How parents can help their kids on spectrum use AAC.

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 It is a well-known fact most children on the spectrum struggle to communicate. Most of them are non-verbal. We must provide our kids with a way to communicate. It can be low-tech systems like PECS or high-tech AAC devices.

I am not a speech therapist myself but have been on my son's AAC journey for the past 8 years. I have learned different strategies from his SLP which I want to share with you all.

The child needs to have access to their device.

We need to ensure our kids always have access to their devices. They need to be charged every day and always be available to our children. They need to be taken everywhere so our kids always have a way to communicate.

We need to model using the device.

We cannot just give the child a device and expect them to use it. We must model using the device for our kids. Our kids need to see us using their devices to talk to them so they can learn using it too. We don't need to model every word. We must point to the word on their device to speak to them. All family members must be on board so the child sees all people around them using the system.

Make a low tech backup of a paper-based copy of the device.

 We must make a low-tech paper-based backup of our child’s device if anything was to happen to the device. This can be done by taking screenshots of the different pages of the device which can be printed and bound to make it into a book. 

Make sure the device is always charged and ready for use.

This is an important step that sometimes gets easily forgotten. We must make sure that the device is always charged and ready for use. If possible teach your kids to do this.

Get Familiar with your child's AAC system.

As parents we need to get familiar with our child's AAC system as teachers, paraprofessionals, speech therapists will keep changing over the years but you will be there with your child for a long time.

Encourage your child's attempts to communicate. 

A typical child learns to speak by babbling. Similarly, when the child gets access to their device in the beginning they will press the buttons without any meaning. This is their way of exploring the device. Do not take the device away from them if they do so. Always try to respond to their communication attempt.

These are a few strategies that will help you to help your kids with their AAC. If you have any more tips do comment and let me know.








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