How can a school district provide an appropriate and meaningful education for a diverse population of students who use AAC systems or devices? This session addresses that question by focusing on the use of core vocabulary as a means to provide an appropriate and meaningful education for students using AAC systems in both special and general education classes. Part 1 lays the theoretical groundwork for the need for core over content vocabulary, along with the development of AAC systems that are core vocabulary and language friendly. It specifically addresses frequently voiced rationales for not focusing on core vocabulary.

Part 2 applies this information with students with severe intellectual disabilities, focusing on specific core vocabulary teaching strategies and the design of a curriculum based on the use of a defined set of 200 core and personal core vocabulary words. Part 3 applies the information on core vocabulary with students using robust AAC devices in general education classrooms. The session addresses the challenges of implementing a large (e.g., 350 – 400) corpus of core vocabulary to meet academic curriculum requirements. Specific steps for collaboration with general education teachers and support teams will be discussed, along with guidelines for coordination with state curriculum standards for students in general education classrooms.

• Identify core vs. extended vocabulary words.
• Describe the difference between single sheet designs and multiple sheet designs for organizing core vocabulary.
• Develop a set of core vocabulary based on pragmatic functions of language.
• Delineate 4 strategies for teaching core vocabulary.
• Develop a plan for applying core vocabulary in a daily classroom routine.
• Detail vocabulary challenges of students using AAC who are included in general education classrooms.
• Adjust classroom lessons to encourage use of core vocabulary.
• Describe a wall chart visual support material for using core vocabulary in the classroom.

This broadcast is specifically intended for speech and language pathologists, parents, special education teachers, regular education teachers, special education supervisors, and Intermediate Unit TaCs.

Topics Covered: Speech and Language