by Anne Page | Sep 12, 2025 | AAC, Therapy Materials and Ideas, TPT Products
Why This Resource Matters
Teaching AAC core vocabulary can sometimes feel overwhelming—how do you keep lessons engaging, target essential words, and still manage your time effectively? The AAC Core Vocabulary Activities Bundle Boom Cards for Speech Therapy, Autism was designed to make this process easier. With interactive, digital activities created specifically for speech therapy and special education, this bundle helps students practice and generalize core vocabulary in meaningful, fun ways.
No more shutting down when the student sees another worksheet or the same activity you did last week. Students love the hands-on, interactive nature of these activities.
Challenges Teachers Face
If you’ve worked with students who use or are learning AAC, you’ve probably experienced some of these frustrations:
- Student engagement is hard to maintain. Traditional paper activities or repeated drills don’t always capture attention.
- Preparation takes too much time. Printing, laminating, and organizing materials can eat into planning periods.
- Functional practice feels limited. Without the right resources, it’s tough to target core words in natural and motivating ways.
- Repetition gets stale. Students need multiple exposures, but doing the same activity over and over can cause frustration instead of progress.
This is where the bundle steps in to provide a solution.
How This Bundle Helps
Here’s what makes the AAC Core Vocabulary Activities Bundle stand out:
- Covers essential words. Multiple Boom Card sets focus on key AAC core words, giving you a variety of teaching opportunities.
- Built-in engagement. Drag, click, and move features keep students actively involved while reinforcing vocabulary.
- Ready in seconds. Just open the Boom Cards on a tablet, computer, or Smart Board—no cutting or laminating required.
- Flexible for every setting. Perfect for individual therapy, small groups, push-in services, or home practice.
- Variety with repetition. Students get repeated exposure to essential words without losing interest.
- Inclusive and adaptable. Ideal for students with autism, non-speaking learners, or anyone benefiting from AAC.
What Teachers Are Saying
Educators who have used this bundle are seeing results:
“My students LOVE these activities! They’re simple, engaging, and perfect for reinforcing core words.”
“I finally found something that keeps my group focused while giving me multiple chances to model vocabulary.”
“The no-prep factor is a lifesaver. I just log in and we’re ready to learn.”
Where to Find It
If you’re ready to make AAC core vocabulary practice easier, more engaging, and more effective, you can get the AAC Core Vocabulary Activities Bundle Boom Cards for Speech Therapy, Autism here:
👉 Click here to grab the bundle on TPT
by Anne Page | Sep 1, 2025 | AAC, Freebies, Inspiration, Therapy Materials and Ideas
Fall is in the air—the crisp mornings, pumpkin spice lattes, and cozy sweaters signal a brand-new season. For many students, this time of year is full of excitement: from pumpkins and costumes to colorful leaves and Thanksgiving traditions. Why not bring that same seasonal energy into your fall themed speech therapy sessions?
Holiday and seasonal themes are a powerful way to make therapy meaningful and fun. Pair those themes with interactive tools like Boom Cards, and you’ve got an engaging recipe for learning AAC core vocabulary all season long.
Why Fall Themed Speech Therapy Works So Well 🎃
Fall is naturally engaging for kids because it connects to what they’re already experiencing outside of therapy. Themed activities can:
- Build excitement: Pumpkins, costumes, apples, turkeys—these are fun, familiar, and easy conversation starters.
- Encourage connection: Students can share their personal experiences (“I went to the pumpkin patch!” or “I ate pie!”).
- Make repetition feel new: Using the same therapy structure with different seasonal visuals keeps things interesting.
When you use fall themed speech therapy activities, your sessions feel timely, exciting, and fresh.
Bringing Boom Cards Into Fall Themed Speech Therapy 💻
Boom Cards are a fantastic way to blend technology, interactivity, and seasonal fun. The click-and-drag features, bright visuals, and built-in reinforcement keep kids motivated while you target language goals.
Here are a few ways to use fall-themed Boom Cards:
- Target Core Vocabulary: Practice words like put, in, on, go, look while putting candy in a pumpkin or placing leaves on the ground. 🍬
- Practice WH Questions: Seasonal decks make questions more fun—“Where is the turkey?” “What do you wear for Halloween?” 🎁
- Support AAC Users: Model and encourage students to press their core words in real contexts, reinforced by the activity. 📱
- Encourage Generalization: After the digital play, follow up with real-life props (decorate a paper pumpkin, sort leaves, or set up a mini Thanksgiving table). 🌲
Fall themed speech therapy activities like these keep students engaged while giving you plenty of opportunities for modeling and repetition.
Tips for Making Fall Speech Therapy Extra Memorable ✨
- Pair your Boom Cards with real props (mini pumpkins, leaves, fall hats). 🎩
- Send Boom Card codes home so families can keep the fun going. 🏠
- Let students vote for their favorite activity at the end of the session for extra buy-in. ✅
If you’re looking for no-prep, festive materials to make your fall themed speech therapy sessions shine, here are some favorites:
Wrapping It Up ❤️
Fall is the perfect time to refresh your therapy sessions with new themes and interactive resources. By weaving in pumpkins, turkeys, leaves, and all the cozy fall fun, you’re not only hitting core vocabulary goals—you’re making therapy an experience your students will remember and enjoy.
✨ Here’s to a season of learning, laughter, and plenty of autumn cheer. ✨
P.S. Don’t forget to download the FREE Fall WH Questions Sampler—it’s the easiest way to bring a little fall magic into your next session! 🍎
by Anne Page | Mar 8, 2025 | AAC
AAC, or augmentative and alternative communication, refers to various methods and tools used to aid individuals who have difficulty communicating through speech. This guide, “Unlocking Communication: A Guide to AAC Funding and Resources,” provides valuable information to help navigate the often complex process of obtaining funding for AAC devices and services.
Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional working with individuals who need AAC support, this article will equip you with the preliminary knowledge and resources to unlock the potential of communication for those in need.
General Information
https://aacfunding.com/funding-101/how-to-obtain-funding
https://aacfunding.com/funding-101/insurance-tips
https://aacfunding.com/resources/alt-funding-sources
This includes links to different states
Medicaid, Medicare
Medicaid may cover (see your state’s guidelines) AAC devices/services for eligible children as long as they are medically necessary
Private Insurance
Get help from Ablenet Quicktalker, Forbes AAC
Schools (Assistive Technology Department, SLP, SLP lead for the district):
If the IEP team determines that a student needs AAC to access their curriculum the Local Education Agency (School District) must provide AAC.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Check for your state
Tri Care (uniformed service members)
Veterans Affairs
Lilly’s Voice
Assists children ages 2-18 that have been rejected by other programs and whose families cannot afford an AAC device without help.
The Arc
(The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes)
For Pennsylvania
https://www.varietypittsburgh.org/my-voice/eligibility/
For Texas
STAP Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program-Texas Health and Human Services
Advocates that work with insurance :
https://www.lincare.com/en/services/speech-generating-devices/funding-your-device
https://www.talktometechnologies.com/pages/funding
What to do while you’re waiting for a device:
Use low tech AAC Core Boards
Low tech AAC core boards are used for communication. We point to these words while we’re talking. We say things like “want more?” “you like it” . We’re giving each child a visual that he can see and eventually point to.
By focusing on these words we are teaching a functional vocabulary. Your child can use these words all day, everyday, everywhere: from classroom to playground to cafeteria to home. Plus, the words will always be in the same place (so he doesn’t have to search for them).
Get your free guide here.
Use a Free AAC App
Weave Chat AAC is a free, robust, category-based AAC app that can be used on phones and tablets. it can be downloaded and used for free on IOS, Android, & Kindle products. I have personally tried this and find it to be a robust, versatile app. Learn more here.
The journey toward securing funding for AAC devices and services can be challenging, but it is essential to empowering more complete communication for non-speaking and partially speaking students.
With perseverance, knowledge, and the resources outlined in this guide, you can navigate the process and provide your loved one or client with the tools they need to communicate effectively. Remember, every voice deserves to be heard, and AAC can make that possible.
If you know of additional resources please comment here or email hello@beautifulspeechlife.com
by Anne Page | Jan 18, 2025 | AAC
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a valuable communication method that can transform the school experience for our students with communication challenges. By providing an additional means of expression and understanding, AAC empowers our students to participate more fully in classroom activities, fostering their learning and overall development.
In this article, let’s explore the significance of AAC in the classroom and discuss its numerous benefits for students with communication difficulties. We’ll dive into how AAC can enhance communication, support language development, promote independence, encourage participation, facilitate social interactions, and assist in tracking progress and assessment.
- Enhancing Communication: AAC bridges the communication gap by providing tools and strategies for effective expression, assisting in meaningful interactions and understanding. Implementing AAC effectively can unlock new opportunities for students with communication challenges, empowering them to engage in their learning actively. No more sitting quietly at their desk playing a game, so they’ll be quiet. Now they can be an active participant.
- Supporting Language Development: AAC supports language development by offering visual and auditory supports, promoting vocabulary expansion, sentence structure comprehension, literacy skills, and overall language acquisition. Practicing functional communication through AAC in the context of academic tasks can expand a student’s communicative repertoire and increase overall language proficiency.
- Promoting Independence: AAC fosters self-advocacy and autonomy by enabling students to express needs, make choices, and actively participate, increasing confidence and self-esteem. They are also able to take an active role in their learning.
- Encouraging Participation: Students using AAC can actively participate in classroom activities and lessons aligned with grade-level curriculum standards, promoting inclusive education and equitable learning opportunities. Allowing students to contribute, engage, and share facilitates a sense of belonging and inclusion.
- Facilitating Social Interactions: AAC supports social relationships and friendships by enabling effective communication, breaking down barriers, and creating opportunities for building meaningful relationships. Students can participate in group discussions, share interests and express their opinions.
- Tracking Progress and Assessment: AAC provides a framework for monitoring progress and conducting assessments, enabling data-driven decision-making and individualized education planning. It’s so helpful for teachers to chart progress.
The Transformative Power of AAC in Inclusive Education
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is not merely a tool but a gateway to communication, connection, and learning for students with complex communication needs. AAC encompasses numerous strategies and technologies, from low-tech picture boards and symbol systems to high-tech speech-generating devices and eye-gaze technology. By augmenting or providing alternative means of expression, AAC empowers students to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs effectively, assisting language development and cognitive growth.
Beyond Communication: AAC’s Multifaceted Benefits
The benefits of AAC extend far beyond communication. By enabling students to participate actively in classroom activities, AAC promotes independence and self-advocacy. It facilitates social interactions, allowing students to build relationships with peers and engage in meaningful conversations. Furthermore, AAC supports academic learning by providing access to the curriculum and enabling students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. By tracking student responses and progress over time, AAC can also assist in assessment and individualized education planning.
Fostering Inclusive Education: AAC’s Pivotal Role
AAC plays a pivotal role in creating inclusive learning environments where all students can learn and thrive regardless of their communication abilities. By removing communication barriers, AAC ensures equitable access to education and fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance. It empowers students to actively participate in their educational journey, contributing their unique perspectives and enriching the learning experience for all.
Empowering Students, Enriching Lives
AAC is not just about enabling communication; it’s about empowering students to reach their full potential. By providing a voice to those who have not been heard, AAC unlocks a world of possibilities. It aids personal growth, academic achievement, and social connection. AAC is not merely a tool; it is a catalyst for change, transforming lives and shaping futures.
Want to know more using AAC in your classroom?
Ready to dive in to learning more about AAC? These blog posts will get you started:
Using AAC Core Boards
Which AAC device should you choose
When, Why & How to Use Guided Access for AAC
Writing Smart AAC Goals: 5 tips
Explaining Speech Language Evaluations in Parent Friendly Terms
You will see from the blog post on using core boards that not all AAC has to be high tech. It’s one of the reasons I love core boards so much. Even if you have students who don’t yet have a device you can get started by printing out a core board and begin modelling with your students. They are such a simple way to start the conversation.
To start or build on using core boards, I’ve put together a document sharing where you can download free core boards to begin using them with your students. Click here to download your copy.
by Anne Page | Oct 29, 2023 | SLP Like a Boss
Maintaining your ASHA certification (CCC-SLP) is one of the ways we demonstrate as speech language pathologists, our commitment to supporting our students. If you have an ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) then you’ll know that to maintain this ASHA Certification you’ll need to accumulate 30 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) during each 3-year certification maintenance interval. You can read the requirements here on ASHA website. You might also see people talking about CEUs
1 PDH = one hour = 0.1 ASHA CEUs
10 PDH = ten hours = 1.0 ASHA CEU
There are also new requirements that at least one hour must be in the area of ethics and at least 2 hours must be in cultural competency, cultural humility, culturally responsive practice, or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The ASHA website has all the details.
But what can you do to meet these requirements?
AAC CEU courses
These are activities that have been preapproved by ASHA and you can sign up for the ASHA CE registry to track your hours. Once you’ve reached the 30 hours then your compliance form will be automatically submitted. If you are selected for a maintenance audit then you aren’t required to show evidence or report your activities.
CEUs and the registry are very convenient but what’s kind of confusing is how they’re calculated.
Here are some places where you can find free ASHA CEUs and paid PDH (previously called CMHs)
- ASHA’s website offers a variety of free CEUs, including webinars, podcasts, and articles.
- Many universities and colleges offer free CEUs to their alumni.
- There are also a number of professional organizations that offer free CEUs to their members.
- Finally, you can sometimes find free CEUs by attending conferences or workshops.
Please note that not all free CEUs are created equal. Some may be more valuable than others, so it’s important to do your research before you sign up for any.
Professional Development Hours (PDH)
Professional Development Hour (previously called a certification maintenance hour or CMH). The benefit of PDHs is that they don’t have to be ASHA-approved. (Check here) Just stick with this list and you don’t need to check with ASHA. You will need to keep track of these hours on your own and be able to provide verification of participation if audited.
The list is broad and includes business and management courses and teacher-oriented content as well as activities more directly linked to speech, language and hearing.
My favourite AAC training for SLPs
One of my favourites is the AAC Institute’s Introduction to AAC which is available here. This course is aimed at people who are new to using AAC and includes looking at what AAC is, identifying AAC stakeholders and classifying AAC interventions.
Saltillo is another great place to find courses. They not only provide training on using their products like Touchchat and Lamp Words for Life but also short courses on implementing these products. Some of their courses are registered for CEUs but not all. You can find out more about their training here. If you go to their implementation classes many are available for free free CEUs.
If you are looking for more hands-on-support and a community to learn with then I would love to see you in my AAC Jump Start Intensive Course. It’s the only course that will:
- Provide you with AAC coaching and support
- Give you the immediate tech knowledge you need
- Provide immediately actionable ideas and strategies
- Give you a crystal clear AAC roadmap to build your confidence.
Get all the details here and join the waitlist. On completion we can give you a certificate of completion for your records.
Maintaining your certification can feel onerous but it doesn’t have to be. There are so many great resources out there to help you develop your skills and become an even stronger partner for your students and their family.
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Hey there I’m Anne Page. I help heart centered SLPs and educators put the fun in functional communication. 