Discover tips, adapted from Erickson’s research, for how school SLPs can support AAC reading fluency among students who communicate nonverbally.

<h2>AAC Reading Fluency for Students Who Communicate Nonverbally</h2>
 Reading fluency has been defined as “1) the rate of 
one’s reading, 2) the accuracy at which words are pronounced, 
and 3) the prosody (meaning expression) in one’s voice that brings a 
text to life” (<a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED607625.pdf" target="_blank">Paige, USDOE</a>). 

That’s a fitting description of reading 
 fluency…IF we’re referring to students who communicate verbally. 


But what about reading fluency among students who communicate nonverbally?

What does reading fluency mean for individuals who use augmentative and alternative 
 communication (AAC)? Why is reading fluency a critical component 
 for all students’ success? What actions can school SLPs take to 
 support and strengthen AAC reading 
 fluency among the students they serve who are nonverbal? And what resources 
 are available for school SLPs to help students with AAC reading fluency?

Keep reading! We’ve got answers and resources to help.

<h2>Reading Fluency Supports Success in School and Beyond</h2>
 
 How does reading fluency support students’ success? 
 According to Karen Erickson, Ph.D., Director of the University of North 
 Carolina’s Center for 
 Literacy and Disability Studies, Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and 
 former special education teacher, “The ability to read, specifically to read 
 silently with comprehension, has a positive impact on school success, 
 employability, independence, and autonomy, as well as providing a means for 
 lifelong learning, entertainment, and introspection” 
 (<a href="https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.FTR1.08122003.6" target="_blank">
 ASHA Wire</a>). 



Fortunately, these benefits of reading fluency are also available to 
 many individuals who, though nonverbal, can communicate using AAC. 


<h2>Reading Fluency Challenges Among Students Who are Nonverbal</h2>
 However, developing reading fluency can be particularly difficult for individuals 
 who use AAC. Erickson reports, “Although many [adults who use AAC] successfully learn 
 to read words in isolation and understand text when someone reads it to them, estimates 
 are that no more than 10% 
 can read with comprehension above a second-grade level” 
 (<a href="https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.FTR1.08122003.6" target="_blank">ASHA Wire</a>). 

 This statistic points to the critical importance an unique opportunity for school 
 SLPs to intervene early and help make changes that will last a lifetime 
 for their students!

<h2>Defining AAC Reading Fluency</h2>
AAC reading fluency is a bit harder to define than verbal reading fluency, 
 but it can be considered as it relates to silent reading comprehension 
 (SRC). According to <a href="https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.FTR1.08122003.6" target="_blank">Erickson</a>, 
 silent reading comprehension requires the “integration 
 of skills, understandings, and processes across word identification 
 (which involves decoding and automatic word recognition), whole-text 
 print processing (which requires the integration of a number of processes 
 during silent reading of connected text), and written language comprehension 
 (which includes knowledge 
 of written language text structures and knowledge of the world).” 

Here are tips, adapted from Erickson’s research, for how school SLPs can support AAC reading fluency among the students they serve:
<ol style="margin-left: 20px;">
 <li> Work on both automatic word identification and decoding skills. This will help save readers from having to skip words or guess at their meaning.</li>
 <li> 	Help AAC users discover their inner voice. Teach them to use the inner voice when reading. </li>
 <li> 	Practice using the inner voice to project prosody internally (similarly to the way one would verbally, with oral reading, paying attention to syntax and grammatical markers).</li>
 <li> 	Note that isolated training and mechanical control of eye movements during reading is not indicated, as it has been shown to make reading more difficult and does not lead to better comprehension.</li>
 <li> 	Use easy and meaningful text the AAC user can connect with.</li>
 <li> Build and activate background knowledge. For example, set a purpose for the reading, 
 use vocabulary words, and load the terms into the AAC system or device.
</li>
 <li> Involve both student and therapist in providing feedback after the session or lesson about what 
could help improve comprehension and fluency. 
</li>
</ol>

<h2>AAC Reading Fluency Resources</h2>
While AAC reading fluency will depend on students’ differences and the type of AAC 
 they use, from low-tech to 
 high-tech systems, here are some resources to inspire ideas for tailored activities. 


<ul>

 <li><a href="https://praacticalaac.org/praactical/5-quick-and-easy-games-that-build-aac-skills/" target="_blank">
 PrAACticalaac.org – 5 Quick and Easy Games That Build AAC Skills –</a> “Have a few 
 minutes and want to get in some core word prAACtice without making it seem like work? 
 Giving the AAC learner a chance to boss us around and direct us do things just because 
 they tell us to is something that has worked for us more times that we can count.”</li>

 <li><a href="https://www.forbesaac.com/post/literacy-intervention-strategies-for-individuals-who-aac" target="_blank">
 Forbes AAC – Literacy Intervention Strategies for Individuals Who Use AAC </a>– 
 “Literacy skills are not innate and require specific instruction for an individual to 
 learn to read and write. There are several literacy intervention strategies that can 
 benefit individuals who use AAC.”</li>

 <li><a href="https://www.aaccessible.org/post/our-5-fav-aac-friendly-reading-resources" target="_blank">
 AACessible.org – Our 5 Fav AAC-Friendly Reading Resources</a> 
 – “…AAC-friendly reading 
 and story creation resources to support family time, school time, and therapy time.” 
 Includes Story Jumper, a platform for creating digital books, AACessible literacy 
 videos on YouTube, and Symbol Infusion Tips, tech resource and digital platform for 
 making activity boards, keywords and more to make modeling language easier.
 </li>
 </ul>

 
<h2>School SLP Resources</h2>

While you’re here, check out our extensive resources 
for school SLPs provided by our team of educational professionals. Start with: 


<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/slp-data-collection?" target="_blank">
 Speech Therapy Data Collection Methods</a> – As speech-language pathologists, we are continually 
 looking for the most efficient and effective speech therapy data collection methods. 
 With hundreds, if not thousands, of data collection methods available, it can be 
 overwhelming to find the best method to effectively record and measure progress on 
 goals. Here are some of our favorites – from tried-and-true traditional methods to 
 innovative digital options for speech therapy data collection.
 </li>
 <li>	
 <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/stress-free-scheduling-for-slps?" target="_blank">Stress-Free Scheduling for SLPs</a> – 
 Scheduling speech services for your students can be overwhelming and stressful when 
 you’re a busy school SLP. Not to worry! With some special considerations, useful 
 tools, and strategic solutions, you’ll be well on your way to a smoother 
 scheduling experience this school year.
 </li>
 <li>
 <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/the-essential-slp-school-kit?" target="_blank">The Essential SLP Toolkit</a> –
 Whether you’re a newly minted SLP or a seasoned pro, you’ll want to pack some 
 essentials in your school bag, so you’re all set for success. If you’re embarking 
 on your SLP career or switching from a clinical to a school environment, 
 in addition to being excited, you may feel nervous about what to expect. 
 Preparation can go a long way toward easing your concerns. Plus, it’s exciting to 
 gather up your tools of the trade as you dream about how you’ll help improve kids’ 
 lives in your new role! Bookmark this list of must haves for your school SLP tool kit!
 </li>
</ul>

Help students who need your specialized speech therapy skills most! Check out our 
 exciting opportunities nationwide with 
 <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/education" target="_blank">Cross Country Education</a>.

How to Support AAC Reading Fluency Among Students Who Are Nonverbal