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

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.