Empowering Your Child Through AAC: A Caregiver's Guide to Growing Together

Elektra Helde, a devoted mom to a vibrant autistic child, shares her personal journey of introducing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) into their lives. With a background in the technology sector, Elektra initially underestimated the complexity of this process, leading to anxiety, confusion, and self-doubt. However, her journey has resulted in invaluable insights for both caregivers and professionals.

In addition to empowering parents and caregivers starting on the AAC path, Elektra also hopes to be a valuable resource for SLPs and OTs who have questions on how to best interact with and support new caregivers who may be hesitant to model AAC for their children.

Join Elektra Helde and leave with renewed confidence, practical tools, and insights to support both your child's communication journey and your work as a professional supporting AAC users.

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Upon completion of this session, you will be able to:

Explore a growth mindset and shift the caregiver’s role from being an expert to being a learner alongside their child. By embracing this mindset, participants will gain confidence in implementing AAC without feeling pressure to be perfect, making the process less stressful and more effective in supporting their child’s communication development.
Demonstrate practical strategies for naturally integrating AAC into daily home life. This includes tips for incorporating AAC into everyday activities, like play, storytelling, and emotional discussions, helping caregivers and their children become more comfortable and confident with the device over time.
Demonstrate actionable insights on advocating for their child in school settings by incorporating AAC into Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), selecting the right AAC program for their child, and collaborating with school staff to ensure consistent and effective use of AAC in educational environments.

Elektra Helde is a dedicated caregiver and passionate advocate for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), with a background in technology and over 15 years of experience helping others adopt complex technology solutions. With a deep love for language and communication, Elektra is excited to return as a presenter at the AACES conference for the second year.

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Access this session free (as scheduled) during the live AACES conference.

Enroll in this session for access to the quiz and CMH certificate.

All Access Members get FREE access to certificates and session recordings for the entire conference (+ our staple course library of over 60 online courses) with their paid membership.

Enroll in this session for access to the recording.

All Access Members get FREE access to certificates and session recordings for the entire conference (+ our staple course library of over 60 online courses) with their paid membership.

This session offers a total of
1 certification maintenance hour (CMH)

Learn more about CMH/PDH (versus CEU's or continuing education units) on your course syllabus and on our CEU Page. All learners are encouraged to confirm that this course meets the requirements of their licensing board before purchasing.

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Who We Are

AACcessible is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization dedicated to improving global access to communication for all. The AAC Academy is our educational branch, focused on offering affordable, accessible, quality learning on AAC topics to the global community.