Adding Gestalts to AAC

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This is an example of how AAC can be adapted and customized to incorporate gestalts within the program (while still maintaining the integrity of the motor plan!).

Most AAC systems are set up for analytic language processors only. Before I learned about GLP and AAC, I was mostly working with this child at the one word level, and she has made tons of progress - she still needs those single/core words! But as the saying goes, *when we know better, we can (and must) do better.*

I knew it wouldn't hurt to see how she would do with gestalts incorporated into her AAC device, as she is also very interested in music and intonation. So, we added the gestalts "help me" and "I like it" and she took to them extremely quickly - you can see how engaged and motivated she is! 

It is possible to adjust our AAC systems to better serve our gestalt processors - the AAC and GLP course from Meaningful Speech has been very helpful in showing me how to do just that!

It's okay if we're still figuring out how each child learns best. The important thing is that we are flexible to change and willing to try new things. 

Video shared with permission.

by Halle Demchuk, SLP

Paediatric SLP | GLP-Trained Clinician | Owner of HAEPI SLP