For children, adolescents, and adults with autism, AAC can have a tremendous positive impact on communication, social skills, and behavior. Now there's a comprehensive, up-to-date research volume that shows professionals what today's most effective AAC methods are--and why they're a perfect fit with a variety of learning approaches that work for people with autism.

Pat Mirenda--a leading authority on AAC and autism--and Teresa Iacono partner with more than 30 other experts to give readers the most current, in-depth information on a wide range of AAC methods and technologies. Through clear and compelling examinations of the latest research studies, professionals supporting people with autism will discover how these evidence-based AAC interventions can be used to

• promote children's natural speech and language development
• expand literacy skills
• modify challenging behavior
• build young children's social interaction skills
• encourage students' full membership and participation in inclusive classrooms
• give children socially appropriate ways to express needs and preferences
• replace unconventional communicative acts with more conventional ones
• help adolescents and adults develop strong social networks within their community

Readers will also get clarification of the common characteristics of effective AAC interventions and insight into the future research required to make AAC technologies more meaningful and motivating.

Essential for educators, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and other direct service providers, this new addition to the renowned Augmentative and Alternative Communication series will give readers a complete understanding of today's diverse AAC options--knowledge they'll use to help people with autism develop the communication and social skills they need to succeed.

Help people with autism benefit from

• speech generating devices
• visual schedules and other types of visual supports
• peer-mediated interventions
• manual signing and gestures
• graphic symbols
• written supports
• and more

Practically Speaking is part of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Series.