How Can AAC Group Coaching Help Your Family?

PRC-Saltillo offers training and coaching opportunities to help your family improve your augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) skills. You might be asking yourself if training and coaching are the same thing or wondering which one to try next. Both are very important strategies, but they offer support in different ways. Let’s explore the differences.

AAC Training to Acquire Specific Skills

AAC training with your speech-generating device (SGD) or app is critical to success! Training tends to focus on helping you acquire specific skills where there’s typically one answer or one way to do something.

AAC training can help you with the basics such as:

• turning on your device and charging it
• why the words are arranged the way they are on the screen
• how to find words
• where to add new words when you want to customize the vocabulary

It can also teach you troubleshooting skills:

• what to do if the device stops talking
• who to contact for technical support

AAC training also includes learning how to set up situations, so your AAC user begins to talk with their device. You may take an online course or attend an in-person class that helps you understand the reasons we communicate.

AAC Coaching for Skill Practice and Perspective

So, what is AAC coaching? Coaching focuses on your personal skill development and growth. It’s an evidenced-based adult learning style that helps you increase your abilities through reflection on your actions.

Coaching helps you consider how you went about a task or activity and how you might do it differently for a better outcome. It’s about perspective taking:

• How did I approach the activity with my communicator?
• Could I shift the time or environment for more focus and fun?
• How could growing language with the device be more enjoyable for both of us?
• What can I do to encourage communication instead of trying to force it?

With AAC Coaching, you can develop a plan for improving your skills in activities that are meaningful to your family. It emphasizes reflection and growth, helping you become a better communication partner.

What You Can Expect from AAC Group Coaching

AAC Group Coaching supports you through four self-paced eLearning modules and four online, interactive small group sessions. Discussions are led by an experienced AAC Coach who is also an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist, along with insights from PRC-Saltillo Ambassadors who are active AAC users.

Each AAC Coach fosters a supportive learning environment for your intimate group of up to six participants. You can expect to:

• exchange experiences and share strategies
• gain confidence and practical skills
• create more meaningful communication opportunities for your AAC users
• transform your abilities and your family interactions

Join the Six-Person Session of AAC Group Coaching

PRC-Saltillo’s AAC Group Coaching for families has been offered for three years. New sessions typically start in fall, winter, and spring. Now’s the time for you to experience the benefits of coaching. Think of the $200 cost as $25 each for eight combined online and eLearning sessions jam-packed with invaluable resources from an SLP with expertise in AAC and vocabulary systems.

Learn more about the upcoming session and get excited about what you will accomplish in just four weeks!

Not able to join our AAC Group Coaching session?

Consider the flexibility of AAC Custom Coaching! This personalized coaching allows you to work directly with an AAC Coach to address your unique challenges and goals. You’ll have the opportunity to develop actionable plans with your coach. By videoing your practice sessions and sharing them with your coach, you can receive constructive insights and guidance, fostering growth and confidence in your AAC journey. Plus, meet a PRC-Saltillo Ambassador who uses one of our speech-generating devices/apps for insight and encouragement. Curious if AAC Custom Coaching is the right fit for you? Complete this form and an AAC Coach will follow up to review session details and discuss schedule needs.