What is an implementation plan?
An Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) implementation plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the communication goals and objectives of an individual who requires and/or uses AAC. This document serves as a lesson plan for AAC users, providing them with a structured sequence of activities to target different communicative objectives throughout their day. Let’s take a closer look.
An AAC implementation plan includes the following components:
- AAC target activity – The goal or intent of each activity is listed so that all can follow. This could include activities such as requesting, sharing feelings, participating in a classroom activity, or therapy activity.
- Frequency – How often will this activity take place. This could be the frequency per day or week.
- Activity associated with targets – The types of activities used to target the communicative objective should be written out. There may be a variety of activities for the target or just one.
- Location – Where these communication goals & objectives take place should also be noted in the plan. This can vary depending on individual needs and preferences but could include locations such as home, school, community settings, etc.
- Person responsible – Who will be responsible for carrying out these communication goals & objectives should also be noted. The person responsible for this task may depend on who is available at any given time but could include parents/caregivers, SLPs, teachers, classroom aides/paraprofessionals, etc.
- Methods for implementation – Finally, methods for implementing each activity should also be specified in the plan. These methods could involve using visual supports such as pictures or videos or using tangible objects such as toys or other items when engaging in each activity.
WHY use one?
AAC can be overwhelming for team members. These communication team members come with different levels of comfort and experience implementation AAC. Developing an AAC plan gives team members specific activities and instructions for implementation. It takes the “guesswork” out of what to do and when. I currently work with a couple of students that are accessing their AAC devices via eye gaze. First, I meet with a few team members and talk about various activities during the day. We start with activities during their day, for example, morning meetings. During this activity, what are the typical activities that take place? What vocabulary could be focused on? What are some ways the teacher, IA, or communication partner can model?
I recently started working with the campus SLP’s and classroom teachers to create AAC Implementation Plans for all of our students using augmentative and alternative communication devices. We found that communication teams really wanted to support their students, but they weren’t sure what to do. Once the team started using the AAC implementation plans, we started to see a huge increase in the use of their device across the day.
Get your free copy of a sample AAC implementation plan below!