Bilingual Considerations for Implementation of Augmentative,
Alternative Communication (Recorded Webinar)
Presented by Alease Holden
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This course is a recording of a previously hosted live webinar event. Polling and question submission features are not available for this recording. Format and structure may differ from those of standard Medbridge courses.
In our modern world, speech-language pathologists find themselves working with an increasing number of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Many of these children are complex communicators in need of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to support their self-expression in their homes, communities, and schools. This presentation reviews current barriers that exist to the successful implementation of AAC in multilingual learners. It further synthesizes the available evidence for best practices in AAC assessment and treatment when working with multilingual learners to overcome existing barriers. A sociocultural model of evaluation is reviewed, along with family-centered AAC treatment strategies that both monolingual and bilingual SLPs can adopt to support second-language acquisition through an additive bilingual lens.
Learning Objectives
- Examine the current barriers that exist in achieving the successful implementation of augmentative and alternative communication in families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Formulate an evaluation plan that recognizes and supports the cultural and linguistic needs of children and families from diverse backgrounds
- Determine which features and customizations of AAC devices are needed to adequately support children and families from diverse backgrounds
- Develop a treatment plan for emerging bilingual communicators that is both family-centered and supportive of additive bilingualism
Meet your instructor
Alease Holden
Alease Holden is a dedicated speech-language pathologist at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center who specializes in pediatric care in the outpatient setting. As a bilingual Spanish-English provider, she is passionate about supporting emerging bilingual patients and their families in enhancing communication skills through…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. State of the Field
This chapter will review the disconnect between SLP beliefs and practice, discuss barriers to successful AAC implementation, and review the current state of available research on AAC implementation for emerging bilinguals.
2. Assessment Considerations
This chapter will explain how to take a sociocultural approach when evaluating complex communicators from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. It will discuss how to establish joint goals that honor differences of perspectives between the SLP and caregivers and that ensure the family’s priorities, goals, and beliefs are honored and supported. It will identify the essential components to prioritize when selecting AAC devices for multilingual learners and discuss how to identify personal core words, recognize where customizations are necessary, and train caregivers to implement customizations so the child can engage in meaningful interactions with community members.
3. Treatment Considerations
This chapter will review evidence-based strategies for emerging bilinguals and how to adapt them into interventions for AAC users, how to work collaboratively with families and other bilingual professionals to support the child’s first language as they acquire a second language, and how to successfully support families within a parent coaching model.
4. Question and Answer Session
This chapter is a viewer-submitted question and answer session facilitated by Nelson Gonzalez.