Implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in a Private Clinic: Experience Report on Team Training

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects verbal and non-verbal language, communication, and cognitive flexibility to varying degrees. Linguistic abilities in individuals with ASD are heterogeneous, ranging from the absence of speech or the production of a few words to individuals who acquire more robust verbal skills, although persistent deficits in functional communication remain. In this context, ASD often leads families to develop idiosyncratic communication mechanisms, impacting their social ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to provide functional communication methods that can be generalized not only within the immediate environment but also across family members and the clinical team. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is grounded in the idea of enabling individuals with disabilities to use language and tools that allow them to overcome communication barriers. The early introduction of AAC in child development promotes language organization, even in verbal children. This study aims to present the experience of building an AAC service in a private multidisciplinary clinic, addressing myths and fostering team autonomy. The study was conducted from August 2023 to December 2024, focusing on the development of a guidance booklet for parents and the continuous training of teams within the AAC program at a private multidisciplinary clinic in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. At the end of the project, a questionnaire was administered to gather data on the outcomes achieved. The creation of the booklet helped bridge the gap between families and the implementation process, fostering a collaborative partnership between families and the clinical team, which accelerated the modeling process and facilitated collective validation. As a result, 100% of users are actively using their communication boards. The integrated work among speech-language pathologists, the multidisciplinary team, and families enhanced the implementation of AAC, benefiting users in terms of social inclusion and communicative freedom. This approach also strengthened the field of speech-language pathology and optimized communication autonomy. The integrated approach to AAC implementation not only supports social inclusion and communicative freedom but also strengthens speech-language pathology as a field. Continuous team training and family involvement are crucial for achieving successful AAC outcomes.