How To: Virtual Play-based AAC Session

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A post shared by Halle Demchuk, MSc(A), SLP (@haepislp)

To all Speech-Language Professionals: if you've ever wondered how you were going to model AAC to a child with a device during a virtual session, I hear you!

We know AAC is best modelled in natural environments and during play, and while most SLPs have figured out ways to do something resembling play-based therapy over Zoom, AAC can feel like a whole other ballgame. So, I wanted to show you one of my favourite resources to use: music videos and songs!

This is completely free using YouTube. I'll sometimes do a Boom Deck first or something that teaches the target words (e.g., we learned "go" and "stop" in a Boom Deck game) and then follow that up with "singing" along to a song. I have an iPad Pro that I like to use for modelling as it's quite a bit bigger and therefore easier to see on Zoom while the video is playing.

I also like to use this with "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and "5 Little Ducks."

Just because our kids may live in hard to reach places (like in remote Northern communities), this doesn't mean we can't still do play-based AAC virtually... we just need to be creative!

by Halle Demchuk, SLP

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