Utilization of a single preferred AAC system in US schools.

The use of a single preferred communication book, board, app, or device across a school or district is a frequent topic on social media. The purposes of this study were to determine: (1) When a single system is adopted by a school or district, how does frequency of input from stakeholders compare to...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:AAC: Augmentative & Alternative Communication Vol. 42; no. 3; pp. 232 - 241
Main Authors: Senner, Jill E., Quach, Wendy, Chung, Yoosun, Patterson, Brian, Goldman, Amy, Blackstone, Sarah, Post, Kathleen A.
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Sep2026
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=196440387&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: hlh
    uiTerm: 196440387
    longDbName: Humanities International Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        07434618
        9OD
      jtl: AAC: Augmentative & Alternative Communication
      issn: 07434618
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Sep2026
      vid: 42
      iid: 3
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
    artinfo:
      ui:
        196440387
        10.1080/07434618.2025.2516763
      ppf: 232
      ppct: 9
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Utilization of a single preferred AAC system in US schools.
      aug:
        au:
          Senner, Jill E.
          Quach, Wendy
          Chung, Yoosun
          Patterson, Brian
          Goldman, Amy
          Blackstone, Sarah
          Post, Kathleen A.
        affil:
          Speech-Language Pathology, Technology and Language Center, PC., Highland Park, IL, USA
          Communicative Disorders & Science, San José State University, San José, CA, USA
          Division of Special Education and disAbility Research, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
          Department of Psychology, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL, USA
          Board of Directors, United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC), Philadelphia, PA, USA
          Board of Directors, The Bridge School, Hillsborough, CA, USA
          Speech-Language Institute, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA
      su:
        Student satisfaction
        Facilitated communication
        Research funding
        Schools
        School administrators
        Decision making in clinical medicine
        Descriptive statistics
        Chi-squared test
        Communication devices for people with disabilities
        Attitudes of medical personnel
        Eligibility (Social aspects)
        Comparative studies
        Social support
        Data analysis software
        School health services
        United States
      sug:
        subj:
          United States
          Student satisfaction
          Facilitated communication
          Research funding
          Schools
          School administrators
          Decision making in clinical medicine
          Descriptive statistics
          Chi-squared test
          Communication devices for people with disabilities
          Attitudes of medical personnel
          Eligibility (Social aspects)
          Comparative studies
          Social support
          Data analysis software
          School health services
      keyword:
        AAC
        assessment
        MTSS
      ab: The use of a single preferred communication book, board, app, or device across a school or district is a frequent topic on social media. The purposes of this study were to determine: (1) When a single system is adopted by a school or district, how does frequency of input from stakeholders compare to when a single system is not used; (2) When a single system is used, are data collected; and (3) When a single system is adopted, are criteria specified and what criteria are used to determine which students receive which levels of support? A link to an online survey was shared with professionals providing AAC services in schools. Out of 221 respondents, 17.19% reported using a single system. Those who reported using a single system were statistically less likely to involve other professionals, families, and the student in the decision-making process. Only 28.9% reported always collecting ongoing data, 23.7% reported always having clearly defined criteria for success, and 18.4% reported always having clearly defined criteria for further evaluation. Qualitative themes suggest use of trial and error, clinical judgement, and lack of success are often being used to make decisions about device selection in lieu of data.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: Y
      dt:
        @attributes:
          year: 2026
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N