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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Kathy Howery 3D Tactile Symbols (Part 2)

New research is challenging the commonly held belief that students who have severe visual impairment, significant intellectual disability and complex communication needs must focus their symbolic communication with symbols that have a concrete referent. (Snodgrass, Stoner & Angell, 2013)

It is now commonly understood in the field of augmentative and alternative communication that all students need access commonly used core vocabulary. Core vocabulary is a small set of simple words, in any language, that are used frequently and across contexts. (Cross, Baker, Klotz & Badman, 1997)

This webinar serves as an extension of the intro webinar by Kathy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh9m4t4lZW0)

Length: 40:33