Many individuals, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are not given the opportunity to access augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) because of common myths that don’t hold water. These individuals, particularly children receiving education services, have complex communication needs, and yet are not able to access AAC because it is thought their cognitive skills are too low, or their “behaviors” might cause a device to be damaged or broken, or their motor skills are too poor.
Speech-language pathologists hear these- and other- myths constantly. So much so, in fact, that one, Heidi LoStracco, decided to address the six most common myths. Published on the website Speak For Yourself, this article is a great way to dispel those myths, which should increase opportunities for students (and others!) to access AAC.
Read the article here: The Myth of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Pre-Requisite Skills