Day: September 28, 2025

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) isn’t just about pushing buttons or pointing to pictures, it’s about giving someone the tools and opportunities to communicate effectively. Whether it’s a high-tech speech-generating device or a simple picture board, AAC is most powerful when it’s used in natural, meaningful contexts. 1. Make it part of the moment: AAC use shouldn’t be limited to “therapy time.” Bring it into everyday routines—requesting a snack at the table, commenting during play, or greeting a friend. 2. Model!: Just like spoken language, AAC needs to be seen and heard before it’s used independently. Point to symbols as you talk, narrate what’s happening, and demonstrate how to combine words. 3. Focus on more than requests: AAC isn’t only

  The change from summer to fall is more than just cooler weather and pumpkin spice. It’s a great chance to add fresh, meaningful words to your child’s AAC device. Every season comes with new sights, smells, and activities, and fall is packed with fun ways to help your child use his/her AAC device in a natural environment.  Go outside and explore! Notice the crunchy leaves, the chilly air, the pumpkins on porches. While you’re out, model words like cold, orange, leaf, big, or go on your child’s device. Compare what you see now to summer: Hot in July vs cool in September/October.  Inside, bake something fall-themed together, read a pumpkin or scarecrow story, or pick out a cozy sweater.

Every child has a unique story to tell. That story is shaped by family, culture, language, and daily experiences. In speech therapy, it’s not just about teaching words or sounds, it’s about making sure children can express themselves in a way that feels true to who they are. For many families, English isn’t the only language spoken at home. Some children may grow up switching between two or more languages every day. Others may use a dialect, that has its own rich set of rules. These ways of speaking are not “wrong”, but instead they’re part of a child’s identity. In fact, when a child is experiencing a speech or language delay, one of the most common myths families hear