This resources includes five sections as follows:
- AAC Basics: Get familiar with AAC, what it is, the different types, and who uses it.
- Access: Make sure the system is out and available at all times.
- Modeling: Consistently model using the system.
- Core Vocabulary: Focus on core vocabulary and keywords.
- Communication Opportunities: Plan opportunities for communication throughout the day.
Each section includes handouts that teach the skill and explain why it’s so important for AAC learning. In addition, each section includes information on related skills and strategies. For example, in the communication opportunities section, there are handouts included about effective prompting and eliciting a variety of communication functions. Each section also includes a challenge in order to boost your use of each strategy and measure your increased success!
This resource also includes data sheets, reminder visuals, posters, core vocabulary boards, clear directions for modeling, AAC research citations, staff handouts, and so much more.
In addition to the AAC training guide (with the contents noted above), there is also a staff training PowerPoint (which briefly explains each of the 4 strategies) and editable forms of the challenges and data sheets included. These files are PowerPoint files which means you must have access to PowerPoint to use them.
To see a video tour of everything you will receive after purchasing the packet, please click here to watch a complete video tour on YouTube.
**Since the video was taken, the resource now includes core vocabulary handouts and AAC goal writing tips.
This packet does not include information on advanced implementation strategies, AAC activities, AAC assessment, or device specific information. I use many of the forms for assessment and progress monitoring, however it is not intended as a complete resource for this purpose. You can use this packet with any AAC system or device. There is also an alternate version included that can be used with individuals of any age! The page number shown includes the training packet, the editable pages, AND the presentation slides in total.
Feel free to email the Speechy Musings team at hello@speechymusings.com with any questions!
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Nina G. –
Solid resource. The four foundational strategies are well chosen and the visuals are clean and professional. I would have liked a section on troubleshooting common AAC implementation challenges, but what’s here is still very useful for getting teams started.
Jennifer U. –
Printing extras for our whole team!
Mary A. –
I teach in a SPED classroom and my SLP gave me this toolkit to help me better support our AAC users. It’s written in a way that’s accessible even for someone who isn’t an SLP. Now I understand why consistent access and modeling matter so much and I’m doing it naturally throughout the day.
Jen E. –
I use this to train new staff every fall and it works like a charm. The AAC basics section gives people a solid foundation and then the strategies build on each other naturally. My paraprofessionals always say it’s the most helpful training they get all year.
Diana –
Easy to use and so well made.
Kathryn M. –
I manage AAC services for my entire district and have been looking for a consistent resource to use across all our schools. This toolkit is exactly what I needed. It provides a common framework and common language for talking about AAC implementation. The four strategies are clear and actionable, the visuals are clean and professional, and the data collection forms help us measure whether our teams are actually following through. I’ve purchased copies for every SLP in our district and we use it as the foundation for all of our AAC professional development. It’s also been incredibly useful during IEP meetings because parents can see exactly what strategies we’re implementing and what they can do at home. Cannot say enough good things about this resource.
Robert Snyder –
It was very educational both for me as an SLP and for the stakeholders I work with. More activity ideas to encourage use in classroom and at home are always helpful when clinicians feel stuck. Great resource! It provided actionable strategies to support collaboration with AAC communication partners. Also, appreciate the example core boards and strategies to model aided language stimulation.
Donna Davis –
After 20 years as an SLP I thought I knew everything about AAC. But this toolkit helped me refine my approach, especially around creating communication opportunities. It’s a great refresher even for experienced clinicians and the visuals are professional enough to share at trainings.
Stephanie Q. –
I work in an early intervention program and this toolkit has been incredibly helpful for coaching families on AAC use at home. The access piece is where most of my families need support and this resource explains it in a way that’s not overwhelming or preachy.
Lindsay K. –
Every school SLP should own this.
Misty O. –
Really appreciate this toolkit and the research behind it. I found the modeling and core vocabulary sections to be the strongest. My one critique is that I would have loved some video examples or links to demonstrations of the strategies in action. The written descriptions are clear but seeing it modeled would help even more.
Megan G. –
Incredibly well organized and helpful!
SLP Adventures –
Fellow TPT creator here. This is one of the best AAC resources available. The way it emphasizes consistent access and daily modeling aligns perfectly with current research. I’ve reccommended this to several SLPs who are just starting to work with AAC users.
Mountain View Speech –
High quality and well researched toolkit!
Catherine O. –
The data collection forms are a lifesaver.
Sara Y. –
Bought this for my CF year and it saved me.
Tara A. –
This makes AAC less intimidating!
Jackie Q. –
Super practical AAC resource!
Brooke Cooper –
Okay i run a small private practice and work with several AAC users across different settings. This toolkit has been my go-to for parent coaching. The four strategies are easy to explain and the printable visuals give families something tangible to reference between sessions.
Teresa –
Concise and incredibly useful.
Casey Y. –
Bought this right before an IEP meeting where the family had a lot of questions about AAC. The parent-friendly materials helped me explain modeling and core vocabulary in terms they could relate to. Now the family is modeling at home too which is amazing!
Lori Henderson –
The toolkit is well made and the strategies are solid. I wish there were a few more printable visuals specifically for low-tech AAC boards, but what’s included is still very useful for training teams and the data forms are great.
Kathy –
Core vocabulary section is excellent!
Elizabeth M. –
Essential for any AAC caseload.
SLP Sarah –
I use this with every new AAC student I get on my caseload. The first thing I do is pull out the access and modeling sections to share with the classroom team. It sets the tone for consistent implementation from day one and families appreciate having something concrete to reference at home.
Lori C. –
SO glad I purchased this toolkit!
Paula Y. –
Helped me train our whole team on AAC.
Colleen G. –
Printable visuals are top quality!
Donna Nguyen –
Gave this to our SPED teachers and they said it was the clearest explanation of AAC implementation they’ve ever received. The visuals make it easy to remember the four strategies and the data collection forms are a great addition for accountability.
Talk It Out Therapy –
As a fellow SLP creator I really respect the quality here. The toolkit is thorough, evidence based, and so practical. It fills a real gap in available AAC training materials. I recommended it in a Facebook group and multiple people came back to thank me.
Andrea Ross –
I’ve been meaning to overhaul my approach to AAC implementation and this toolkit was the push I needed. It lays out the four key strategies so clearly. My favorite part is the section on ensuring consistent access because I think that’s where most teams struggle.
Lynn Peterson –
Perfect for AAC beginners and veterans alike.
Christina S. –
Good resource with solid strategies. I would have liked a bit more on how to customize core vocabulary boards for different AAC systems. The general principles are great but I needed more specifics for my students using LAMP and TouchChat.
Kim W. –
Simple, effective, and research based.
Pam K. –
I work at a school with a large population of students who use AAC and getting consistent implementation has always been a battle. This toolkit gave me the materials I needed to run quick trainings with each classroom team. The visuals are professional enough to hang in classrooms and the content is parent friendly.
Ashley W. –
Hands down the best AAC training tool!
Creative Speech Therapy –
I’m a TPT seller myself and I have to say this AAC toolkit is one of the most comprehensive and well-organized resources I’ve seen. The research-based strategies are presented in such a user-friendly way. Hats off to the creator!
Laura Kelly –
Really solid toolkit. Only reason for 4 stars is I wish there were more examples specific to high-tech devices. But the general strategies are excellent.
Kim –
Needed something to help me coach classroom staff on using AAC throughout the day and this is perfect. The communication opportunities section gives specific examples of when to model and the core vocabulary focus keeps things manageable for teachers who are new to AAC.
Kristen C. –
This has transformed our AAC services.
Kristin U. –
I have been working with AAC users for about 8 years and this toolkit is one of the best I’ve found for getting everyone on the same page. The section on modeling is particularly strong. It explains not just what modeling is but how to do it naturally throughout the day. I also really appreciate that it addresses communication opportunities because so many teams only use AAC during structured therapy sessions and miss all the natural moments. The data collection forms help me track whether the strategies are being generalized across settings. I’ve recommended this to three other SLPs in my district already.
Bilingual Speech Path –
As a fellow creator, I’m impressed. Quality work!
Jessica Y. –
Bought this specifically for the data collection forms and ended up using the entire toolkit. The way it breaks down AAC implementation into manageable strategies is really well done. I appreciate that it emphasizes the team approach to supporting AAC users.
Marilyn A. –
I used this to create a professional development training for our special education team. The four best practices are presented so clearly that even staff with no AAC background walked away feeling confident. The printable visuals are now hanging in our AAC users’ classrooms.
Cheryl C. –
The visuals are gorgeous and so useful!
Elena S. –
My go-to resource for AAC implementation.
Barbara K. –
Practical and easy to understand!
Jane K. –
Been an SLP for 16 years and I wish I’d had this when I first started working with AAC users. The toolkit covers all the essentials without overwhelming you. I bought copies for two of my SLP assistants and they said it was the best training material they’ve seen.
Joyce –
I run a small private practice and several of my clients use AAC. This toolkit has been wonderful for creating handouts for families. The core vocabulary section helps parents understand why we focus on words like “more” and “go” instead of just nouns.
Catherine Z. –
The research-based approach to this toolkit is what sets it apart from other AAC resources I’ve seen. Having the four strategies clearly defined with practical examples makes it so much easier to coach teachers and parents on consistent implementation.
Tammy G. –
This is GREAT for AAC training.
Janice K. –
Shared this with every teacher on my team.
Lindsay M. –
I teach a self-contained classroom with several AAC users and this toolkit helped me understand how to support them better throughout the day. The communication opportunities section was especially useful for planning when to model during routines.
Paula G. –
The access section alone is worth the price.
Leslie Henderson –
Worth every cent. Printing more copies now!
Emma Davis –
I’m in my CF year and was terrified of AAC. This toolkit breaks everything down so clearly that I actually feel like I know what I’m doing now. The section on access was an eye-opener for me and the modeling strategies are practical and easy to implement right away.
Carla Q. –
Used this to set up our AAC program. So helpful!
Vanessa A. –
Perfect for educating families on AAC!
Frances –
Game changing for my AAC caseload. Wait, can I just say it totally changed how I approach AAC.
Jill Powell –
I’ve been working with AAC users for over 10 years and this toolkit still taught me a few things. The way it presents core vocabulary as a focus area rather than just targeting specific nouns is spot on. Shared this with our whole department.
Jennifer C. –
As a school-based SLP with 8 AAC users on my caseload, getting consistent implementation across classrooms has always been my biggest challenge. This toolkit gave me everything I needed to run a professional development session for our staff. The AAC basics section is perfect for people who have never worked with AAC before, and the modeling and core vocabulary sections provide concrete strategies that teachers can start using right away. I also love the communication opportunities section because it helps teams think about naturalistic contexts for AAC use throughout the day. The data collection piece is the cherry on top for tracking whether strategies are actually being used. This is the most practical AAC resource I’ve ever purchased.
Shannon I. –
Every SLP needs this for AAC.
Therapy Talk with Tara –
Really well put together AAC toolkit!
Rebecca O. –
Fantastic for team training!
Christine Y. –
Used the data collection forms to track modeling frequency across settings and it really opened my team’s eyes to how inconsistent we were being. Now everyone is on the same page about keeping the system out and available at all times.
Nicole O. –
I’m a new SLP and AAC felt so overwhelming until I found this toolkit. The four foundational strategies are broken down in a way that makes sense and the visuals help me explain everything to parents and staff. I feel so much more confident now running my AAC sessions.
Ellen M. –
Such a well thought out resource.
Dana –
Great for parent education on AAC access.
Carolyn I. –
Clear, practical, and well organized.
Donna Q. –
Printed the visuals for every classroom.
Nancy S. –
The communication opportunities section gave me so many ideas for embedding AAC use throughout the school day. I shared the visuals with our teachers and they finally have a concrete plan for when and how to model with the AAC device.
Lisa E. –
Exactly what our AAC team needed!
Katie –
My favorite AAC resource by far.
Maria –
Wonderful toolkit for AAC teams.
Kelly A. –
This simplifies AAC training so much!
Erin I. –
Makes AAC implementation feel doable.
Karen A. –
LOVE the modeling visuals!
Catherine G. –
So helpful for training our paras.
Teresa E. –
Love the core vocabulary section!
Bethany O. –
A must-have for any SLP working with AAC.
Amanda M. –
Purchased this to help me train classroom teams on AAC best practices. The sections on consistent access and modeling are clear and practical. I’ve used the visuals during IEP meetings to help parents understand what we’re working on.
Kathryn K. –
Best AAC resource I’ve purchased!
Janice I. –
The five sections are so well organized. I went through the AAC basics with our teaching assistants and they finally understand what AAC is and why access matters so much. This has changed how our whole team supports our AAC users.
Nancy A. –
I’ve struggled with getting teams on board with AAC and this resource is exactly what I needed. The parent-friendly handouts explain access and modeling in a way that families actually understand. My AAC users are getting so much more consistent support now.
Sherry I. –
This toolkit has made it so much easier to train staff on AAC strategies. The sections on modeling and core vocabulary are especially helpful. I printed the visuals and posted them in every classroom that has an AAC user.