This document provides tips and strategies for improving classroom communication supports for students using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It recommends: - Expecting communication from students and waiting for them to respond instead of filling silences. - Modeling communication at a level slightly above students' current skills and pausing to allow responses. - Using a prompting hierarchy to elicit responses that includes indirect cues, direct pointing, and direct verbal prompts if needed. - Asking "who, what, where" questions instead of just "yes/no" and responding contingently by expanding, adding words, imitating, repeating, or extending the student's message.

1. Key Classroom
Communication
Supports
Vicki K. Clarke, Dynamic Therapy Associates,
@AACchicks

2. Key Classroom Communication Supports
Communication grows when we…
…expect it
…WAIT for it
…model it
…ask who, what & where questions
…respond contingently
Jennifer Kent-Walsh, NCACA 2018, Annual Conference, Bermuda Run, NC

3. Aided Language Input Tips:
• Gain AAC user’s attention
• Have no expectations for AAC user
• Point to symbols while talking
• Model one step above current skills
• Pause periodically providing an
opening for AAC user to comment

4. Let’s Try It
get more
go look
open same
that
in on
where
it
you
I
not
like want
up
do
turn
make
can
all
put
help
good
different
she
he
finished
some
what
here
why who when stop
The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2015 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Used with permission.

5. Expectant Delay Tips:
• Make sure they know what is expected
• Count silently
• Use eye contact, proximity & open body
posture, if culturally acceptable
• WAIT!
• Least to Most Prompting

6. Prompting Hierarchy
Use indirect cue, if no response…
Give a direct point cue
Give a direct verbal cue, if
no response…

7. …ask who, what & where questions
…instead of YES and NO questions
Kent-Walsh, 2018

8. How Else Could You Ask?
Do you want to play a game?
Did you go to McDonald’s?
Do you want pizza? Do you want
nuggets?
Do you want to play with Jessie?

9. …respond contingently
expand
Add a word
imitate
Repeat to confirm child's message
extend
Add new info
correct
off topic comments