ARPDC Professional Development Resources
Dedicated to ongoing professional learning at the local, regional and provincial level.

Resources to Support the Complex Communication Needs (CCN) Population

Complex Communication Needs (CCN)

Children and youth with complex communication needs (CCN) benefit from assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication to support communication and language development. Students who have complex communication needs are unable to communicate effectively using speech alone. They and their communication partners may benefit from using alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) methods, either temporarily or permanently.

AAC systems of communication do not rely on speech. Children and youth who require AAC may have some speech but not enough to meet their daily needs. AAC systems may be used to augment existing communication skills or provide an alternative to speech.

These resources are intended to provide professional learning for professionals working with children and youth in the complex communication needs population.

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Complex Access and Communication: A 3-Part Approach for Emerging Communicators (Pt. 1)

Archived webinar from Jan. 15, 2020 with Kim Elliott , Carrie Luse & Kathy Howery

Children with complex motor and/or sensory needs, who would benefit from AAC, have many challenges. Knowing where to begin and how to progress can be daunting. A 3-step approach to building tools, which teases apart Participation, Access, and Language (PAL) will be discussed. We will discuss the rationale for the PAL approach and demonstrate the process through case studies, exploring how each of the 3 areas of PAL were addressed with each child. Examples will be provided of how the 3 areas, when given time to develop, can come together in a comprehensive, multi-modal AAC system.

Length: 59:44