AAC assessment experiences and training needs of professionals: Perspectives from South Africa

Incorporating a co-design approach in the development of a training program, whereby intended recipients of the training are at the front end of the design process, is advantageous. Such an approach facilitates a deeper understanding of participants' experiences and identified needs. Since we identified a need for the training of professionals in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) assessment, this study aimed to explore the assessment experiences and training needs of AAC professionals as the first phase in the co-design process of an online AAC training program. Two asynchronous online written focus groups were conducted with 15 participants from various professional backgrounds in South Africa. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the participants' contributions. Participants discussed the process of AAC assessment, highlighted various characteristics of AAC assessment and reported a variety of challenges faced when conducting an AAC assessment. They suggested aspects that should be included in a training program on AAC assessment and proposed strategies for the implementation of an online training program. The results confirmed that there is a need for a training program on AAC assessment for various professionals in AAC. Furthermore, the results highlight the experiences and training needs of such professionals.