Supporting children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) involves more than teaching them to request items or express basic needs. Like their peers, they benefit from instruction in grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and shared reading.
In honor of AAC Awareness Month, we’re recognizingthe many ways that ASHA members help children who rely on AAC—and we’re offering up some new ideas and resources. Read below to learn more.
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling Interventions
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Generative Language Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial: Instruction for children who are new to AAC typically focuses on requesting items and vocabulary acquisition. This study suggests that clinicians can target grammar when supporting early expressive language development through AAC.
Comparing Two Vocabulary Interventions for Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Although previous research has shown that naturalistic vocabulary interventions lead to word learning for children who use AAC, this study finds that structured vocabulary intervention is more effective. Read about how children with AAC benefit from structured, explicit vocabulary instruction.
Effects of an Adapted Alphabetic Principle and Phonemic Awareness Intervention to Improve Spelling for Adolescents Who Use or Need Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Spelling is vital for AAC users—it enables them to independently generate words and phrases that help them better communicate and express themselves. Researchers developed an approach using an adapted keyboard to help adolescents acquire generalizable spelling skills after just 10 hours of instruction.
Advocacy and Communication Partner Training
The Speech-Language Pathologist’s Role in Supporting Self-Determination Development for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have a unique opportunity to assist people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in asserting preferences, setting goals, and making decisions. Learn practical tips on aiding these individuals through providing robust language access (including AAC) and developing executive functioning supports.
Short Mobile Training Is Effective and Efficient in Preparing Educational Personnel to Interact With Students With Cerebral Palsy Who Utilize Augmentative and Alternative Communication With Eye Tracking: Knowledgeable communication partners can help children with complex communication needs achieve both academic and social–emotional success. This study found that tablet-based training sessions can coach parents and other communication partners to facilitate children’s academic success and social–emotional growth.
Parent-Implemented Shared Reading With Children Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A Mixed-Methods Investigation: Shared reading interventions can boost the communication skills of children who use AAC. Clinicians can provide online coaching for caregivers to help them meet their family’s communication goals.
AAC in Everyday Life
The theme of this year’s AAC Awareness Month is “AAC in everyday life.”
We hope that the above articles can inform your work as you provide these children with tools and skills that they can use at home, in school, and in their community. You can find more on our AAC Topic Page, which contains more than 1,000 articles from across ASHA Journals.
Previous Coverage of AAC Awareness Month
AAC Awareness Month: Innovation, Inclusion, and Advocacy (2025)
AAC Awareness Month: Vocabulary and Socialization in AAC (2025)
AAC Awareness Month: Trending Articles and New Resources (2024)AAC Awareness Month: New Resources From ASHA’s Journals (2023)
