Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can dramatically improve quality of life for individuals with complex communication needs—but selecting the right system requires thoughtful assessment and clinical reasoning. In this foundational course, you’ll learn the essential components of the AAC evaluation process, the roles of the interdisciplinary team, and how to match communication systems and intervention strategies to each individual’s unique visual, motor, cognitive, and communication needs. You’ll also explore alternate access methods and gain a practical understanding of when and why different access options are appropriate.

Led by AAC specialist and assistive technology professional Katie Threlkeld, this course combines evidence-based principles with real-world clinical application to help you build confidence in AAC assessment and intervention. Whether you’re new to AAC or looking to strengthen your clinical decision-making, you’ll leave with a framework for conducting comprehensive evaluations, selecting appropriate intervention strategies, and recommending access methods that maximize communication, participation, and independence for users across a variety of medical and rehabilitation settings.