| Description |
Where do you start when you introduce Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to someone? If you are like most people, you start with requesting a fun or motivating activity such as “I want a book” or “I want music” or “I want a cookie.” Why? Because it is easy to show the purpose of communication when the result is as obvious as reading a book, turning on music, or eating a cookie. Plus, we hope the requested items or activities will help individuals to be excited about communication!
But, what happens next? What happens when we run out of things to have individuals request? What happens when they seem “bored” by requesting? What happens after they request? What happens when the situation doesn’t allow for requesting?
In this session, we will help you develop specific strategies to go beyond requesting…into the world of asking questions, making comments, protesting, expressing opinions, and other communicative functions. We will use lecture, discussion, video examples, and small-group activities to explore the power of various communicative functions, vocabulary selection, teaching strategies, and specific ways to facilitate communication beyond requesting. We will address communication beyond requesting for individuals of various ages, disabilities, and communication levels. You will leave with a collection of practical ideas developed both by the presenter and by your fellow attendees.
Learning Objectives:
1. Name two communicative functions beyond requesting and describe why they are powerful.
2. Identify messages and corresponding communicative functions within motivating activities.
3. Develop a plan to teach at least one communicative function to an individual using AAC in an everyday setting.
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