Identifying and Navigating Initial AAC Challenges

Live webinar

Zoom

60 minutes

Introductory

Date:

October 8, 2026

Time:

1:00 PM

2:00 PM

Time Zone:

Eastern Time (ET)

Location:

Zoom

Supporting AAC can feel complicated and frustrating, even when everyone is doing their best. This webinar takes a practical look at common barriers to AAC success and reveals small strategies that bring meaningful outcomes. Explore gentle, evidence-based alternatives that support autonomy, engagement, and connection for immediate use across school, clinic, and home settings.

Instructor:

Lauren Enders Gonzales, M,A, CCC-SLP

This course was designed for:

families, educators, SLPs, and other AAC supporters

Continuing Education

Course ID:

EA-2601

Contact Hours:

➡️ REGISTER for Identifying and Navigating Initial AAC Challenges (EA-2601)

Learning Outcomes

List three specific AAC approaches that families commonly use with good intentions but that slow down communication progress.
‍

Name two reasons why well-meaning family members might accidentally create barriers to their child's AAC use.
‍

Choose one assessment question from a provided list that helps identify if current AAC strategies need adjustment.
‍

Select two gentle conversation starters from provided examples to discuss AAC changes with families without causing defensiveness.
‍

State one way to respect a family's cultural values while suggesting a different AAC approach.

‍

Time-Ordered Agenda

0:00 – 0:10 | Introduction & Common AAC Implementation Barriers

0:10 – 0:35 | Evidence-Based Alternatives That Support Autonomy

0:35 – 0:50 | Practical Strategies for Immediate Implementation

0:50 – 1:00 | Q&A and Self-Assessment Wrap-Up

About Your Instructor and Disclosures

Lauren Enders Gonzales, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist with over 30 years of experience in a school setting.

Engaging AAC Solutions, LLC: Lauren Enders Gonzales is the founder and owner of Engaging AAC Solutions, LLC and receives financial compensation from this entity.
‍

The NIKA Project: Lauren serves as a member of the Board of Directors for The NIKA Project in a non-financial capacity.

Satisfactory Completion Requirements

• Attend the full webinar; attendance will be tracked automatically by Zoom; partial credit will not be available for this course.
‍
• Complete and submit the self-assessment/course feedback form by 11:59 PM EDT on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

‍

ASHA Continuing Education

ASHA Course ID:

ABPJ2601

ASHA CEUs:

0.1

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level, Professional area).

➡️ REGISTER for Identifying and Navigating Initial AAC Challenges (EA-2601)