Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)

A woman with light brown hair tied back, sitting at a wooden desk and using a tablet with colorful buttons, near a window with a white windowsill and stack of paper folders.

Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Evaluation and Therapy Services in the Black Hills

Supporting Communication Through Personalized AAC Systems

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provides individuals with additional ways to communicate when speech alone does not meet their needs. AAC can support children and adults with a wide range of communication differences, including developmental disabilities, neurological conditions, speech disorders, and acquired communication challenges.

AAC is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Successful AAC use depends on selecting the right communication system, customizing it to the individual, and providing ongoing support to the person, their family, and communication partners.

At DSSC, we provide comprehensive AAC evaluations, implementation support, and therapy services to help individuals develop functional, meaningful communication across home, school, work, and community settings.

Services are available in person at our Rapid City clinic and through telehealth options when appropriate.

A woman with messy hair and crooked teeth smiling in a casual setting.
A woman with messy hair and crooked teeth smiling in a casual setting.

Signs Someone May Benefit From AAC Support

An AAC evaluation may be appropriate when an individual:

  • Has difficulty communicating wants, needs, thoughts, or ideas

  • Is difficult for unfamiliar listeners to understand

  • Becomes frustrated due to communication breakdowns

  • Has limited spoken communication

  • Has inconsistent speech abilities

  • Experiences a change in communication following illness or injury

  • Needs additional support to participate at home, school, work, or in the community

Let's Get Started

Evaluations to Get to the Root of the Issue

Colored circular puzzle diagram with five interlocking pieces.

Our Process

Our AAC evaluation process focuses on understanding the whole communicator — including strengths, needs, environments, preferences, and communication goals.

Evaluation may include assessment of:

  1. Current communication skills and methods

  2. Receptive and expressive language abilities

  3. Speech intelligibility and functional communication needs

  4. Motor abilities for accessing AAC systems

  5. Visual, auditory, and sensory considerations

  6. Communication environments and daily routines

  7. Family, caregiver, and team priorities

  8. AAC feature matching and system recommendations

Following evaluation, we provide recommendations and support to help ensure the AAC system is functional, accessible, and meaningful for everyday communication.

Schedule an Evaluation

AAC Services We Provide

A young girl with red glasses, pink bows in her hair, and a leopard-print scarf, reacts with surprise or excitement while using a tablet at a white table in a colorful classroom. There are two tablets with green and black protective cases on the table.

AAC Evaluations & System Selection

A comprehensive AAC evaluation helps determine the most appropriate communication supports based on an individual’s unique needs.

We support:

  • AAC feature matching

  • Communication system recommendations

  • Access method considerations

  • Trialing and customization of systems

  • Collaboration with families, schools, and other providers

A young boy with brown hair, wearing a blue and gray striped hoodie and brown shorts, appears to be upset or crying, while sitting on a chair. Someone is holding a blue container with a sandwich, and another person is extending a hand towards the boy, possibly to comfort him. The scene is indoors with a yellow wall, a lamp, and an extension cord in the background.

AAC Implementation & Therapy

Choosing an AAC system is only the beginning. Effective AAC use requires ongoing teaching, modeling, practice, and support across environments.

Therapy may focus on:

  • Building functional communication skills

  • Increasing spontaneous communication

  • Expanding vocabulary and language

  • Improving communication across settings

  • Supporting self-advocacy

  • Teaching communication partners how to support AAC use

A young boy in a wheelchair wearing headphones, a green t-shirt, camo pants, and sneakers, is outdoors in a park, looking at a tablet.

AAC for Children & Developmental Communication Needs

AAC may benefit children who experience challenges with spoken communication due to:

  • Autism

  • Childhood apraxia of speech

  • Developmental language disorders

  • Motor speech disorders

  • Genetic or developmental conditions

  • Speech intelligibility challenges

AAC can support language development, participation, and independence while honoring each child’s unique communication style..

An elderly man with glasses looking at a smartphone in a living room.

AAC for Adults & Acquired Communication Disorders

AAC can also support adults experiencing communication changes related to:

  • Stroke

  • Aphasia

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Neurological conditions

  • Progressive conditions affecting speech

AAC may provide additional communication options to support independence, relationships, and quality of life.

Two young men lying on a bed, one resting and the other with a hand on his chest, with a small visual aid chart nearby. One wears a striped shirt, the other a white shirt and a cap. They are close to each other in an intimate moment.

Communication Partner Training & Team Collaboration

Successful AAC use requires support from the people surrounding the communicator.

We provide education and collaboration with:

  • Families

  • Caregivers

  • Teachers

  • School teams

  • Healthcare providers

  • Other communication partners

Training may include modeling strategies, device use, language development, and ways to create communication opportunities throughout daily routines.

We’re accepting new clients for speech therapy in Rapid City, SD

Let's Get Started!