Description:

Day #1 Getting a Toolkit Together.
This first day will focus on gathering tools and resources to do an effective augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluation.
Specific clinical questions to be addressed:
• What “steps” are involved in evaluating, recommending, and funding AAC tools/devices and mobile technology (iPads, apps, etc.)?
• What skills need to be evaluated to determine optimum AAC solutions?
• What equipment/resources can be kept on hand to make this process more complete and efficient, yet cost-effective?
• What are some “templates” available for me to easily gather case history information, record assessment results, and write the necessary reports?
• What local resources are available to trial different AAC devices?
Augmentative communication evaluation techniques will be reviewed for children and adults, as well as AAC solutions from the simplest to the most sophisticated needs. Evidence-based practice will be presented within the framework context and additional web-based resources from a variety of sites will be demonstrated and provided to participants. Participants will be provided a CD with tools and resources along with free trials for online clinical tools.

Day #2: Using the AAC Toolkit for Evaluations.
This second day will focus on using the “toolkit” as presented in Day #1 and selecting the appropriate AAC devices to match the individual’s skills.
In this workshop:
• Participants will put organize their own low-cost, efficient communication toolkit (using what they already have – or identifying additional tools to obtain)
• Examples of complete evaluations will be presented, from beginning to end for a variety of communication levels from the simplest to the most complex needs.
• Participants will have assistance in problem-solving solutions for their own individuals on their caseload.

The process of doing AAC evaluations will be fully demonstrated and participants will also have the opportunity to leave with new solutions for their own individuals who have complex communication needs.

Learning Outcomes:
As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:
For Day #1
As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:
1) Describe tools/techniques used to determine the AAC candidate’s skills (physical, cognitive, sensory, language representation, message formulation, communication functions, etc.)
2) Complete many of the components with templates provided for gathering, compiling, and reporting the assessment results.
3) Identify AAC device features and how to match them to the user’s skills.
For Day #2
As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:
1) Identify tools required for their own low-cost communication toolkit.
2) Describe various tools and resources which can be used to evaluate varying levels of complex communication needs (CCN).
4) Identify next steps for their own case studies which they bring to the workshop. 

Additional Information: www.aacTechConnect.com

CEUs

This activity is offered for up to 1.2 CEUs (11.5 hours of instruction).

To register for CEUs, click on the link below to download the Session Attendance Report Form, complete the form, and save the file using this file name model:

2011-AACTC-Hartford-Lastname-Firstname.xls.

Then send the file as an email attachment to ceus@aacinstitute.org. This is a spreadsheet file (.xls). If any difficulty is encountered in using this form, write to ceus@aacinstitute.org to request an alternative file format.

---

Evaluation and Learning Assessment
Please take a moment to download, complete, and return the Evaluation and Learning Outcomes Form. After completing the form, save it, attach it to an email message, and send it to ceus@aacinstitute.org.

Download Evaluation and Learning Assessment Form now.

---

Certificates will be sent to those submitting all forms.