Examining the Family-Centeredness of Speech-Language Pathologists Working With Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Purpose: Family-professional partnerships are important for youth learning to use aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This study examined the family-oriented beliefs and practices of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working with preschool and school-aged children learning to use aided AAC (aged 3-21 years), specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: Participants were 25 SLPs who participated in an individual semistructured interview.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contextual Determinants of the Parent-Speech-Language Pathologist Partnership.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes for family-professional interactions. Many services shifted to telepractice, with new opportunities for parents and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to partner for service delivery. Parent-coached models of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention provide positive outcomes for children; however, SLPs have reported difficulty building strong partnerships with families.

Augmentative and alternative communication services during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact on children, their families and service providers.

The closure of schools and healthcare facilities across the United States due to COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way that services are provided to children with disabilities. Little is known about how children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), their families and their service providers have been impacted by these changes. This qualitative study sought to understand the perspectives of parents and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) on how COVID-19 has affected children, families, services providers and the delivery of AAC-related communication services.