Affiliation:
1. San Francisco State University, USA & University of California, Berkeley, USA
Abstract
This chapter addresses an equity-centered approach to family-professional partnerships on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) service delivery for young children with complex communication needs (CCN). Despite the recognition of family-centered practices as best practices, families often voice their frustrations when attempting to implement AAC in their homes, especially for families with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The aims of this chapter are (a) to discuss the current state of the field in family-centered AAC practices; (b) to describe family perspectives of AAC implementation in the home; and (c) to describe how “participatory help-giving AAC practices” can bridge the equity gap in AAC service delivery. Moreover, this chapter aims to discuss the foundational principle of participatory help-giving AAC practices as a form of equity between practitioners and families across the assessment, recommendation, and intervention phases in clinical practice.