This instructional training program teaches AAC professionals, personal attendants, and caregivers how to better communicate with consumers who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) within the context of their daily service routines. It presents common issues and practical suggestions and is based on extensive input from experienced AAC users and personal attendants. The video illustrates the impact of effective and ineffective communication by reenacting real-life situations AAC consumers face everyday--such as making phone calls or getting dressed. The facilitator guide, which accompanies the video, provides group instructors with questions to lead participants toward improved communications with AAC consumers, activities to put them in an AAC consumer's position, and photocopiable handouts to reinforce the strategies discussed. With this program, professionals will learn simple and practical techniques to ensure effective communication, for example,

• asking questions in ways that the consumer can answer
• offering options within service routines
• helping consumers define how they want their services rendered
• focusing on what is said rather than how it is said
• recognizing that no two AAC consumers communication is alike

Improve the quality of service by increasing the sensitivity that professionals have of the obstacles faced by AAC consumers--the challenge of trying to communicate clearly and having control over their own lives.