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AACREC: The Parent Perspective: How to Best Support Mothers and Fathers of AAC Users

Overview

Supporting families on their AAC journey is essential, however navigating this can be challenging. Understanding mothers’ and fathers’ perspectives is critical in improving outcomes and preventing system abandonment. Mothers and Fathers of AAC users will be interviewed and asked to share their experiences supporting their child. Common themes from interviews will be shared and compiled into a list of implementation “Do’s” and “Don'ts”. Potential differences between the perspectives of mothers and fathers will be examined. Based on these results, specifications will be provided regarding practices professionals should implement, continue, or avoid, when collaborating with mothers and fathers of AAC users.

Content Disclosure: This presentation is focused on the initial findings of a research study based at the University of South Alabama. The project, "A Study into Your Experiences with AAC", invited parents of AAC users ages 3-18 years old to share their experiences via videotaped interviews.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe three ways to support mothers of AAC users
  2. Describe three ways to support fathers of AAC users
  3. Discuss five practices to avoid when working with families of AAC users

Primary Strand

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Secondary Strand

Research

Target Audience

  • AT Specialists
  • Communication Specialist
  • Consultants/Trainers
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Disability Services
  • Educators
  • Family Members
  • Government/Non-Profit Agencies
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Paraprofessionals
  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Special Education Educators

Experience Level

Intermediate

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

Birth - PreK; Elementary - Secondary (K-12)

Content Area

Related Area

Course Schedule

This course was included in the ATIA 2021: AT Connected virtual event education program.

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: January 20, 2021

ASHA Continuing Education Approved Provider

This course is offered for 0.10 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Related area).

This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.

This course was approved by CRCC for CRC CEUs and was included in the ATIA CRC Augmentative and Alternative Communication Series (2022-2023). This series offering was available from March 7, 2022, through March 6, 2023. 

Speaker/s:

Brie Norton, M.S., CCC-SLP

Bentonville Schools, Speech-Language Pathologist

Biography

Brie Norton, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist in Northwest Arkansas who specializes in supporting individuals with complex communication needs using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). A 2007 graduate of Vassar College, Brie’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Psychology led her to pursue her Master of Science in Communication Disorders at Mercy College. For the past 10 years, Brie has worked in the Bentonville School District with students, staff, and caregivers to ensure students have a comprehensive communication system. She also provides training to staff, family, and private service providers to increase knowledge and carryover of best practices in the field of augmentative and alternative communication. Brie is a Level 2 Certified PECS Implementer and is currently pursuing her LAMP certification from the Center of AAC and Autism. In the past, she has received speaking fees from PRC-Saltillo. She is a member of ASHA and ARKSHA. She has also received sponsorship from the Center of AAC and Autism for costs to present.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment. Sponsorship from the Center of AAC and Autism for the registration fees to present.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationships: Yes
Member of ASHA and ARKSHA.

Lynsey Lobdell, M.S., CCC-SLP

Biography

Lynsey Lobdell, M.S., CCC-SLP specializes in augmentative/alternative communication, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and bilingual populations. With over 10 years of experience, she has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, early intervention, home health, and private practice. She currently works for Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M., where she developed a comprehensive Augmentative/Alternative Communication Program in 2013. The AAC Program focuses on family support, collaboration, and improved community awareness for improved communication outcomes. Lynsey is a LAMP certified practitioner. She is a member of ASHA and ARKSHA. She has received sponsorship from the Center of AAC and Autism for costs to present.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Full time employee at Children's Therapy TEAM. Sponsorship from the Center of AAC and Autism for the registration fees to present.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
ASHA - Certified Member,  Center for AAC and Autism - LAMP Certified Professional

Victoria Henbest, P.H.D., CCC-SLP

Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathology, University of South Alabama

Biography

Victoria S. Henbest is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Professor in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department at the University of South Alabama (USA) where she teaches the undergraduate introductory courses on language and speech disorders as well as the graduate-level school-age language and literacy course. Dr. Henbest is currently developing the first AAC course to be offered in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at USA. Dr. Henbest earned her B.S.E in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Arkansas and M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Missouri State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of South Carolina in May 2020. Dr. Henbest has over 10 years of experience working with young children with speech, language, and literacy deficits including 5 years with children ages 3-5 with complex communication needs. Since 2014 she has published 9 peer-reviewed papers on language and literacy.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Published 9 peer-reviewed papers on language and literacy.