Augmentative and Alternative Communication

ASHA Practice Policy Documents

• Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists With Respect to Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Position Statement
• Roles and Responsibilities of Speech-Language Pathologists With Respect to Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Technical Report
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Knowledge and Skills for Service Delivery

The following documents are from the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities (NJC)

• Guidelines for Meeting the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities
• Access to Communication Services and Supports: Concerns Regarding the Application of Restrictive "Eligibility" Policies
• Communication Services and Supports for Individuals With Severe Disabilities: FAQs
• Communication Supports Checklist for Programs Serving Individuals with Severe Disabilities.

Research

Read guidelines and systematic reviews from ASHA's research website.

• Guidelines
• Systematic Reviews

Journal Articles

Read related articles from the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, and Language, Speech and Hearing Service Services in School and Perspectives (ASHA's Special Interest Group publication)

The ASHA Leader

Read related articles from ASHA's magazine.

Continuing Your Education

Opportunities to learn and earn CEUs from the ASHA Online Store.

Consumer Information

ASHA also has information for the public on AAC.

Funding of AAC Devices

• Medicare Funding of AAC Devices
• Coverage Policy on Speech-Generating Devices
• Medicare Speech-Generating Devices Information Packet

Related Organizations

• AAC RERC (formerly AAC Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement)
• AAC Institute
• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) (formerly American Association on Mental Retardation)
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Division for Communicative Disabilities and Deafness (DCDD)
• International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISSAAC)
• Patient-Provider Communication Forum
• RESNA (formerly Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America)
• United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC)
• TASH (formerly The Association for Persons With Severe Handicaps)

Related Resources

• Resources for Language, Literacy, and AAC in the Schools
• State Contacts
• ASHA Special Interest Group 12 (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
• Augmentative Communication, Inc. (AAC publications)

Note: Reference to products, individuals, or organizations does not imply ASHA's endorsement. The list is not meant to be all inclusive.