Supporting Language and Literacy Learning for Children Who use AAC

This case report describes a team approach for supporting language and literacy learning for children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Jamie, presented in the case report (aged 7 years, 2 months), had childhood apraxia of speech, and used an AAC system. The chapter discusses the importance of comprehensive literacy instruction and highlights the need to understand children’s literacy learning profiles to prioritise additional input and support, and to determine team members’ contributions. The case report provides an overview of the assessment process, which revealed strengths in Jamie’s receptive language skills, letter-sound knowledge, and phonological awareness. The assessment also identified areas of need, including vocabulary and sentence complexity, and the application of phonological knowledge to reading and writing. The chapter outlines several key conditions for learning and describes strategies for supporting Jamie’s language and literacy. Ideas for tracking Jamie’s progress are presented. Emphasised throughout the chapter is the importance of the strong collaborative relationship between Jamie’s teacher and speech-language therapist.