Exploring core competencies for language facilitation in parent training programs in AAC

The relationship between children and their caregivers is essential for the development of social, emotional, cognitive, and linguistic skills. This is especially critical for children with complex communication needs who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), as parents play a crucial role in supporting AAC integration within the home. However, communicating with a child who uses AAC does not come naturally and requires the learning of several specific skills. Various training programs have shown that, with appropriate training, parents and caregivers can develop the skills necessary to become effective communication partners and support the use of AAC at home. This paper analyzes the overlap between existing parent training programs in AAC to identify the core competencies essential for parents and caregivers to become effective communication partners. By extracting these fundamental skills, this paper aims to guide practitioners in the design of effective parent training sessions. Key strategies include responsivity, environmental arrangements, wait time, aided modeling, prompting, and appropriate feedback.