Language Learning and AAC
Language Learning and AAC
May 20, 2025
Presented by: Gayle Porter and Linda Burkhart
Moderated by: Kathy Look Howery
About the presenters:
Gayle Porter is a Speech Pathologist with over 40 years hands-on experience working with people with complex communication needs in a range of community and specialist environments. This work has provided Gayle with the opportunity to interact with individuals using AAC from infancy to adulthood, clarifying the longer term aims of AAC interventions to enable people to autonomously communicate, to understand others and to be understood in all the activities of their daily life.
Gayle is one of the founders of the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Melbourne, Australia. She also has a private practice working with children, teenagers and adults with complex communication needs in their schools and community. Gayle is internationally known for her work developing the Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Displays (PODD) communication books and page sets for electronic speech generating devices.
In 1996 Gayle received the Speech Pathology Australia, Elinor Wray Award in recognition of outstanding clinical contribution to the profession of speech pathology, and in 2007 she was the first recipient of the Australian Group on Severe Communication Impairment (AGOSCI) award for services to Australian AAC. In 2023 Gayle was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her services to speech pathology.
Linda Burkhart is an internationally known teacher and leader in the field of assistive technology, adaptive play, and augmentative communication for children who face severe challenges with more than 50 years experience in this field. She has developed numerous adapted materials and innovative strategies for teaching children to be active learners and to develop their abilities to participate in life. She is the author of a number of books and software titles on topics of assistive technology and augmentative communication. Linda was a classroom teacher for fifteen years. Then for eight years, she worked as an Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology Specialist for the Center for Technology in Education, a joint project between Johns Hopkins University and the Maryland State Department of Education. Currently, Linda works as a private consultant, Assistive Technology and AAC integration specialist. She presents trainings and workshops nationally and internationally.
About the moderator:
Kathy Look Howery began her career over 40 years ago focusing on finding ways for students with the extensive support needs share their voices in the world. She received her PhD in Special Education from the University of Alberta in 2017.
Kathy provides consultation to several Alberta school jurisdictions in supporting children and youth with CCN in developing communication, language and literacy skills. She has extensive experience in the areas of UDL and inclusive education. She has developed and is taught numerous graduate level courses including the Teaching Students with Complex Communication Needs Master’s Certificate at the University of Alberta.
Most recently Kathy has been working under contract with Alberta Education as part of the Provincial Wide Low Incidence team with primary responsibility in the area of complex communication needs. Kathy is also the current ISAAC Canada President.
Kathy is thrilled to be sharing information about AAC whenever and wherever she can.
Webinar Description:
This webinar will explore language learning when using AAC. Children generally learn language as they attempt to understand others and be understood during interactions in their daily life.
In this webinar the following questions will be explored:
- What does neurological research teach us about how language is learned?
- How does the process of typical spoken language learning inform interventions for aided language development?
- How do we differentiate the language learning experiences required by individuals who rely on AAC for expressive communication only and those who also rely on AAC to support receptive understanding?
- How can we create language learning environments that privilege interaction and meaning making?
- How does extending language in the classroom differ from supporting early language development through naturalistic interaction?
- How can we help to ensure students who need AAC are appropriately accommodated for their current stage of language development?
We will share current perspectives on interventions using graphic symbol communication aids and devices to support the development and autonomous use of language from first words to complex syntax.
Webinar Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- Delineate the differences of language learning experiences required by individuals who rely on AAC for expressive communication only and those who also rely on AAC to support receptive understanding.
- Explain the difference between early language learning and language-based instruction.
- Discuss the importance of interaction and meaning making in the creation of rich language learning environments for children who need AAC.
Time Ordered Outline:
5 min: Intro of speaker and topic – Kathy Howery
50 min: Webinar – Gayle & Linda
Time permitting Q & A – Kathy Gayle Linda
Disclosures
Gayle Porter
- Developer, Copyright & Trademark owner of PODD communication system resources
- Receives royalties from sales of PODD resources
- Honorariums for trainings on a range of topics
Linda Burkhart is self-employed with a small home consulting business. She is the author of several books and software activities that work with Mind Expxress (Jabbla). She sometimes demonstrates these activities at trainings, along with other software titles from a variety of vendors. Linda consults and presents trainings nationally and internationally on topics such as: Assistive Technology, multi-modal communication, AAC, and PODD (Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display). She receives honorariums for workshops, trainings and consulting from the organization sponsoring each event.
Kathy Look Howery is self-employed through her consulting business. Kathy is a recently a PODD certified Trainer, providing trainings to Canadians. Kathy has received honorariums for workshops, trainings and consulting both nationally and internationally.
