by Tanna Neufeld, MS, CCC-SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist); NWACS President

I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year on behalf of the entire NWACS board! We are excited for another year of learning and advocacy, in tune with our NWACS mission! We would like to take a moment to thank all of you hard-working AAC professionals and caregivers for all that you do each day. 

As we step into the new year (and decade), consider adding some AAC flare to your new year’s resolutions for 2020 and help your neighbors do the same! Here are our Top 5 AAC-Inspired Resolutions for 2020 for you to explore and share all year long:

1 - Attend a Conference, Webinar or Workshop

The best way to do your best AAC work is to keep learning. Some workshops may just validate what you already know, and how great is that! Others leave you with a few gems to add to your solid knowledge base, and some change your entire professional life! We are so fortunate to have such awesome learning opportunities in AAC and related fields, locally, nationally, and via tele-learning. Put at least one AAC-related continuing education commitment with your resolutions this year to keep your motivation strong and your practice sound. Need some ideas? Check out our posts on conferences and webinars to start, and keep a close eye on our NWACS calendar and AAC/AT Education page for more, great AAC and AT events. 

2 - Plan a Year of Core

Core vocabulary offers a strong foundation for many emerging/beginning communicators and can be a great place to start building an AAC system. Regardless of where you might be in your journey with integrating core into your toolbox, set a resolution to explore some great core vocabulary curriculum resources to help you tackle the lesson planning demands ahead for 2020. Start here with our NWACS core-related blog posts. 

3 - Get PECS Trained

Believe it or not, as established as “PECS” is in the field of AAC - especially for individuals with Autism - many providers who claim to implement PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) aren’t actually trained and may not be implementing according to PECS protocol. If you haven’t been formally trained to implement PECS, consider adding this to your 2020 to-do list by attending an on-site training or taking an online short course. Getting this training under your belt will add to your understanding of what PECS is, why it may or may not be the best communication solution for your student, and how to use PECS correctly for optimal communication outcomes. 

4 - Build Strong Connections

During AAC Awareness Month in October (or any and every month, why not?), reach out to your colleagues, neighbors, and skeptics to host an AAC awareness event.  Check out these great, hands-on event ideas from our friends at PrAACtical AAC to get you started - but really, the sky is the limit and even intimate gatherings can start an AAC fire!

5 - Catch Up on Some EBP Reading

In our quest to be the best we can be for the communicators who need us, evidence-based practice (EBP) surely lights the way. Consider committing to an article a month for 2020 to keep up to date on research in the field and to add to your firm foundation of sound, evidence-based intervention. Our regular NWACS research summary posts are a good place to start, as is the ASHA Evidence Maps on AAC, the Informed SLP, and the ASHA SIG 12 community. Want something more structured with support from others? Join the Comprehensive Literacy for All BookStudy Facebook group, AAC and ASD SLP Book Club Facebook group, or sign up for the AAC Journal Club from PRC.

What are your 2020, AAC-Inspired resolutions and projects?  Share with the group in comments below or join the conversation on our Facebook page!