AAC Modeling Device Donation

SWWC Foundation Receives Donation

The SWWC Foundation recently received a donation to provide one AAC Modeling Device to each SUN classroom at all six SWWC Educational Learning Center (ELC) sites! These devices allow teachers, paraprofessionals, and peers to model symbolic communication using their own AAC system while interacting with students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Instead of borrowing a student’s personal device to demonstrate language, staff can now “Speak AAC to Teach AAC” through natural, back-and-forth communication exchanges. This type of Partner Aided Intervention (PAI) supports stronger communication opportunities, increased engagement, and a more inclusive AAC culture within classrooms and school communities.

Strong communication partners play a critical role in helping students become successful communicators. Partner Aided Intervention + AAC = Functional Communication! Effective communication partners attribute meaning to student behaviors by recognizing, naming, and responding to communication attempts. They ensure AAC systems are consistently available for both students and adults so language can be modeled throughout the day. Good communication partners encourage communication without demanding it, allow sufficient wait time for students to initiate and respond, and create meaningful topics and experiences worth communicating about. Through consistent language modeling, aided language stimulation, and supportive interactions, students learn vocabulary, sentence structures, and communication strategies in authentic and motivating contexts!

AAC also plays a vital role in emergent literacy development. Communication and literacy are deeply connected, yet many nonverbal students do not have access to traditional speaking and listening pathways that support reading and writing development. AAC provides another way for students to “listen,” “speak,” and interact with language. Research shows that students with complex communication needs can develop literacy skills when they have consistent access to AAC systems, emergent literacy instruction, and language modeling on AAC devices or core vocabulary systems. AAC supports the development of foundational literacy skills connected to language comprehension and word recognition, as described in Scarborough’s Reading Rope. Through daily opportunities to communicate, read, and write in meaningful ways, AAC helps students move beyond picture symbols alone and toward becoming increasingly independent, literate communicators!