Students with visual impairments, deafblindness, and complex sensory needs often communicate in ways that are misunderstood or underestimated. This session reframes communication competence through a sensory-access lens, highlighting how different vision needs shape communication profiles, modality use, and AT decision-making. Participants will explore communication profiles associated with low vision, CVI, and deafblindness and learn how to design multimodal communication systems that honor how students already communicate. Emphasis is placed on matching AT supports to access needs rather than diagnoses.
Many AAC users who attend public schools use AAC systems that are owned by the school district they attend . When they graduate from special education programs, they lose access to those AAC systems. This session will highlight how UAT and IEP teams can be help families obtain personal AAC systems for students so they do not lose access to AAC after graduating from special education.
