Main description:

For children, adolescents, and adults with autism, AAC can have a tremendous positive impact on communication, social skills, and behavior. Now there's a comprehensive, up-to-date research volume that shows professionals what today's most effective AAC methods are - and why they're a perfect fit with a variety of learning approaches that work for people with autism.

Pat Mirenda - a leading authority on AAC and autism - and Teresa Iacono partner with more than 30 other experts to give readers the most current, in-depth information on a wide range of AAC methods and technologies. Through clear and compelling examinations of the latest research studies, professionals supporting people with autism will discover how these evidence-based AAC interventions can be used to

promote children's natural speech and language development
expand literacy skills
modify challenging behavior
build young children's social interaction skills
encourage students' full membership and participation in inclusive classrooms
give children socially appropriate ways to express needs and preferences
replace unconventional communicative acts with more conventional ones
help adolescents and adults develop strong social networks within their community

Readers will also get clarification of the common characteristics of effective AAC interventions and insight into the future research required to make AAC technologies more meaningful and motivating.

Essential for educators, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and other direct service providers, this new addition to the renowned Augmentative and Alternative Communication series will give readers a complete understanding of today's diverse AAC options - knowledge they'll use to help people with autism develop the communication and social skills they need to succeed.

Help people with autism benefit from

speech generating devices
visual schedules and other types of visual supports
peer-mediated interventions
manual signing and gestures
graphic symbols
written supports
and more!