Focus on Core Words: A Framework to Connect and Experience AAC

We will explore interaction-based, language facilitation, and aided language input strategies that are central to our framework. These strategies focus on supporting communication development for AAC users, with an emphasis on core vocabulary. The strategies are designed to ensure that parents feel confident in fully understanding and applying the principles that guide children's communication development and ultimately, connections. The Focus on Core Words framework was designed to eliminate the guesswork for families who may be uncertain about how to support their child in their AAC journey. We hope that parents will feel empowered to share their insights and experiences with educators as their child transitions to school with an AAC system, helping to bridge the opportunity gap. We encourage others attending our presentation to share the comprehensive information provided with the families they support.

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

Discuss their understanding of the role of core vocabulary in supporting communication for AAC users, including how core words empower individuals to express a wide range of ideas and needs.
Demonstrate at least two strategies embedded within the Focus on Core Words framework, to expand their ability to use and teach core words, and to engage with AAC users.
Demonstrate at least two strategies to coach communication partners in fostering effective AAC use at home..

Farrah Rahim is the cofounder of Playground Connections. She thinks with her heart which has catapulted her to a successful career in pediatric and adult speech language pathology. Farrah was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. She has 2 young children and a husband with whom she loves to spend time. Farrah completed her B.Sc. in Biopsychology at Western University and her M.Sc. in Speech Language Pathology at Dalhousie University. She started her career working in an outpatient program for people with Traumatic Brain Injuries as well as across various inpatient areas of a local hospital, dealing with both swallowing and communication disorders. She also worked for several years in private practice primarily with the pediatric population. Since 2009, Farrah has been working in the school board setting, supporting students with language and communication difficulties and their teaching staff to ensure that students can be as successful as possible in their academic setting. Farrah also has a passion for giving back to the world and she feels that this is the way to true happiness.

Andrea Rizzuto is the cofounder of Playground Connections and is a woman of energy and action! She is a mom of two young boys and has a passion for all things speech-language pathology. Andrea was born and raised in the GTA and completed her Master's of Health Sciences in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Toronto. Andrea has worked in multi-disciplinary clinics and a Toronto-based school board giving her a wide variety of experience in all areas of pediatric speech language pathology. She has hosted a variety of teacher and parent training workshops on a range of topics related to speech and language issues. Andrea has also served as a Health Guest Editor in CityLife Magazine. Andrea takes great pleasure in working collaboratively with children and their families, and in working towards helping children become effective communicators. She believes that early intervention is effective intervention. When Andrea is not at work, she can be found enjoying her time with her husband and two young boys, watching movies, baking up a storm in the kitchen, and playing on the playground.

Elli Dimas, founder of Experience Speech, is a Speech-Language Pathologist. She started her practice in New York, NY and moved her practice to Ontario in the Spring of 2018. Elli earned her Master's in Speech-Language Hearing Science from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. Elli is a dedicated and caring Speech-Language Pathologist, who is an advocate and ally for all her clients. She has experience working with clients who have language delays, articulation delays, reading challenges, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and a variety of developmental disabilities/delays.

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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.