Every child deserves a way to express their thoughts, needs, feelings, choices, and personality. For some children, spoken language may not be the most reliable or accessible way to communicate. Augmentative and alternative communication, often called AAC, gives children additional tools and strategies to connect with the people around them.
At The Clubhouse, we support all forms of communication, including spoken language, AAC, sign, gestures, visuals, and multimodal communication systems. Our speech-language pathologists work with children and families to find communication solutions that are meaningful, practical, and individualized.
Whether your child is just beginning to communicate, has difficulty being understood, or needs a more robust communication system, our team can help you explore AAC in a supportive, play-based environment.
What is AAC?
Augmentative and alternative communication includes tools, systems, and strategies that help a child communicate when speech alone is not enough.
AAC may be used to add to a child’s spoken communication or to provide an alternative way to communicate. Some children use AAC temporarily while speech and language skills are developing. Others use AAC as a long-term communication system. Many children use a combination of speech, gestures, signs, pictures, and technology depending on the situation.
AAC falls into three general categories:
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all AAC system; many children use a combination of AAC devices and approaches. The best AAC approach is the one that supports your child’s current communication needs while helping them grow toward greater independence.
Is AAC Right for My Child?
AAC can help children with a wide range of communication needs. A child may benefit from AAC if they:
- Have limited verbal speech
- Have difficulty being understood by familiar or unfamiliar listeners
- Become frustrated when trying to communicate
- Use gestures, sounds, or behaviors to communicate but need a more consistent system
- Have autism or another developmental difference
- Have childhood apraxia of speech or a severe speech sound disorder
- Have motor differences that affect speech
- Have receptive or expressive language delays
- Need support communicating at home, school, therapy, or in the community
AAC is not only for children who are non-speaking. It can also help children who speak some words but need support communicating more clearly, more often, or in more settings.
Will AAC Stop My Child from Talking?
Many families worry that using AAC will prevent their child from developing speech. But AAC isn’t meant to replace a child’s voice. Instead, it gives children more ways to communicate while speech and language skills continue to grow.
When children have a reliable way to communicate, they experience less frustration and more opportunities to participate. In this way, AAC can support language development, social interaction, confidence, and independence.
At The Clubhouse, we view communication as meaningful in all forms. Spoken words, signs, gestures, pictures, devices, facial expressions, and body language can all be part of a child’s communication system.
Practical Benefits of AAC
AAC gives children a way to take an active role in everyday life. With the right system and support, AAC can help children:
- Make choices
- Request favorite toys, foods, or activities
- Say no or ask for help
- Share feelings
- Greet others
- Participate in school and therapy routines
- Build social connections
- Develop stronger language skills over time
At its best, AAC therapy helps a child use communication for real reasons with real people throughout the day.
AAC Services at The Clubhouse
Like all of our speech therapy offerings, our AAC services are highly individualized and designed to meet each child where they are. We take time to understand your child’s strengths, needs, interests, sensory preferences, motor abilities, and communication environments. We typically use AAC as part of a broader speech therapy plan.
AAC support we offer includes:
AAC Evaluations
Our speech-language pathologists assess your child’s communication skills and help identify AAC tools and strategies that may be a good fit. This may include exploring low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech options.
Individualized AAC Therapy
Therapy sessions are tailored to your child’s communication goals. We may work on requesting, commenting, answering questions, using core vocabulary, combining words, navigating a device, or communicating during play and daily routines.
Device and System Support
If your child already has an AAC system, we can help them build confidence using it. We can also support families as they learn how to model language, add useful vocabulary, and encourage communication throughout the day.
Parent and Caregiver Coaching
AAC works best when it’s used beyond the therapy room. We coach parents and caregivers on practical ways to support AAC at home and beyond.
Collaboration with Other Providers
Families are an essential part of progress. Your therapist will share practical ways to support your child outside the clinic, such as practicing a small set of functional words during meals, play, dressing, bath time, or school routines.
How AAC Therapy Works at The Clubhouse
Every child’s AAC journey looks different, but our process typically includes:
1. Getting to Know Your Child
We begin by learning about your child’s communication strengths, challenges, interests, routines, and current ways of expressing themselves.
2. Exploring AAC Options
Our therapists consider different tools and strategies, such as visuals, signs, communication boards, switches, apps, or speech-generating devices. We look for options that are accessible, motivating, and useful for your child’s daily life.
3. Creating a Personalized Plan
Your child’s AAC plan is built around their goals. This may include increasing spontaneous communication, expanding vocabulary, improving social interaction, or helping your child communicate more independently.
4. Practicing Through Play and Daily Routines
At The Clubhouse, therapy is engaging, child-centered, and play-based. We use games, books, toys, movement, routines, and real-life interactions to help children practice AAC in meaningful ways.
5. Coaching the Family
We show families how to model AAC, respond to communication attempts, create communication opportunities, and support carryover outside the clinic.
6. Monitoring Progress and Adjusting the Plan
AAC needs can change as children grow. Our therapists monitor progress and adjust strategies, vocabulary, tools, and goals as your child’s communication develops.
Our AAC Philosophy
At The Clubhouse, AAC therapy is rooted in respect, connection, and individualized care. We believe children learn best when they feel safe, understood, and motivated.
Our approach is:
Child-Centered
We build therapy around your child’s interests, strengths, and personality. Communication should feel useful and meaningful, never forced.
Play-Based
Children learn through play. We use engaging activities to create natural opportunities for communication, problem-solving, and social connection.
Family Focused
Parents and caregivers are essential partners in AAC success. We provide practical strategies that families can use throughout everyday routines.
Strengths-Based
Parents and caregivers are essential partners in AAC success. We provide practical strategies that families can use throughout everyday routines.
Collaborative
Many children who use AAC also receive other therapies [add internal links] or school-based support. We value collaboration so your child can use communication consistently across environments.
Types of AAC Tools We Use
Depending on your child’s needs, AAC therapy may include:
- Picture cards
- Communication boards
- Core word boards
- Visual schedules
- Choice boards
- Sign language or gestures
- Speech-generating devices
- Tablet-based communication apps
- Switch-access communication tools
- Eye-gaze or alternative access systems
- Multimodal communication strategies
AAC Therapy Benefits
AAC can support children and families in many ways, including:
- More Functional Communication: AAC gives children a way to express wants, needs, ideas, and feelings more clearly.
- Less Frustration: When children have a reliable way to communicate, daily routines can feel easier for both the child and family.
- Greater Independence: AAC can help children make choices, ask for help, participate in routines, and advocate for themselves.
- Stronger Language Development: AAC gives children more opportunities to hear, see, and use language throughout the day.
- Improved Social Connection: Communication is about relationships. AAC can help children interact with parents, siblings, peers, teachers, and therapists.
- Better Participation at Home, School, and in the Community: With the right support, children can use AAC across many settings, not just during therapy sessions.
AAC Therapy for Children in Chicago and the Surrounding Suburbs
The Clubhouse provides pediatric speech therapy and AAC support for children from toddlers to teens. With locations in Downers Grove and North Mayfair, we’re positioned to serve families across Chicagoland.
Our team offers speech therapy services in a welcoming clinic environment and supports children with a wide range of communication needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your child may benefit from an AAC evaluation if they have difficulty communicating their wants, needs, thoughts, or feelings with speech alone. AAC may also be helpful if your child becomes frustrated when trying to communicate, uses limited words, or is difficult to understand.
Certainly not! AAC can support children who are non-speaking, minimally speaking, or speaking but difficult to understand. Some children use AAC all the time, while others use it in specific situations.
Definitely! AAC and speech therapy can happen together. AAC gives your child a way to communicate while continuing to build speech, language, and social communication skills.
The best AAC system depends on your child’s communication skills, motor abilities, sensory needs, interests, environments, and family priorities. Our speech-language pathologists can help you evaluate options and recommend a plan that fits your child.
Your therapist will give you practical strategies for home practice. This may include modeling words on your child’s AAC system, offering choices, using AAC during daily routines, and responding positively to all communication attempts.
Explore AAC Therapy at The Clubhouse
If you think your child may benefit from AAC, The Clubhouse is here to help. Our speech-language pathologists can answer your questions, complete an evaluation, and create a therapy plan that supports your child’s communication at home, school, and in the community.
We would love to partner with your family and help your child find their voice in the way that works best for them.
