Communication for Life 2024

Free AAC training: Communication for Life

Free AAC training: Communication for Life

Do you know any adults who are experiencing trouble communicating with family and caregivers? Whether it’s due to a disability or temporary medical condition, adults who have difficulty communicating often feel isolated and experience greater mental and physical difficulties.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can help improve communication and quality of life. Even better, our Idaho Assistive Technology Project (IATP) is hosting a free training workshop this summer that focuses on AAC methods and assistive technology devices that can help adults with communication difficulties.

Training details

Training will be taking place in locations across Idaho in July and August, which means people across the state can sign up:

  • Coeur d’Alene: July 22
  • Idaho Falls: July 29
  • Boise: August 2 and 3

Cost: This is a free workshop. CEU credits are available for purchase.

Registration is required and closes on July 15.

What to expect

This one-day training workshop is open to care providers, SLPs, OTs, facility administrators and family members.

It’s an experiential workshop covering AAC techniques and tools. Presenters include:

  • Anne M Kulmeier, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP
  • Joy O Hoffman, Med, CCC-SLP
  • Krista Kramer, Assistive Technology Professional, IATP

Participants will receive information, instruction and hands-on demonstrations that focus on using low/no-tech to mid-tech assistive technology device options. All are easily available and relatively low cost.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact:

Mellowdee Brooks
208 885 6117
mellowd@uidaho.edu

AAC explained

AAC is defined as all the ways someone communicates besides talking. It covers tools, systems, devices and strategies that offer different ways for people to communicate without using speech.

It’s a suitable long- and short-term communication strategy for those who have trouble with speech or language skills due to disability, injury, temporary medical condition, surgery, etc. 

There are many different types of AAC, which spans no- and low-tech options like:

  • gestures or facial expressions
  • writing or drawing
  • pointing to letters, written words, photos or pictures.

AAC also offers high-tech options such as using:

  • an app on a tablet, mobile phone or iPad
  • a speech-generating device.