Last Updated on December 16, 2025 by Lisa Whaley
New Research on AAC and Literacy That Every SLP Should Know
Speech language pathologists (SLPs) and families supporting children with complex communication needs have more resources than ever when it comes to developing literacy through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Modern research and clinical insights are changing the way we understand the relationship between AAC and reading, helping SLPs provide optimal support for literacy growth. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive look at recent findings, best practices, and actionable strategies all tailored to empower you, your students, and families along the journey to reading success.
Why AAC Matters for Literacy: The Evidence in a Nutshell
How AAC Supports the Foundations of Reading
AAC is much more than a means of making requests for preferred items/activities and basic needs. Modern approaches leverage AAC’s potential to open reading, writing, and storytelling to all children. Here’s how AAC strengthens the key pillars of literacy:
- Vocabulary Building: Presenting new vocabulary as symbols or buttons on AAC devices helps children link written, spoken, and visual representations. Consistent exposure to these words in print and AAC accelerates recognition and understanding.
- Phonological Awareness: Many AAC platforms can break words down into sounds, rhyme, or syllables. Children tap, listen, and build words, making phonics instruction accessible and multisensory.
- Comprehension Skills: AAC enables participation in answering questions, sequencing stories, predicting outcomes, and sharing opinions—cornerstones of deep reading comprehension.
- Emergent Writing: With AAC, children can compose sentences, label pictures, or author simple narratives, regardless of their ability to use a pencil or type.
Best Practices: Integrating AAC into Literacy Instruction
Effective AAC-driven literacy instruction requires thoughtful planning and teamwork between SLPs, teachers, and families. Here are research-backed practices for classroom and home:
1. Provide Consistent Access to AAC During Literacy Time
- Ensure devices or communication boards are charged, available, and within reach at story time, reading groups, and literacy centers.
- Include story-specific vocabulary on boards or devices before introducing new books.
- Encourage spontaneous use and model as needed.
2. Pair Print, Symbols, and Speech Output
- Link printed words in storybooks to corresponding symbols or AAC buttons.
- Use high-tech AAC features to “read aloud” words, phrases, or sentences.
3. Embed AAC into Daily Routines
- Encourage use of AAC for commenting, questioning, and role play during reading activities.
- Let students “vote” on story outcomes or identify main characters using their device.
4. Model Language
- During shared reading, the adult models by both speaking and selecting words on the AAC system. This reduces pressure and increases confidence.
5. Explicitly Teach Reading and Writing Skills Using AAC
- Work on spelling, blending, and segmenting with the device’s sound and letter features.
- Scaffold writing activities with sentence starters and symbol-based templates.
Real-World Examples from Research and Practice
- A nonverbal first grader uses a speech-generating device with picture symbols. After including story-related vocabulary and questioning phrases on his AAC, he is able to identify characters, express emotions, and retell the story—skills previously inaccessible. Teachers note improvements in comprehension, sight word recognition, and participation in word games.
- Kids with dyslexia, apraxia, or other language learning challenges also benefit from AAC. The visual and multisensory nature of many AAC apps enhances understanding for those who struggle with traditional text-based methods.
Summary Box: How AAC Empowers Readers
- Inclusion: Every child can join literacy activities, reducing isolation.
- Confidence: Children can demonstrate comprehension and express ideas independently.
- Personalization: Lessons can be tailored to each learner’s needs and strengths.
- Consistency: Familiar routines and language carry over from book to book, setting up for lifelong success.
Troubleshooting and Overcoming Common AAC Challenges in Literacy
- Limited AAC Vocabulary: Continually update the system with current themes, story vocabulary, or high-interest words from each new book.
- Inconsistent Use Across Settings: Train all team members and share lesson plans with families and staff to ensure carryover.
- Overuse of Yes/No or Single-Button Responses: Encourage open-ended questions, provide choices, and model the creation of full phrases or sentences.
- Tech Failures or Ineffective Fit: Offer both high- and low-tech options, and adjust based on the child’s unique motor, vision, and cognitive profile.
Best AAC Tools and Technologies for Literacy
No one tool fits every learner, but these options routinely show up in research and clinical practice:
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): Effective for emerging communicators and young children.
- Speech-Generating Devices (SGDs): Support personalized vocabulary grids, sight words, and storytelling features.
- Communication Apps: Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, Snap Core First, GoTalk NOW are all popular for flexible use, with customizable grids, interactive story modules, and literacy games.
- Low-Tech Boards and Books: Laminate word or symbol cards, sentence starters, or custom overlays for tactile learners or backup during device-free times.
The Power of Small AAC Wins: Building Massive Confidence
Small, everyday achievements such as requesting, commenting, or using AAC outside therapy sessions dramatically boost confidence and motivation. Each “win” (for example, greeting a peer, refusing politely, or sharing a joke) reinforces the value of communication and helps build lasting literacy habits.
10 Tiny AAC Wins Worth Noticing
- Looking toward the device when needing help.
- Bringing the system to a new space or activity.
- Trying a new symbol, even if it is “wrong.”
- Handing the device to someone else to get attention.
- Requesting “help” or a “break.”
- Repeating an attempt after a communication breakdown.
- Mixing gestures with AAC for the first time.
- Commenting spontaneously on something funny or interesting.
- Greets a new friend or adult with AAC.
- Caring for the device independently (charging, cleaning, carrying).
Celebrate every triumph, big or small. Not just requesting, but refusals, comments, jokes, and routines. Involve siblings, classmates, and support teams. Consistent recognition turns attempts into sustainable breakthroughs.
Supporting Writing Skills Through AAC
Modern literacy development is not just about reading, it’s about writing, too. AAC opens up written expression, authorship, and storytelling for every child.
- Model writing tasks on the device (sentence starters, labeling, or story creation).
- Encourage shared writing with peers and family members for natural audiences.
- Provide structured templates, digital sentence strips, or scaffolds catering to individual needs.
- Offer writing choices based on the child’s genuine interests and life experiences.
- Accept all forms of written output, typed words, symbols, pictures, or drawings.
Creative Writing Activities with AAC
- Shared storytelling: co-create stories with family, classmates, or educators using AAC input at each step.
- Choice-based journals: let students document feelings and experiences daily using symbols or text.
- Letter and email writing: help students compose, send, and sometimes read aloud their messages.
- Class collaborative e-books: each student contributes a page, a phrase, or an illustration.
- Real-life writing: snack lists, event invitations, or simple schedules using AAC.
Writing Success Formula
- Start simple and celebrate effort, not perfection.
- Use writing as a bridge to daily participation, connection, and joy.
- Model and write alongside the student, show, do not just tell.
- Let students’ interests drive writing topics and sharing opportunities.
Technology and Apps That Support Literacy with AAC
Advances in technology have made literacy instruction more accessible, engaging, and fun:
- Symbol-Supported Apps: Look for features like word prediction, text-to-speech, customizable vocabulary, and digital book creation.
- Collaborative Tools: Platforms such as Book Creator or StoryJumper allow for class e-books or projects that showcase every child’s unique writing “voice.”
- Adapted Access: Devices and apps that support head trackers, switches, or eye-gaze make participation possible for all mobility profiles.
Building Home and School Partnerships
Families play a pivotal role in extending AAC-driven literacy gains beyond the classroom. Share new vocabulary, instructional videos, and story-specific overlays before each lesson. Encourage reading and writing at home, using AAC alongside print, pictures, and shared activities like grocery lists or bedtime stories.
Collaboration Insights:
- Invite family members to observe reading routines and model AAC at home.
- Offer brief, practical training so everyone in the child’s life can prompt and support communication.
- Send home simple activities that invite AAC use during everyday experiences.
Summary Box: What SLPs and Parents Should Remember
- AAC is a critical, evidence-based support for developing literacy in children with speech challenges.
- Intentional, consistent integration of AAC opens reading and writing for all children, regardless of verbal skills.
- Active, ongoing collaboration between SLPs, teachers, families, and assistive tech teams is essential.
- Celebrate small wins, personalize content, and keep communication motivating and meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions: AAC and Literacy (FAQs)
Can AAC be introduced early, even before kindergarten?
Yes. The latest research affirms that AAC can be introduced as soon as literacy routines begin, often in preschool or earlier. Early and frequent access creates better long-term language and reading outcomes.
My student resists using AAC during reading. What should I do?
Start with familiar, high-interest stories and activities. Offer choices, model its use, and celebrate every small step to make AAC use enjoyable and intrinsically rewarding.
Does AAC help only nonverbal children?
No. Children with a range of speech, language, and learning challenges, including dyslexia, benefit from the visual, auditory, and interactive features of AAC systems.
Should I choose high-tech or low-tech AAC for literacy?
Both options are valuable. High-tech AAC offers customization and voice output, while low-tech boards are vital backups and often best for quick use or during technology breakdowns.
How can I help all staff and family support AAC outside therapy?
Share success stories, provide short training sessions, and keep vocabulary up-to-date and relevant to daily life and interests. Use visual cues and reminders, and celebrate every communication attempt.
Key Takeaways for SLPs and Families
- AAC is not just a bridge, it is the path to literacy, agency, and inclusion for children with speech challenges.
- Evidence-based practices show that integrating AAC into daily reading and writing is both powerful and practical.
- All learners, regardless of modality, deserve and can achieve literacy success with the right supports.
Compliance and Privacy Considerations
When supporting children with AAC systems, always ensure that data privacy and device security meet current legal requirements. This includes following FERPA and HIPAA guidelines in school and clinical settings, obtaining parental consent before sharing any information or media, and ensuring devices (especially apps that record or transmit data) comply with COPPA and local regulations for minors.
With a growth mindset, team collaboration, and commitment to small everyday wins, AAC and literacy are truly accessible to every child. Every book they “speak,” every story they author, and every word they share, their voice is heard, honored, and celebrated.
