Introduction to AAC

Written specifically for undergraduate-level and speech-language pathology assistant students, Introduction to AAC focuses on AAC for children and adults. It presents the foundational knowledge of AAC in a way that is engaging for beginning students, incorporating pedagogical elements designed to encourage active learning such as Mindful Minute, Reflection, and Try It Out + Reflection critical thinking opportunities embedded in each chapter. The text also presents questions throughout the chapter rather than at the end, in the format of declarative questions, application tasks, and open-ended For thought… questions.  The chapter conclusions are also designed to support learners absorb the information by using headers, “What did I learn?”,  “Why does it matter?”, and “What’s next?”  to drive home overarching ideas.  The first header uses person first language to guide the learner to read the summary of the overarching concepts of the chapter. Then, the student learns about the implication of the importance of the information. Finally, concepts of the upcoming chapter are outlined detailing a natural progression that links the information from the current chapter to the following chapter.

Key Features

• Bolded terms: The bolded term feature allows students to visually landmark on important concepts, create associations with the surrounding text, and identify them again more easily when preparing for assignments, projects, and exams. 
• Case studies: Mini and full case studies create an opportunity to blend conceptual knowledge with a real-world person. They play a vital role in creativity, allowing students to consider application of concepts to someone that they may work with or support in their future. 
• “Mindful Minute”: At one or more points in the chapter a “Mindful Minute” opportunity is embedded that creates space for a learner to pause and consider the content. The learner is asked to do something with a concept that was introduced.     
• “Reflection”:  encourage students to take a perspective, consider their perspective, think about prior experiences, or establish new thoughts on a topic.
• “Try It Out + Reflection”: challenges students on their understanding of a concept with a quick activity and reflection. 

PluralPlus Online Ancillaries

For instructors: PowerPoint Slides, Test Bank, Class Activities, Syllabus, Case Studies, Videos
For students: Quizzes, eFlashcards, Activities/Exercises, Links to Related Resources

Reviews

“This textbook offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of AAC, seamlessly blending clear explanations with practical examples. It provides an in-depth understanding that is both accessible and insightful, making it an invaluable resource for undergraduate students/learners and professionals alike. With its thorough coverage and well-organized structure, this book is an essential addition to any CSD library.”— Diana Blakeney-Billings, PhD, AuD, CCC-A, Alabama A&M University

“It provides valuable insights that are highly relevant across multiple levels of expertise, including undergraduate and graduate students, as well as individuals pursuing careers as speech-language pathology assistants. By addressing foundational concepts and practical applications, the content serves as a versatile resource, bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world practice. This ensures that learners at different stages of their academic and professional journeys can benefit from the material, enhancing their understanding and ability to implement effective strategies in speech-language pathology.”— Amanda Buchheit, Brothers Educational Consulting/Cal Baptist University

“The authors have covered the material in a friendly and approachable manner. The mindful minute, reflections, case studies, and integration tasks support cognitive mediation for the students. I also like the application tasks and concept checks. This text is clearly connected to clinical work and provides a strong foundation for future practitioners.”
—Margaret Vento-Wilson, PhD, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, California State University Long Beach, College of Health and Human Services, Department of Speech-Language Pathology

“Concept check questions at the end of each chapter actively engage the students in summarizing the key ideas that were presented. The inclusion of many graphics and visuals along with links to tools and resources available on the internet helps to ensure understanding and allows students to implement knowledge as they learn the concepts. By providing multiple application activities for each chapter, the author provides options for instructors to assign activities most appropriate for their method of course delivery or to allow students to choose activities that they are most interested in.”—Jennifer Schultz, Mitchell Technical College