Advertise on podcast: The Take AACtion Podcast

Is it wrong to start an AAC evaluation with the language system you know best? Not necessarily—but it shouldn't end there. In this episode of the Take Action Podcast, Lauren continues the conversation around the Specific Language First approach and explores how a similar mindset often shows up during AAC evaluations. As SLPs and AAC professionals, it's natural to feel more confident trialing systems we already know well. The problem comes when familiarity turns into a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Every AAC user has unique communication, language, access, and feature needs—and our evaluations need to reflect that. Lauren discusses how you can use a familiar language system as a starting point while still prioritizing individualized feature matching. She also shares practical ways to expand your knowledge of different AAC systems so you can feel more confident recognizing when another option may be a better fit. In this episode, you'll learn: How the Specific Language First mindset can show up in AAC evaluations Why starting with a familiar AAC system isn't necessarily a bad thing The importance of feature matching during an AAC evaluation How clinician familiarity can unintentionally influence AAC recommendations Questions to ask when determining whether a system is truly working for an individual Why trialing different types of language systems can strengthen an evaluation How to become more familiar with AAC systems you don't regularly use Check out the FREE Apps:  https://www.inspireconnectionstherapy.com/blog/aac-apps-for-free Connect with Us Subscribe to the Take AACtion Podcast Follow us on instagram @inspireconnections.aac

What if students didn't have to wait for an evaluation to have access to AAC? In this episode of the Take AACtion Podcast, Lauren explores the Specific Language System First approach, a tiered model for bringing AAC into schools as a universal support. Rather than waiting until an individual student is identified as needing AAC, this approach makes a robust language system accessible from day one and then adds increasingly individualized support as needed. In This Episode What the Specific Language System First approach is Using an RTI/MTSS-style model for AAC Making AAC part of Universal Design for Learning What Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 AAC support can look like Why universal AAC access benefits more than individual AAC users Choosing a robust and flexible language system at the district level Why system selection should be strategic—not based on personal preference Including families from the beginning Using data to determine when students need more individualized support What "universal access" actually means How immediate AAC access can reduce barriers for students Building AAC knowledge and confidence across school teams Why a Specific Language System First approach does not mean AAC is one-size-fits-all Balancing universal access with individualized AAC needs Connect with Us Subscribe to the Take AACtion Podcast Follow us on instagram @inspireconnections.aac

Access to AAC can be life-changing, but for many families, getting the right communication system into their child's hands isn't always a simple process. In this episode of the Take AACtion Podcast, Lauren breaks down four of the biggest barriers to AAC access and shares practical ways parents, SLPs, educators, and other communication partners can navigate them. From understanding insurance coverage and advocating for AAC in the school setting to navigating long evaluation waitlists and increasing AAC awareness, this episode is all about identifying what's getting in the way and taking actionable steps toward better communication access. In This Episode Four common barriers to AAC access Insurance coverage and access School access Long waitlists  AAC awarness  Take away ideas for breaking down these barriers  Connect with Us Subscribe to the Take AACtion Podcast Follow us on instagram @inspireconnections.aac

How do we make AAC a natural part of the classroom without expecting teachers, SLPs, and support staff to model on a device all day long? In this episode of the Take AACtion Podcast, Lauren Greenlief, M.S., CCC-SLP, shares practical strategies for integrating AAC into the school day in a way that feels manageable and sustainable. Rather than creating more work for already-busy classroom teams, Lauren explains how to identify communication opportunities that already exist within everyday classroom routines and build AAC into those moments. From circle time and classroom transitions to greetings, choices, social interactions, and show-and-tell, small changes can create meaningful opportunities for AAC users to communicate. In This Episode Why "just model all day" can feel overwhelming for classroom teams How to identify existing communication opportunities Building AAC into everyday classroom routines Creating more opportunities for communication when they don't already exist Why connection-based communication matters Moving beyond academic vocabulary and answering questions How to help teachers and communication partners see the value of AAC Why it's okay to learn an AAC system alongside the AAC user Keeping AAC accessible throughout the school day How habit stacking can improve AAC consistency Free Resource  https://inspireconnectionstherapy.myflodesk.com/bipj9i7gcb Connect with Us Subscribe to the Take AACtion Podcast Follow us on instagram @inspireconnections.aac

AAC Grid Size: What you need to know One of the most common questions in AAC is, "What grid size should I start with?" In this episode of the Take AACtion Podcast, Lauren breaks down the biggest misconceptions about AAC grid size and explains why starting with a larger grid supports language development more effectively than beginning with a small one. You'll learn how to determine the best grid size by evaluating vision, motor skills, and visual scanning abilities, while also exploring practical supports that allow many AAC users to access larger vocabulary systems without sacrificing usability.     In This Episode What AAC grid size actually means Common myths about starting with a small grid Three factors to consider when selecting a grid size: Vision Motor abilities Visual scanning skills Supports to try before reducing grid size How keyguards, touch guides, and release time settings improve access Using Vocabulary Builder and hidden buttons to reduce visual load Why preserving motor planning matters The cognitive cost of changing grid sizes Why communication partners should presume competence Giving AAC users access to meaningful language from the beginning     Free Resource  https://inspireconnectionstherapy.myflodesk.com/gridsize     Connect with Us Subscribe to the Take AACtion Podcast Follow us on instagram @inspireconnections.aac

Welcome back to another episode of the Take AACtion Podcast! This week, Lauren is joined by Ashley, a speech-language pathologist, mom of three, and owner of Speech at the Beach. With over 13 years of experience, she's passionate about making communication accessible for all kids. Today, she's sharing the journey of completing her project — bringing 11 AAC communication boards to parks and playgrounds around Virginia Beach — and how small changes can make a big difference for AAC users and their families. Ashley kicks things off by describing what AAC evaluations look like within her private practice, including supports and resources that have increased success (2:02). This leads into a discussion about the playground communication boards and the ways they support communication and inclusion (8:11). Ashley then describes how she went about getting communication boards into her local play areas (12:45), and shares her biggest takeaway lesson from working to get the boards installed in her community (21:47). ✨ Take AACtion: Try out the Take AACTion step and let us know how it went—send a DM or drop a comment on @inspireconnections.aac! (28:56) Follow Along with Ashley: 📸 @speechinvabeach on Instagram 📰 News Feature: Ashley's Mission to Bring Inclusion to Playgrounds 🏞️ Smarty Symbols – Board Resource Take AACtion with Lauren: 📸 @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram 🎧 Previous AAC Evaluation Episode 📚 Podcast Resource Library 🤝 AAC Support Network ✍️ Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist 🎓 Free AAC Consistency Training 🎙️ Share Your Story on the Podcast

This week, Lauren is flying solo to dive into how to run an effective AAC trial. She kicks things off by explaining what an AAC device trial is (1:41), then explores why trials are important before recommending a system. She also shares how trials can look different based on setting or insurance requirements (5:58), and offers tips for sourcing devices (13:58). ✨ Take AACtion: Try out the Take AACTion step and let us know how it went—send a DM or drop a comment on @inspireconnections.aac! (16:58) Take AACtion with Lauren: 📸 @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram 🎧Previous AAC Evaluation Episode 📚 Podcast Resource Library 🤝 AAC Support Network ✍️ Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist 🎓 Free AAC Consistency Training 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast?

Welcome back to The Take AACtion Podcast! This week, we're joined by Allyse—SLP-turned-stay-at-home mom and our podcast's virtual assistant—to chat about building a strong AAC system using lite-, mid-, and high-tech supports. Allyse starts by defining what an AAC system really includes (7:47), then busts some common myths about lite-tech supports (11:50). We dive into how to integrate AAC into universal classroom design so you can know when to shift toward individualized supports (21:45), and what mid-tech tools we've found helpful (34:59). Lauren wraps things up with a Take AACtion step (52:02): Share your thoughts in the Instagram comments! Want to follow along with what Allyse is up to next? Be there for when she makes her return to SLP IG: @crookedrivercommunications Take AACtion with Lauren: 📸 @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram 📚 🤝 AAC Support Network ✍️ Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist 🎓 Free AAC Consistency Training 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast?

🎙️ New Episode: Take AACtion Q&A! This week, Lauren is answering your questions from Instagram! 👏✨ ⏩ Topics covered: 🗂️ Grid size considerations for AAC users (4:24) 📋 Where to find poster-sized lite-tech communication boards (10:11) 🧠 How Lauren learns multiple devices & vocab systems (11:10) 🕒 How long AAC evaluations typically take (14:13) ✅ Take AACtion Challenge: Check in on this week's Instagram post and let us know how you did! (17:37) Take AACtion with Lauren: 📸 @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram 📚 🤝 AAC Support Network ✍️ Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist 🎓 Free AAC Consistency Training 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast?

Welcome back for another episode of the Take AACtion podcast! This week, we are joined by Hailea, a nurse, disability advocate, and host of the Brewed Differently Podcast, where she explores disability-related topics and promotes the message that different is good. Hailea and her husband, both nurses, homeschool their daughter Bella, who is autistic and has TNRC6B, a rare genetic disorder, along with Sensory Processing Disorder. Her passion for advocacy stems from growing up with a disabled sibling and now parenting a child with disabilities. Hailea shares her family's unique journey to discovering AAC and how her daughter's system has evolved over time (1:38). She discusses the challenges of embedding AAC into daily life and the tools they've used to overcome these obstacles (16:23). Finally, she offers key insights from a parent's perspective, including practical strategies for modeling beyond requesting (24:37). Connect with Hailea: 📸 @itshaileacarter on Instagram 📸 @breweddifferentlypodcast on Instagram Take AACtion with Lauren: 📸 @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram 📚 Podcast Resource Library 🤝 AAC Support Network ✍️ Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist 🎓 Free AAC Consistency Training 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast?

Welcome back! If you're just joining us in Season Two, Lauren takes a moment to reintroduce herself and share the focus of the Take AACtion Podcast. (1:50) She gives us a sneak peek into the upcoming episodes for the season and explains how the podcast will evolve in this new chapter. (5:56) Next, Lauren breaks down a blog post from OpenAAC, which explores key developments in the field of AAC over the past year and what's on the horizon for 2025. (8:34) As always, we wrap up with our Take AACtion step—hint: clicking the link above gets you halfway there! Keep the momentum going with AAC reflections and projections for the new year. Take AACtion with Lauren: 📸 @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram 📚 Podcast Resource Library 🤝 AAC Support Network ✍️ Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist 🎓 Free AAC Consistency Training 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast?

Welcome to the end of 2024, and the end of season one! This season has brought us episodes on parent coaching, AAC evals, app info, gathering support from various sources, and we are so grateful to the guests who have shared those stories. This episode is a thank you and a recap of all we have accomplished, and a sneak preview into the exciting changes coming in 2025. To pay forward the gratitude built in the Take AACtion community, proceeds from joining the Podcast Resource Library will go toward WeaveChat and Lily's Voice for the remainder of the year! A personal Take AACtion step to wrap up this season- if you have loved this podcast, write us a review, share an episode to a friend or on socials, or send a message Lauren's way to say what you're loving! Take AACtion with Lauren: @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram Podcast Resource Library: https://bit.ly/takeAACtion24 AAC Support Network: https://www.inspireconnectionstherapy.com/supportnetwork Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist: https://inspireconnectionstherapy.myflodesk.com/zowr1771ja Free AAC Consistency Training: https://bit.ly/3TMCOqT Interested in sharing your story on the podcast? https://forms.gle/QHRo354Rr7DpK3CY9

Rebekah is an early intervention speech-language pathologist who has been working in rural Western North Carolina for over 6 years. She supports families and their children with a variety of communication and feeding outcomes, as well as her colleagues on a primary service provider (PSP) team. Rebekah is passionate about helping families and early interventionists consider how AAC can be used to increase children's participation in their everyday routines and activities. Rebekah begins by introducing the early intervention model used in her practice (6:33), followed by an overview of her evaluation process (11:34). She explains how she helps families secure funding for the AAC system deemed most effective during trials (20:39) and shares her approach to choosing between multiple beneficial systems, highlighting key features to consider (30:16). Rebekah wraps up with her top tips for SLPs to confidently start AAC evaluations (40:44). Finally, Lauren concludes with her signature Take AACtion step (44:59). Follow along with Rebekah and her team on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyInfantPreschoolProgram Take AACtion with Lauren: @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram Podcast Resource Library: https://bit.ly/takeAACtion24 AAC Support Network: https://www.inspireconnectionstherapy.com/supportnetwork Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist: https://inspireconnectionstherapy.myflodesk.com/zowr1771ja Free AAC Consistency Training: https://bit.ly/3TMCOqT Interested in sharing your story on the podcast? https://forms.gle/QHRo354Rr7DpK3CY9

This week we are joined by Megan, a speech/language pathologist with over 20 years of experience, most of which have been spent serving students with complex communication needs within various settings, including early intervention, home health, hippotherapy, and preschool and elementary school. With extensive knowledge regarding various forms of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) from lite to high tech, Megan's passion is to help guide students, parents, and professionals alike in their journey to find the AAC system(s) that will help them become the most independent and autonomous communicators possible. Megan also owns and operates SENSEAble Literacy, empowering everyone to bring the love of literacy, AAC, and sensory-based experiences together for all learners. (4:09) Lauren and Megan kick off their conversation around AAC and literacy by discussing the importance of teaching literacy to children with complex communication needs. (6:46) Megan walks us through how to get started introducing literacy skills to AAC users, as well as (8:54) gives ideas for shaping letter babbling into functional literacy. (11:39) She then guides us through transitioning from letter/sound awareness to literacy within story books. (17:03) This leads Lauren and Megan into a discussion regarding adding book specific information into a communication system, and how it can relate to descriptive teaching versus explicit vocabulary instruction, (22:58) which evolves into a discussion regarding reading comprehension overall. (26:35) They then take it back to basics, and Megan gives ideas for how to introduce pre-literacy skills in the early intervention setting. (29:43) She then provides ideas for classroom teachers who support students with complex communication needs. (41:32) Megan and Lauren wrap up their literacy discussion with strategies for being an effective reading partner while modeling on the AAC system. (49:21) Lauren leaves us with a summarizing Take AACtion step to help us be better reading teachers, no matter what our job title may be. Follow along with Megan @senseableliteracy on all social media platforms to continue getting support about integrating literacy and AAC! Take AACtion with Lauren: @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram Podcast Resource Library: https://bit.ly/takeAACtion24 AAC Support Network: https://www.inspireconnectionstherapy.com/supportnetwork Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist: https://inspireconnectionstherapy.myflodesk.com/zowr1771ja Free AAC Consistency Training: https://bit.ly/3TMCOqT Interested in sharing your story on the podcast? https://forms.gle/QHRo354Rr7DpK3CY9

This week, Lauren is flying solo to chat with us about the AAC evaluation process. (2:59) She shares how the setting in which an evaluation takes place can shape the evaluation process, giving an overview of each. (9:04) Lauren then describes how our own clinical experience can impact an AAC evaluation, and how we can grow our knowledge to strengthen the process. (15:48) Lastly, she discusses how to source and explore AAC resources. Take AACtion with Lauren: @inspireconnections.aac on Instagram Podcast Resource Library: https://bit.ly/takeAACtion24 AAC Support Network: https://www.inspireconnectionstherapy.com/supportnetwork Join the AAC Assessment Guide Waitlist: https://inspireconnectionstherapy.myflodesk.com/zowr1771ja Interested in sharing your story on the podcast? https://forms.gle/QHRo354Rr7DpK3CY9