Smart Ways to Adapt Lesson Plans for AAC Users

Last Updated on January 27, 2026 by Lisa Whaley

Why Adapt Lesson Plans for AAC Users?

Children who communicate with AAC—whether through speech-generating devices, symbol boards, tablets, or communication books—have diverse abilities and needs. Lesson plans that work for speaking students may leave AAC users on the sidelines if not adjusted thoughtfully. By proactively building in supports, you unlock opportunities for:

• Inclusion: Enabling every child to participate alongside peers
• Self-Expression: Giving students ownership of their learning and a real “voice” in the classroom
• Literacy & Academics: Bridging gaps in speaking and writing to support core skills
• Confidence & Agency: Fostering independence, self-advocacy, and positive school identity

Understanding AAC: Tools, Types, and Common Challenges

AAC systems range from simple (picture cards, manual boards) to complex (robust speech-generating devices with layered vocabularies). High-tech AAC might include iPad apps with customizable software; low-tech options ensure communication is always accessible, even if technology fails. When adapting lesson plans, always start by considering:

• The individual’s preferred AAC tools, symbols, or access methods (touch, eye-gaze, switch, etc.)
• Current expressive and receptive language levels
• Physical, sensory, and cognitive supports needed
• Motivators, interests, and communication goals

AAC users may experience slower message construction, “device fatigue,” or difficulty with certain sentence types. Keeping lesson supports varied, visual, and open-ended helps sustain participation and learning【4:16†How AAC Can Boost Reading Skills in Nonverbal Learners.docx】.

Principles for Adapting Lessons: Setting Up for Success

Before diving into specific subjects or activities, there are universal strategies that make any lesson plan more AAC-friendly:

1. Always Provide Access: The AAC system should be present, charged, and within reach for every learning activity—not left at a desk or in a backpack.
2. Model, Model, Model: Adults use the AAC to demonstrate “talking,” showing how to build responses, ask questions, or make choices aloud.
3. Pre-teach and Program Vocabulary: Before a lesson, add key words or sentence starters (e.g., “photosynthesis,” “I think,” “because”) to the device. Preview concepts using visuals.
4. Offer Flexible Output: Accept spoken, typed, symbol-based, or combined answers as valid responses. Focus on communication of ideas, not mode of delivery.
5. Celebrate All Attempts: Value one-word responses, comments, and even “off-topic” messages if they reflect authentic engagement【4:5†Creative Ways to Teach Writing to Kids Using AAC.docx】.

Smart Adaptation Strategies for Core Learning Areas

1. Making Participation Accessible: Routines, Visuals, and Prompts

• Use consistent classroom routines, visual schedules, and “first/then” boards so AAC users know what to expect.
• Incorporate AAC into everyday participation: greeting routines, attendance, circle time, lunch choices, transitions, and “question of the day.”
• Utvisual supports—story maps, graphic organizers, illustrated vocabulary cards—paired with corresponding AAC symbols for comprehension and expression【4:8†How AAC Can Boost Reading Skills in Nonverbal Learners.docx】.

Example: During morning meetings/circle time, provide a simple carrier phrase on the AAC: “Today I feel ___.” Rotate picture choices and allow comment, not just selection, to foster true communication.

2. Adapting Academic Content: Reading and Writing

• Pre-program vocabulary and main ideas from the text into the AAC device before reading lessons.
• Pause often during reading and model using the device: “Who is the main character? Let’s say it on the talker.”
• After reading, students use AAC to summarize, answer “wh” questions, or share a favorite part. Accept a spectrum of responses: one word, symbol choices, or built sentences.
• For writing, scaffold with sentence starters/carrier phrases (“I see…”, “I think…”), interactive digital journals, or story maps that pair with their system’s symbols.

3. Supporting Communication in Group Activities

• Pair AAC users with peers or adults trained in aided language input. Peer modeling makes participation natural and builds social confidence.
• Structure group work for success—provide turn-taking visuals, symbol supports, and clear expectations for how everyone can contribute (not just verbally).
• Offer communication choices (comment, ask, agree, disagree) that use core word vocabulary (“like,” “want,” “go,” “help”) so AAC users can join in authentically【4:4†AAC Therapy Hacks That Actually Work for All Ages.docx】.

Example: During science labs, create a “lab report” template with icon options such as “I see,” “I think,” “It changed,” and equip the AAC with the necessary vocabulary ahead of time.

4. Building in Choice and Motivation

• Whenever possible, offer choices within the lesson, both in the activity and in how students respond.
• Allow AAC users to select topics for projects, pick partners, or choose presentation formats (video, visual story, AAC “speech”).
• Embed humor, play, and favorite interests into learning—motivation is essential for AAC engagement.

Pro Tip: Personalize vocabulary with favorite foods, shows, classmates, or jokes to make content inviting and relevant.

Practical Tools and Tech Supports for AAC Lesson Adaptation

Modern technology offers powerful resources to help SLPs and teachers adapt lesson plans for AAC users:

• Writing and Communication Apps with integrated symbol libraries (e.g. Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life, Snap Core First)
• Digital story makers (Book Creator, StoryJumper) for collaborative class books or project-based learning
• Picture-based email/messaging tools for real-world writing, news exchanges, and social communication development
• Portable keyboards, adaptive switches, or eye-gaze options for learners with physical access challenges
• Print supports—laminated or paper boards for quick-access during lessons, field trips, PE, or device-free zones

Key Strategy: Always provide both high-tech (device) and low-tech (board, print) options so AAC use is never interrupted by technical issues or setting changes【4:14†Creative Ways to Teach Writing to Kids Using AAC.docx】.

How to Scaffold Lessons for AAC Success

1. Start with Brainstorming: Use the AAC (or visual webs) to collect and sort ideas as a group.
2. Offer Structured Templates: Provide fill-in-the-blank sentence frames—“The dog is ___,” “Today I saw ___.”
3. Model Thinking Aloud: Walk through your planning and problem-solving with AAC while talking it out for everyone.
4. Check-in Frequently: Pause to celebrate progress, troubleshoot challenges, or review goals at each stage.
5. Accept All Valid Output: Recognize drawings, gestures, symbols, or spoken responses as “writing” during lessons if motor skills limit typing or device use.

Strategies for Reading, Writing, and Math Adaptations

Adapting Reading Lessons

• Pre-teach book-specific vocabulary and add to the AAC system ahead of time
• Model key questions and predicted answers with AAC throughout story time
• Invite users to participate with the device—selecting story elements, making predictions, or retelling events
• Accept creative outputs—acting out a story, using symbol cards, or drawing—for comprehension checks

Adapting Writing Lessons

• Integrate core word systems that provide essential building blocks (“I,” “see,” “want,” etc.) for sentence creation
• Use daily journals, menu planning, and real-life writing projects (shopping lists, class notes) as functional, motivating writing tasks
• Support poetry, song writing, or “letters to friends” using the AAC device for multi-modal engagement

Adapting Math and Science Lessons

• Use visual supports like number lines, grids, tables, or adapted lab sheets with symbols for step-sequencing
• Pre-program subject-specific vocabulary: “add,” “subtract,” “more,” “less” in math, or materials and process words in science
• Encourage “show and tell” explanations using the AAC device to describe processes or findings

Building AAC Confidence: The Power of Small Wins

Focus on celebrating progress—big or small. Every new attempt, from a first request to a joke or shared routine, counts towards long-term confidence. By reinforcing every effort and creating opportunities for success, you build communication stamina and resilience over time【4:15†7 Small AAC Wins That Build Massive Confidence Over Time.docx】.

• Praise spontaneous use—whether for requesting, commenting, or expressing “no”
• Spotlight moments of AAC use in new settings (the gym, lunchroom, or during field trips)
• Celebrate independence—bringing the device to class, charging it, maintaining routines
• Engage the whole support team in noticing and rewarding AAC “wins”

Privacy, Compliance, and Ethical Considerations

When adapting lesson plans for children using AAC, it is vital to uphold all relevant privacy and data protection standards. This includes compliance with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), and district-level confidentiality policies. Do not share student data, device contents, or identifiable work samples without explicit written consent from guardians. When using apps or cloud-based AAC tools, ensure they are COPPA compliant, use secure logins, and limit personally identifiable information.

FAQs: Adapting Lessons for AAC Users

Summary: Empowering Every Voice with Adapted Lessons

Smart, proactive lesson adaptations let AAC users experience true belonging, learning, and joy in every classroom. Focus on access, motivation, personalization, and teamwork—then celebrate small wins every step of the way. With careful attention to privacy laws and consent, every child can share their ideas, grow in confidence, and see their communication valued by all.