AAC modeling is using AAC to talk with someone who is learning to use AAC. It’s important to use the same communication modality as your child to show them how their communication system works! It’s a powerful way to help children learn to use AAC, and everyone in the home can do it! Follow these steps for easy modeling throughout the day with different activities, environments, and routines.
1. Get the AAC system and your child’s attentionTablet charged, CORE board, picture symbols, or switches are ready and within reach! Use something fun or a favorite to catch their interest. The system is not the activity!
2. Say something with AAC then offer it to your childPoint to an picture, touch a icon, activate a button and say the word/phrase out loud. Wait expectantly for 5-10 seconds (count in your head).
3. If your child says something, respond! If they don’t, that’s ok!Even if it doesn’t make sense, they are actively exploring. No response? keep modeling! They are watching you use AAC, and learning how it works.
4. Repeat steps 1-3!
Be positive, be consistent, focus on core words, and make it fun! Additional tips to increase the variety and quality of your language models:
Talk about what your child is doing as they do it
If your child is playing, talk about what you see them doing. Cars STOP and GO, UP and DOWN the slide, and WANT to EAT snacks.
Talk about what you are doing as you do it
GO in the car, EAT lunch, WASH hands, or WAIT in line, etc.
Focus on core words
These are high frequency words used daily across environments and activities use them for multiple things. *see our other blog posts about core words here.
Start with 1-2 words
Don’t worry about using complete sentences or activating an icon for every word you say out loud. Pick one or two words and use them over and over. Repetition helps learning!
Play with AAC
Use AAC while you are playing, and use AAC as a way to play (exploring new pages and vocabulary, babbling/repeating the same word, making silly mistakes). Remember, AAC is not the activity.
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