UPDATE 11/5/21: We have turned this blog post into an expanded resource on our website. Check it out HERE!

Welcome back to Let's Talk AAC - a series of questions and topics for discussion that we hope will be another useful resource. NWACS will occasionally post a question or topic along with some related information. We hope that you will join in the conversation by adding your experiences, resources, related research, etc. in comments so that we can all learn and benefit from each other's knowledge and experience.

Let’s continue discussing this question seen frequently in SLP/AAC social media groups:

What tool(s) do you use to assess [description of an individual with intellectual/developmental disabilities and complex communication needs]?

Here is a list of tools that may be helpful when conducting a culturally and linguistically responsive assessment of early/emerging communicators with complex communication needs for individuals with a home language other than English. We encourage you to explore and judge for yourself which to add to your toolbox.

*Learn more about Culturally Responsive AAC (along with links to various resources) HERE

• All About Me Inventory (from The Bridge School): a good culturally responsive tool for learning about the individual

• Colorín Colorado: “a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs)”

• Communication Matrix: the entire website and online assessment can be translated into several languages by using the translation menu option in the navigation toolbar of the website; information about downloadable PDF translations of this tool can be found HERE

• Dynamic AAC Goals Grid - 2 (DAGG-2): a Spanish translation/adaptation is available HERE; complete in both English and Spanish to get a fuller picture of the AAC communicator’s communication skills

• Home Language Survey (from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction): available for download in a variety of languages and is useful for gathering information about language practices in the individual’s home

• IRIS Center offers this Dual Language Learners with Disabilities: Supporting Young Children in the Classroom module among other resources

• MacArthur-Bates CDI: Information about adaptations in other languages can be found HERE

• Protocol for the Analysis of Spanish Language Samples by Users of AAC (by Dr. Gloria Soto): is based on typical Spanish language development; contact Gloria Soto at gsoto@sfsu.edu for a copy of the Protocol

Do you know of other assessment resources/tools for individuals with complex communication needs and a home language other than English? What do you use to conduct culturally and linguistically responsive AAC evaluations? Leave a comment below to share!

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