Empowering students through AAC

Having access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in schools is about enabling every child and young person in the classroom to be able to express emotion, share opinions, and actively participate in conversations.

We recently sat down with our Clinical AAC Specialist and Speech and Language Therapist, Becky Fry, to discuss how integrating Grid software into schools can make a difference, and some ways in which it can be successfully implemented. Read more below…

Effective communication is fundamental to learning, socialisation, and self-advocacy, especially as students grow and become more independent. For non-speaking or minimally speaking students who rely on AAC, access to the right tools can significantly enhance their school experience, allowing them to engage meaningfully in everyday interactions and in activities within the school environment.

Why create an AAC inclusive environment?

Schools provide a rich environment for communication and social interaction. However, for students who rely on AAC, expressing themselves at school can be challenging. In fast-paced and stimulus-heavy environments, finding words and communicating effectively can be overwhelming. This is where AAC, specifically Grid, can help.

Expressing thoughts and feelings, beyond requests

By introducing AAC tools like Grid, we empower students to take an active role in their education. Vocabularies such as Super Core and Voco Chat have been designed to support students to not only be able to request items and ask questions, but also support social interactions with peers. AAC can help students contribute their thoughts and ideas throughout their day, from discussing how they feel about certain situations or topics, to commenting on something they enjoyed. This constant access to language is crucial for building confidence and helping students to develop their identity as independent communicators.

How can Grid empower students?

For students using AAC, the ability to communicate freely and without barriers is essential for their growth – academically, emotionally, and socially. Tools within Grid such as Voco Chat, Super Core, and Symoji are designed to support communication, and enable students to engage in richer, more meaningful conversations:

• Voco Chat is designed to support spontaneous communication for a wide range of reasons. By organising language according to the reason for communication, with a supported way to build messages using phrases, the pressure to form a sentence one word at a time is reduced. This can help students to communicate spontaneously, when they might typically struggle to find the exact words, or be overwhelmed or anxious in the busy classroom environment. 
• Super Core is an easy-to-navigate core vocabulary, giving students access to a consistent core of high frequency words they can use in a wide range of situations. The repetition of high frequency words, and important concept vocabulary, helps to support learning through repetition and use of these words across a range of contexts. The consistent location of words helps those using the vocabulary to build motor plans for vocabulary, to speed up access to those words with repeated use. This also helps to build confidence in both the students using Super Core for communication, and the adults who are modelling language to their students. 
• Symoji adds fun and expressiveness to communication with the use of animated characters. Students can use symojis to visually communicate their emotions, reactions, and humour, whilst reducing the language demands. Similarly, symojis can be used between peers as a motivating way to engage with one another, and build relationships, without requiring spoken language. The wide range of symojis makes it possible to use them throughout the school day, in a range of situations, to support overall classroom engagement.

Integrating Voco Chat, Super Core, and Symoji through Grid can enable students to participate in deeper conversations, express their feelings, and engage more fully in classroom activities.

Before you start

Successfully integrating AAC tools like Grid in schools requires careful planning and consideration of the needs of each student. Questions to consider when determining the most suitable Grid tools for each student may include:

• Can the student effectively share their thoughts and feelings?
• Can they greet others, express concerns, or give instructions?
• How well do they communicate in familiar and unfamiliar situations?

By tailoring the AAC system to each student’s unique needs, educators can ensure they are not just giving students a voice but helping them develop into independent conversationalists.

Building confidence and independence

Integrating AAC in schools also prepares students for life outside the classroom. As they grow older, without a reliable way to communicate, students could have difficulty navigating social situations, or be unable to adequately advocate for themselves. With tools like Grid, students can develop the skills they need to express their opinions and thoughts on difficult topics such as sexual health and independent living, and communicate with confidence.

AAC provides students with a path to independence by enabling them to contribute to conversations on their terms. AAC can allow students with communication difficulties to actively contribute and participate in the world around them, which is critical as they transition to adulthood.

Communication should be always available, always on. With the right AAC tools, students are not just able to ask for what they need – they’re able to express who they are.