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AAC in the Schools: Current Issues and Future Directions

Towson University
Towson, MD

For students with complex communication needs, positive educational outcomes are heavily dependent on support services that facilitate access to AAC technologies, the acquisition of literacy skills, and access to the academic curriculum within supportive classroom communities. Although the AAC research literature documents continuous progress in the quality and effectiveness of school-based services, by many indicators the field has a distance to go in pursuit of excellence in AAC service delivery. In reflecting upon the current state of school-based practice, several important factors emerge as critical to the success of students who require AAC, including the expertise of practicing professionals, effective collaborations of service-delivery teams, and the availability of empirical studies to guide practitioners. This article examines key issues affecting AAC service delivery in the schools and discusses critical clinical and research needs in the areas of personnel preparation, collaborative team building, and the provision of quality AAC services. Suggestions for the development and refinement of best practices are also explored in a discussion of future directions for school-based AAC services.