Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC)

Supporting Communication Partners and AAC Users Naturalistic Communication Environments

Original Air Date: February 7, 2022

Short Title: Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC)

CEU offered: 1.5 Learning CEU

Webinar Duration: 90 minutes

CE Instructors:

  • Kate Grandbois, MS, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LABA
  • Joanne Gerenser, PhD
  • Amy Wonkka, CCC-SLP
  • Judith Ursitti


Abstract:

Access to augmentative alternative communication (AAC), AAC intervention, and AAC communication partner support is essential for individuals with complex communication needs to access their basic human right to communicate; however, AAC intervention can feel different and more complicated than other forms of language intervention, as working with an external communication tool can feel unnatural and intimidating. This course will review these barriers to AAC intervention and strategies for supporting communication partners and AAC users in a natural communication setting, including the critical component of collaboration.

Instructor(s)

Kate Grandbois, MS, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LABA

Kate is a dually certified SLP / BCBA with 14 years of clinical experience working in private practice, outpatient clinics, outpatient hospital settings, and consulting to private schools and legal teams. She specializes in augmentative alternative communication, autism and associated disorders, language development, and integrating AAC into the educational/vocational programming of persons with behavioral needs. Her private practice, Grandbois Therapy + Consulting, LLC, focuses on multidisciplinary treatment, collaboration, and mentorship. She is the co-founder and owner of SLP Nerdcast, a continuing education platform for speech and language pathologists, and serves as visiting faculty at Fitchburg State University. She has served as an advisory board member for the HP Hacking Autism Initiative, as adjunct faculty at Northeastern University, and is the former president and co-founder of The Speech and Language Network, Inc.

Ph.D., CCC-SLP Joanne Gerenser

Dr. Gerenser received her Master’s degree in Speech and Hearing at the Ohio State University and her Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science at the City University of New York Graduate Center. She is an adjunct Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College as well as Penn State University. Dr. Gerenser is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the Organization for Autism Research. She is on the boards of Heaven’s Hands Community Services, the Interagency Council of New York, the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis, and the Staten Island Not for Profit Association. Dr. Gerenser is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis. She sits on a number of Professional Advisory Boards for several programs serving children and adults with autism in the US and abroad.

Amy Wonkka, MS, CCC-SLP

Amy has worked as a speech language pathologist in the Northeast and Midwest. Prior to becoming an SLP she worked for several years as a 1:1 paraprofessional and home service provider for individuals with complex communication needs. She has experience in home-based, public school, nonpublic school, and outpatient environments. Amy’s clinical interests include augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), autism and other related needs, typical language development, motor speech, phonology, data collection, collaboration, coaching, and communication partner training and support.