Literacy & AAC Tips

Shared book reading strategies for individuals who use AAC: 

Shared book reading can be used with patients who use AAC devices in order to expand vocabulary and communication. The goal of shared book reading provides a context for facilitating literacy, language, and communication skills. There are two ways that parents and guardians can help to facilitate reading at home using shared book reading strategies. Below are two different approaches that can be used.

1. RAAP-Read, Ask, Answer, and Prompt
2. For each step, you have a delay of 5 seconds
3. Step 1: Read the book and provide aided language input by modeling two symbols on the child’s AAC system. Pause after to observe the learners response. 
4. Step 2: Ask a WH-question, again modeling the two-symbol utterance
5. Step 3: Provide verbal prompt – “your turn” or “show me two”
6. The RAAP strategy is used every time you turn a page with the individual. 
7. CROWD in the CAR
8. CAR
9. Comment and wait, Ask questions and wait, and Respond by adding a little more
10. 5 seconds or more of wait time
11. Example of Car
12. CROWD
13. 5 different prompts or question types to ask
14. Completion (where the child fills in the blank), Recall (where you ask the child to share details from th book to demonstrate understanding of plot/sequences), Open-ended questions, Wh-questions, and Distancing questions (to discuss connections between the story you read and the child’s own life)
15. EXAMPLE of Crowd

Binger, C., Kent-Walsh, J., Ewing, C., Taylor, S. (2010). Teaching educational assistants to facilitate the multisymbol message productions of young students who require augmentative and alternative communication. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 19, 108-120.

Kent-Walsh, J., Binger, C., & Malani, M. D. (2010). Teaching partners to support the communication skills of young children who use AAC: Lessons from the ImPAACT program. Early Childhood Services, 4, 155-170.

Maggie Murr Carter