Teaching AAC in the Online Environment: Methods and Challenges

Abstract

The evolution of online education has some parallels with the development of the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). It has taken some time for professionals in the broader fields of education, higher education, and speech-language pathology to seriously consider its potential contribution. Like AAC, online education was initially viewed with skepticism, but is now almost commonplace. In the face of data that affirm the effectiveness of online instruction, clinical educators are increasingly turning their attention to identifying and employing best practices to improve the learning outcomes of their students. The purpose of this article is to explore some of the common features of online education that hold promise for the AAC field. We also will discuss challenges faced by online instructors and strategies for addressing them.