup/articles/speak-up-aact-mateo-moreno-on-teaching-kids-about-aac/
Mateo visits schools in Ohio to talk about AAC. His video is 7 minutes and has important messages about being an AAC User and what works.
Thisisnotaboutme! https://thisisnotaboutme.film/ Rental charge $7.50. A documentary about a non-speaking woman with autism who gets a communication system in high school and goes on to college (55 minutes). www.communicationfirst.
Deaf Mavo learns Literacy Skills https://herecomesmavo.com/about –
Other Resources
These resources in include training materials for including all students as in the Cerebral Palsy Association “Just Say Hi”. Stay, Play, Talk an evidence based instructional program (EBIP) available on line https://ebip.vkcsites.org/stay-play-talk-procedures/ provide strategies and instructions for teaching very young communication partners. For very young students Stay, Play, Talk strategies includes play strategies 1) copy-talk 2) play-talk-give 3) Respond. The Communication Partner Profile is an assessment of communication partner skills for high school or paraprofessionals. Finally, engage peers and AAC User in creating personal profiles as a tool to get to know each other.
Communication Partner Profile
This is a self-assessment tool for potential communication partners. High school age or higher. https://www.openaac.org/assets/cppv1.pdf
Just Say Hi! (Cerebral Palsy Foundation)
Is an Inclusive Schools Curriculum for including students with disabilities. The Just Say Hi (JSH) program was recently awarded a Gold-Medal Class Anthem Award in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (2022). Although there are no AAC users in the opening video the curriculum is a nice resource. https://www.yourcpf.org/just-say-hi-in-schools/
Ledford, J. STAY, PLAY, TALK Evidence-based Instructional Practices (EBIP). Vanderbilt University https://ebip.vkcsites.org/stay-play-talk-procedures/
Dr. Biggs, E., Cole, A., Turner, E. (2023) Enhancing Peer Networks Project. Vanderbilt University.
Create an ‘About Me’ page
A peer group including an AAC User can create their own ‘About Me’ profiles to share with each other. About Me profiles include:
What I’m good at
What I like, love
Please don’t,
I’m Learning to,
I communicate
A great way to start a conversation. The example was written by parents but elementary age students could write their own.
Resources for ‘About Me‘
https://www.acd.org.au/about-me-student-profile/
Personal Preference Indicator: A Guide for Planning (PDF)
https://hdi.uky.edu/ky-speaks-aac/identify-preferences
http://helensandersonassociates.co.uk/person-centred-practice/one-page-profiles/one-page-profile-social-care/learning-disabilities-one-page-profile/
