TInIG AAC Project

Course Schedule 

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August (3rd or 4th week) <removed since the AY20-21 run due to COVID-19>

• Transitioning Event 

Awarding of certificates to participants in the previous run

Orienting the current participants and clients

• Screening in Clinic for Therapy Services

Follow-up screening of clients in the previous run

Screening of current/new clients

• Endorsing of AAC device

Awarding of iPads to current/new clients

Training of application programming

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late September to March

• Theoretical course work (~3-hours worth of recorded lectures, 

      live online lecture-discussions, or online case presentations per week;

      online sessions scheduled on Fridays, 6:30-9:30am or 7:00-10:00am PST)

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March to July 

• Clinical mentorship (evaluation, treatment, evidence-based practice

      case presentations; 3-hrs per session;

      also scheduled on Fridays, 6:30-9:30am or 7:00-10:00am PST)

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mid to late August

• Final exam

• Submission of the advocacy batch project

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Course Requirements

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To earn certification as an AAC Specialist, the participant should: 

1. attend at least 80% of the live online sessions (theoretical course work and clinical mentorship). Should the participant incur 20% or more absences, s/he will automatically be dropped from the course. 

2. garner at least 40% for each component of the course, thereby earning a final grade of 80% or better (see grading criteria below)

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Should the incurred grade be lower than 80%, the participant will be advised on the component that needs improvement. S/he will be given another opportunity to gain the expected competencies by re-taking the final exam (if s/he garnered less than 40% in the theoretical component) and/or conducting supplementary case presentation (if s/he garnered less than 40% in the mentorship component). 

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TinigAAC Client Recipient <Because of the cancellation of the August events due to COVID, SLPs enrolled in the AY20-21 run must already have at least one (1) private client with AAC needs who either already has a high-tech AAC system or will be able to afford one. In exceptional cases (e.g., highly motivated yet financially challenged families), the TinigAAC project may be able to provide an iPad with an AAC app if the SLP vouches for their excellent attendance and active participation in therapy sessions in the past. This opportunity is subject to the availability of spare equipment, a socio-economic screening process, and a 1-year participation contract>

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One of the clients of the SLP participant may receive an AAC device from the TINIG AAC project. To be considered as a TINIG AAC recipient, the client should meet the following criteria:

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1. be functionally non-verbal or highly unintelligible (i.e., intelligible <50% of the time) to unfamiliar listeners

2. may have any diagnosis; may be wheelchair-bound or ambulatory

3. come from a family who cannot typically afford to buy a high-tech communication system (e.g. iPads with communication apps) but has enough resources to sustain basic needs and sustain regular trips to therapy

4. willing to be videotaped and photographed for clinical documentation, education, research, thanking donors, and promotion of the program for future fundraising

5. has a good history of attendance and family involvement during therapy with the AAC specialist candidate OR at the UPM-CAMP Clinic for Therapy Services

6. able to understand some English in functional conversation (since apps are still in the English language)

 

The SLP participant will be responsible for coordinating with the TINIG AAC project should one of his/her clients meet the listed criteria. The number of pediatric (3 to 17 years old) and adult (18 years old and up) beneficiaries per run of the project should be equal.