Augmentative and alternative communication, augmented input & Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder often struggle with communication and may benefit from the use of augmentative and alternative communication. Special education teachers can play a significant role in teaching and supporting communication for students with complex communication needs through the use of augmented input such as aided language stimulation. Lack of specialized knowledge is a particular barrier to the effective teaching and implementation of augmentative and alternative communication in the classroom. Teachers have also identified time and peer relationships as a significant challenge to the implementation of augmentative and alternative communication. The applied project is a workshop which aims to bolster classroom management skills, self-efficacy, perceptions, attitudes and knowledge of special education teachers to support their students with Autism Spectrum Disorder’s communication using augmentative and alternative communication in site-based classrooms. The workshop is an hour and a half long PowerPoint presentation.