Course Code: REL-RTS-0-AACP
Hours: 1
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 11/30/2025
Learning Objectives:
Determine at least three steps of a comprehensive assessment that matches AAC types to client characteristics.
Classify options and features available for low-tech and high-tech AAC.
Recognize five types of symbol systems used with unaided and aided AAC.
Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
About This Course
Learning Objectives
Section 2: What Is AAC?
Why It Matters
AAC Definitions and Goals
Communication Development
Communicative Functions
Pediatric AAC Users
Review
Summary
Section 3: AAC Assessment
A Typical AAC Evaluation
Assessment Process
History Intake
Linguistic Assessment
Positioning/Access
Sensory/Perceptual
AAC Evaluation: Lexi
Feature Matching
Review
Summary
Section 4: Selecting an AAC System
AAC Symbol Systems
Available Symbol Sets
Low-Tech Devices
High-Tech Systems
Message Vocabulary
Fixed Display
Dynamic Display
Access Options
Family and Environmental Support
Review
Summary
Section 5: Funding Considerations
Device Selection and Funding: Lexi
System Trials
Funding Considerations
Documentation
Strategies for Success
Review
Summary
Section 6: Conclusion
Summary
Course Contributors
Resources
References
Writer: Susan Almon-Matangos, MS, CCC-SLP
Susan Almon-Matangos, MS, CCC-SLP, is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with over 30 years of experience. She obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology from Jacksonville State University and her Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology from The University of Alabama. She worked with clients of all ages and a variety of diagnostic conditions in school, hospital, skilled nursing facility, outpatient clinic, and home health settings. In her previous role as a national clinical director for Aegis Therapies, she created training programs for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology related to the clinical rehabilitation needs of older adults in post-acute care. She currently draws upon her expertise in her role at Relias as Lead Subject Matter Expert Writer for Speech-Language Pathology. She is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Subject Matter Expert: Janet Kennedy, MA, SLP/AT Specialist
Janet is a speech-language pathologist from Chicago, Illinois, who specializes in assistive technology. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Saint Xavier University and her Masters in speech-language pathology from University of Northern Colorado-Greeley. Janet has over 20 years of experience working with children who have complex communication needs and has presented on a wide range of topics locally in the Chicago area and nationally at Closing The Gap, the annual assistive technology conference.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Introductory level Speech and Language Pathologists; in the following settings: Rehabilitation Settings.
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All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.
Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.