Unlocking communication potential: A Q&A panel on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Tracks
3
Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
Complex communication needs (CCN)
Disability
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)
| Friday, June 13, 2025 |
| 11:30 AM - 11:40 AM |
Overview
Clancy Conlon, Charlene Cullen and Leanna Fox
Details
⏫ Panel discussion
⏲️ 11.30am - 12.30pm
⌛ 60-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Intermediate (Some previous learning/working knowledge of topic e.g. treated a few cases)
⏲️ 11.30am - 12.30pm
⌛ 60-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Intermediate (Some previous learning/working knowledge of topic e.g. treated a few cases)
Presenter
Miss Clancy Conlon
CQUniversity
Unlocking communication potential: A Q&A panel on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PMPresentation summary
In our profession, ensuring clinical reasoning is firmly rooted in evidence is crucial. This evidence stems from both research-based and practice-based sources. To strengthen practice-based evidence, speech pathologists are increasingly connecting with each other to share knowledge and elevate professional practice. Yet, opportunities to gather as a larger community to critically examine our work and share insights are rare. This session invites you to bring forward the questions you've always wanted answered!
Join us for a dynamic 60-minute Q&A panel discussion centered on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) across the lifespan. With a panel featuring an Australian AAC researcher, assistive technology suppliers, and an individual with lived experience. This is a unique chance to pose your pressing AAC questions. The session fosters a supportive and collaborative environment, giving you access to a broader perspective on evidence, professional practice, and ethics—all aimed at enriching your clinical decision-making.
Before the event, the facilitator will gather and curate questions to ensure the panelists can respond thoughtfully. Additionally, attendees will be encouraged to ask live questions during the discussion, allowing for real-time engagement and deeper exploration of AAC practices.
This interactive and thought-provoking session will encourage reflection on how you deliver AAC services to individuals with complex communication needs, across all age groups. It's a perfect opportunity to gain new insights, hear diverse perspectives from clinicians, researchers and individuals with lived experience and actively engage with the broader speech pathology community. Whether you're a student or a seasoned SLP, this session promises valuable takeaways for anyone interested in AAC.
Join us for a dynamic 60-minute Q&A panel discussion centered on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) across the lifespan. With a panel featuring an Australian AAC researcher, assistive technology suppliers, and an individual with lived experience. This is a unique chance to pose your pressing AAC questions. The session fosters a supportive and collaborative environment, giving you access to a broader perspective on evidence, professional practice, and ethics—all aimed at enriching your clinical decision-making.
Before the event, the facilitator will gather and curate questions to ensure the panelists can respond thoughtfully. Additionally, attendees will be encouraged to ask live questions during the discussion, allowing for real-time engagement and deeper exploration of AAC practices.
This interactive and thought-provoking session will encourage reflection on how you deliver AAC services to individuals with complex communication needs, across all age groups. It's a perfect opportunity to gain new insights, hear diverse perspectives from clinicians, researchers and individuals with lived experience and actively engage with the broader speech pathology community. Whether you're a student or a seasoned SLP, this session promises valuable takeaways for anyone interested in AAC.
Refrences
Biggs, E. E., Carter, E. W., & Gilson, C. B. (2018). Systematic review of interventions involving aided AAC modeling for children with complex communication needs. American Journal on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, 123(5), 443–473. Education Source Ultimate.
Conlon, C., Preston, R., & Zupan, B. (2024). Is AAC at the top of your tool bag? Conceptualising clinical competence in AAC. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/22000259.2024.2316912
Langarika-Rocafort, A., Mondragon, N. I., & Etxebarrieta, G. R. (2021). A systematic review of research on augmentative and alternative communication interventions for children Aged 6-10 in the last decade. Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools, 52(3), 1–916. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_LSHSS-20-00005
Moorcroft, A., Scarinci, N., & Meyer, C. (2020). ‘We were just of kind of handed it and then it was smoke bombed by everyone’: How do external stakeholders contribute to parent rejection and the abandonment of AAC systems? International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 55(1), 59–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12502
Speech Pathology Australia. (2020). Augmentative and alternative communication clinical guideline. Speech Pathology Australia. https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Members/Clinical_Guidelines/spaweb/Members/Clinical_Guidelines/Clinical_Guidelines.aspx?hkey=f66634e4-825a-4f1a-910d-644553f59140
Conlon, C., Preston, R., & Zupan, B. (2024). Is AAC at the top of your tool bag? Conceptualising clinical competence in AAC. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/22000259.2024.2316912
Langarika-Rocafort, A., Mondragon, N. I., & Etxebarrieta, G. R. (2021). A systematic review of research on augmentative and alternative communication interventions for children Aged 6-10 in the last decade. Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools, 52(3), 1–916. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_LSHSS-20-00005
Moorcroft, A., Scarinci, N., & Meyer, C. (2020). ‘We were just of kind of handed it and then it was smoke bombed by everyone’: How do external stakeholders contribute to parent rejection and the abandonment of AAC systems? International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 55(1), 59–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12502
Speech Pathology Australia. (2020). Augmentative and alternative communication clinical guideline. Speech Pathology Australia. https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Members/Clinical_Guidelines/spaweb/Members/Clinical_Guidelines/Clinical_Guidelines.aspx?hkey=f66634e4-825a-4f1a-910d-644553f59140
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Clancy Conlon is a lecturer at CQUniversity in Rockhampton, QLD. Clancy’s teaching areas include paediatric speech and language as well as augmentative and alternative communication across the lifespan. Clancy is currently enrolled in her PhD through CQUniversity investigating the training experiences, attitudes and self-perceived competence and confidence of Australian speech language pathologists in Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Clancy continues to provide clinical services within the disability sector in Australia and overseas in under resourced settings.
Mrs Charlene Cullen
Link Assistive Pty Ltd
Unlocking communication potential: A Q&A panel on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM**********
Charlene is a Speech Pathologist and an Assistive Technology Consultant. With over 25 years of experience working in the disability sector, she has assisted individuals, families, therapists, and educators with trialling and choosing AT and AAC solutions and training them to use for every day independence and participation.
Charlene is the Clinical Team Manager at Link Assistive. She leads a team of speech pathologists and occupational therapists and together they provide consultation, support, and training for AAC and other assistive technologies across Australia.
Charlene has presented workshops on AAC throughout Australia and internationally in Singapore, China and New Zealand. She enjoys presenting and training and is passionate about helping others to find their voice and independence.
Leanna Fox
Centre For AAC And Autism
Unlocking communication potential: A Q&A panel on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM**********
Leanna is a Speech Pathologist with over 20 years clinical experience working in the disability sector. She has supported individuals across the lifespan in the private, school, hospital, government and non-government sector both abroad and in Australia.
Leanna’s primary role is as Regional Clinical Consultant for LAMP for the Centre for AAC and Autism within Liberator Pty Ltd. She has worked for Liberator for over 10 years providing support to people who use AAC, their families, educators and speech pathologists via consultations, assessment support and training on AAC related topics. Additionally she works part time in private practice supporting both children and adults with complex communication needs.
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
Disclaimer: © (2024) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved.
Important Notice, please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited ("the Association"). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this presentation. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this presentation including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this presentation.
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