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 40 years of experience. She earned 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 has provided care to clients across the lifespan with diverse diagnostic conditions in settings including school, hospital, skilled nursing facility, outpatient clinic, and home health settings. In her previous role as a national clinical director for a contract therapy company, she developed training programs for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology focusing on clinical rehabilitation needs of older adults in post-acute care. Currently, she serves as the Lead Subject Matter Expert Writer for Speech-Language Pathology at Relias, where she leverages her clinical expertise and analysis of published research. 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 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.