AAC Guidance Framework: your views are important
Take this opportunity to provide your comments on the AAC Knowledge and Skills Framework for SLTs.
The Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) framework, developed in partnership with funding from Becta’s “Better communication: innovative projects” Becta aims to provide SLTs with guidance on developing their knowledge and skills within this specialist clinical area.
The content of the framework went out for national consultation in 2009 to ensure there was a consensus on the content of the knowledge and skills, and the corresponding competency level at which they should appear.
There are four competency levels in the framework summarised in a matrix:
Learner – aware of the range of low and high-tech solutions and how AAC can benefit an individual. Can make observations that contribute towards an assessment and begin to develop clinical skills in the implementation of AAC.
Competent with support – able to independently assess and provide appropriate intervention for a range of low and high tech AAC solutions for individuals with direct accessing needs.
Competent and experienced – able to independently assess and provide appropriate intervention for a range of low and high-tech solutions for individuals with indirect accessing needs.
Specialist – able to support the knowledge and skills development of other SLTs. Can use specialist clinical knowledge and national drivers to improve local service delivery and provide highly-specialist assessment and intervention for individuals with complex indirect accessing needs.
The final stage of the project will provide hyperlinks to additional clinical information, useful references and training providers.
The completed framework will be available on the Communication Trust website Ican embedded into the “Speech, Language and Communication Framework”.
Feedback from SLTs would be very much appreciated by 23 February 2010.
Contact
SLT, Milton Keynes Community Health Service
tel: 01908 660 033 x2464