PediPod: AAC Growth Collective

This tier is designed for therapists who are:

• New to AAC or unsure where to begin
• Supporting clients with AAC systems and want more confidence in assessment, feature matching, selection, and implementation
• Seeking a stronger evidence-based foundation before moving into advanced AAC decision making
• Suspecting AAC may be appropriate for clients but want clearer reasoning and next steps
• Wanting to feel more confident advocating for AAC with families, teams, and other providers
• Interested in growing their ability to support or mentor others in AAC practice

This cohort provides participants with:

• 16 hours (1.6 CEUs) focused on practical, evidence-based AAC assessment and intervention for complex pediatric cases with multidisciplinary support
• Access to mentorship and guided discussions to support clinical reasoning and confidence
• A community of like-minded therapists building AAC competence together through weekly live webinars and an active, private message board. Participants will maintain access to the private message board for an additional 12 weeks following the end of the cohort.
• Increased confidence and professional clarity to advocate for AAC and elevate communication access within your setting
• Skills that support stepping into mentorship, lead therapist, or specialty roles
• Practical tools, templates, and frameworks you can use long after the cohort ends
• Applicable resources for successful implementation will also be provided to each participant

By the end of Tier One, participants will be able to:

• Clearly define AAC and describe the full range of aided and unaided communication options
• Identify potential AAC communicators and articulate indicators that AAC should be explored
• Differentiate AAC considerations for autistic communicators versus medically complex communicators
• Dispel common AAC myths using current research and evidence-based reasoning
• Demonstrate introductory feature matching skills when exploring AAC systems and software
• Utilize introductory AAC assessment tools and goal-writing strategies
• Implement foundational AAC intervention strategies, including modeling, expanding beyond requesting, and appropriate use of prompts and cues
• Describe the core components of an effective AAC-supported therapy session
• Approach AAC with increased confidence, curiosity, and clinical intention

Each week participants will join a 1-hour live session with cohort members from 4:00pm-5:00pm CST. Each session will be taught by Ashlyn Hudson, MOT, MEd or Randi Brown, MS, CCC-SLP and will include a variety of application activities. Outside of the live session, participants will have self-study activities to complete that will take approximately 1 additional hour. Participants will have ongoing access to a discussion board to ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate with colleagues.

• • • Week 1 – June 24, 2026: Introduction to AAC
      • This week builds a strong AAC foundation by defining key concepts, exploring system types and access, challenging myths, and applying neuro-affirming principles
    • Week 2 – July 1, 2026: AAC Assessment and Goal Writing
      • From tools to targets, this week sharpens AAC assessment skills and turns real evaluation data into meaningful, functional goals.
    • Week 3 – July 8, 2026: Access Methods for AAC
      • This week unlocks the “how” of AAC by exploring access methods, matching movement needs to systems and applying clinical reasoning to real-world cases.
    • Week 4 – July 15, 2026: Feature Matching for AAC
      • This week builds feature-matching fluency by breaking down system components and aligning AAC software options to a communicator’s unique strengths and needs.
    • Week 5 – July 22, 2026: Trials & Funding
      • This week demystifies trials and funding by turning data, documentation, and team buy in into a clear path toward device access.
    • Week 6 – July 29, 2026: AAC Interventions Part 1
      • Let’s strengthen the foundation for learning by identifying sensory, executive function, and motor supports that help AAC users become regulated, engaged, and ready to communicate.
    • Week 7 – August 5, 2026: AAC Interventions Part 2
      • How do we actually teach language and communication with AAC? This week brings AAC teaching to life through modeling, child-led interaction, strategic prompting, and partner coaching for real-world communication growth.
    • Week 8 – August 12, 2026: Anatomy of a Therapy Session
      • Let’s tie it all together and put our learned skills into application by designing flexible, routine-based AAC therapy sessions that promote generalization across settings.