The Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) certificate program focuses on developing clinical competence of pre-service and practicing professionals in serving individuals who use or could benefit from the use of AAC across the lifespan. The focus of this program is to provide current and future professionals in speech-language pathology (SLP), special education, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and social work (SW) with an increased depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in AAC for a variety of practice settings. The program emphasizes: (a) operational competence with AAC systems and other assistive technologies, (b) assessment and intervention practices across settings, and (c) collaboration with team members (e.g., family members, teachers, and related service providers).
The required courses are not offered online, but some electives may be available online.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| SPLH 852 | Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities | 2 |
| SPLH 853 | Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Adult Acquired Disorders | 2 |
| Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication Technologies | |
| Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Literacy | |
| Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Schools | |
| Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology | |
| Introduction to Teaching Learners with Low-Incidence Disabilities in Inclusive Settings | |
| Advanced Methods in Access and Inclusion in the Core Curriculum | |
| Interdisciplinary Aging Practice | |
| Communication in Autism | |
| Interdisciplinary Approaches to Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Including Autism Spectrum Disorders | |
| Interdisc Leadership Approaches to Systems & Services for Indv with Autism, Neuro & Dev Disabilities | |
| Behavioral & Systems Neuroscience in Education | |
| Neurodevelopment of Executive Function | |
| Independent Study in Problems of Speech, Language, and Hearing | |
| Total Hours | 12 |
*Course is highly encouraged for scholars in the AAC Certificate Program.
Approval from the faculty facilitating the graduate certificate program (listed below) is required for an enrollment in SPLH 864 or SPLH 876 to count toward the elective credits for this certificate. One enrollment of SPLH 864 may count toward the elective credits when the student earns 30 clinical clock hours across at least 3 different clients AND participates in at least 3 AAC assessments. Independent studies may be completed in SPLH (i.e., SPLH 876) with one of the faculty members listed below, or an independent study may be completed in a related department (e.g., SPED) if the course instructor consents and the topic and independent study activities are approved by the AAC certificate faculty. The AAC certificate faculty will review independent study requests to confirm that learning activities are sufficiently related to AAC to count toward elective credits for this program.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of foundational concepts and terminology used for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies and related clinical services, including assessment, intervention, and communication partner training.
- Show evidence of learned operational competencies with a variety of AAC systems and assistive technologies through completion of hands-on coursework, assignments, and projects with AAC technologies. Such assignments are already integrated into existing required and elective certificate coursework.
- Acquire relevant knowledge in collaborative practice strategies, principles, and practices to increase interdisciplinary practices with a myriad of related team members (e.g., family, teachers, related service providers, etc.).
- Demonstrate knowledge of communication disorders and differences, including appropriate etiologies, characteristics, and anatomical/physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural corelates as it relates to individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) that use of could benefit from AAC (adapted from ASHA Standard IV-C).
- Demonstrate current knowledge of the principles and methods of assessment and intervention for person that uses or could benefit from AAC, including consideration of anatomical/physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates (adapted from ASHA Standard IV-D).
