Some AAC learners present with complex clinical profiles that require teams to look beyond standard AAC implementation approaches. Vision, motor access, sensory processing, regulation, behavior, and environmental factors can all influence how a learner accesses AAC and participates in communication. This course, the third in the AAC Assessment Basics series, introduces foundational considerations for recognizing and responding to these complexities during ongoing AAC assessment paired with intervention. Participants will explore introductory considerations related to cortical visual impairment (CVI), alternative access, sensory regulation, behavioral interpretation, and environmental adaptation. Emphasis is placed on identifying potential barriers to participation, considering supportive adaptations, and recognizing when interdisciplinary collaboration may be needed.

This introductory session is designed to help clinicians approach complex AAC situations with greater flexibility and clinical curiosity rather than provide comprehensive training in CVI, alternative access, sensory processing, or behavioral assessment. Content builds upon communication assessment, feature matching, and dynamic intervention trial principles introduced in course 1 of the series, Communication Assessment for Complex Communicators and Access to Starter AAC, and course 2 of the series, Marching AAC Features & Conducting Dynamic Intervention Trials.