Episode #102: Strategies for SLP and BCBA Collaboration with AAC (Janna Bedoyan & Morgan van Diepen)

Any chance to talk about collaboration, I am all about it! Janna Bedoyan and Morgan van Diepen are experienced members of the autism field. Janna is an NBCT teacher who specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Morgan is a BCBA and autism specialist. As I talk to these two today, their passion is just incredible.

Together, Janna and Morgan have just published a new book, AAC Visualized – a visual guide for AAC full of detailed pictures, examples, ideas, and strategies. The mission behind AAC Visualized is to normalize the use of AAC, advocate for acceptance and access to AAC, and empower families through AAC education. In the creation of this book, they collaborated with SLPs, Teachers, Autistic Individuals, and AAC users to get an all-encompassing view on AAC. 

Janna and Morgan make it clear that it is NOT SLP versus ABA but instead there is a clear need for collaboration between the two. AAC is typically taught and used with SLPs but it’s important for ABA providers to put it to use during therapy as well for these users. They share some of their tips and strategies from their book!

3 Essential Tips for ABA Providers Teaching AAC

1. 1. Follow the SLPs Lead
   2. Moving Beyond Requests
   3. Use AAC to Teach AAC

Be sure to check out their book AAC Visualized and the “sister” book ABA Visualized. You can find Morgan and Janna on Instagram to check out all of the cool things they are doing in their field!

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Janna Bedoyan

Janna is an Autism Early Childhood Education Teacher with over 10 years of experience in the classroom. She is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication Specialist. She is deeply passionate about AAC, as she has spent much of her life helping children and their families find ways to communicate together. Janna loves nothing more than seeing the light in a child’s eyes when they are able to communicate for the first time! AAC is her love language!

Morgan van Diepen

Morgan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Autism Specialist with over 15 years of working experience in the field of ABA. Through her international experience working with families and schools, Morgan’s passion for disseminating behavior strategies in an engaging and approachable way expanded. She has presented at several national conferences and continues to act as an advocate for accessible behavioral expertise for families and teachers.

What’s Inside:

• 3 essential tips for ABA providers teaching AAC.
• Introducing a visual guide to normalize, advocate, and empower AAC.
• How modeling AAC can familiarize staff and users with AAC devices.
• Unique strategies for AAC and ABA.
• How to collaboratively support and empower students.
• It’s not SLP vs ABA.

Mentioned In This Episode

—Shop AAC Visualized
—AAC Specialist on Instagram
—ABA Visualized on Instagram
—ABA Speech

Rate, Review & Subscribe

If you found this podcast helpful, please consider rating and reviewing my show!  This helps me to support more people — just like you!
If you have not done so already, subscribe to the podcast. This ensures that you do not miss an episode!

Listen on
Apple Podcasts


Listen on
Stitcher


Subscribe
via Email