Next steps on your AAC Journey:
What to expect and how we will work with you
September 2020
Access to Communication and Technology ACT have made a 22 minute film to guide those working
towards or thinking about, a specialist NHSE Augmentative and Alternative Communication AAC
assessment for a child or young person (YP).
The film is to help you, the team around the child or YP, work together to think about;
• Your joint goals for the child/YP
• The child or YP’’s own goals
• How the team are going to work together to achieve those goals,
• Evidence based ways of supporting someone to use language in the form of AAC
o How you all might use and model AAC into your everyday life
o How the child or YP is going to access (use scanning, point to) their AAC system
Helping a child or YP become proficient at using AAC involves a lot of effort and is reliant on the
skills, knowledge and attitudes of the adults, and perhaps other young people, around them
supporting them to succeed. This is why we would like you to watch this film as a team including
family, teaching staff, Speech and Language Therapist and any other professionals who will be
involved, so that you can build your knowledge and understanding together.
An accompanying workbook is available on our website for you to fill in together. Filling in your
answers and thoughts or further questions will help you prepare for the assessment. As you will be
able to tell the ACT team more about why a voice output communication aid is important for the
child or YP and how you will be supporting them to become successful communicators using AAC .
ACT would like to thank the families who have been involved in helping us to make this film. Some
of the photos and videos are of vulnerable young people and we ask that you do not share this film
outside of your close team around the child or YP you are thinking about at the moment.
If you would like to watch the film with other people while thinking of another child or YP please
phone the ACT helpline to be given another reference number and link to the film.
You may be asked to watch the film and look at the accompanying workbook before the referral is
accepted, in line with NHSE AAC Specialist Centre criteria. Which can be found here
https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/03/guid-comms-
aac.pdf
If you are ready to watch this film as a team please phone the ACT referral and helpline on a
Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 9.00 am and 16.00 pm to open a referral /helpline enquiry
relating to the child or young person.
Our number for referrals and advice is 0121 466 3028.
Any questions please contact the referral and helpline as described above.