Augmentative and Alternative Communication Observation

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Grissell Reyna Communication Disorders: Alternative and Augmentative Communication This report discusses the observation of a speech language pathologist conducting treatment on several autistic children. The observation site was the Easter Seals facility called the Therapeutic School and Center for Autism Research, which opened in 2008 to help meet the needs created by the explosive growth in autism. The campus provides educational and therapeutic services to over 270 children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 22 and is an alternative school placement choice with the aim of helping individuals grow towards independence. The facility retains top health care professionals who supervise, research and execute the best treatments to service autistic spectrum disorders in the Chicagoland area (Easter Seals, N.D.). Observation Notes This assignment addresses the etiology of each child and the varying Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies used to enhance the child’s communicative ability. The report features a description of the overall interaction with the individuals in natural communicative context with a discussion on the types of vocabulary and graphic symbols selection used on the AAC device. Furthermore, it addresses the treatment method and type of team approach used for therapy as well issues related to funding and service delivery of AAC services. Before meeting the students Joe and John, I met briefly with Jen, the speech language pathologist (SLP) to discuss my assignment and the expectations and treatment outcomes. Both students use direction selection, AAC devices. Joe is an 18-year-old male who has attended the Easter Seals daily education program for the past year. Jen (SLP) explained that this child was referred to Easter Seals because he was unable to function within the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) special

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