The goals that you and your client decide on will be unique to each situation – consider your patient’s starting point and the things that are most meaningful to them. Here are some frameworks and techniques that can get you started:
Consider a life participation approach
This approach dictates that the goal of therapy is increased life participation, and a goal can be any activity that is meaningful to the client (Chapey et al., 2000). Examples include attending a poker night with friends or catching up with relatives at a family reunion. Work backwards to identify vocabulary the user will need to enable them to participate, and program it into the device. The goals can also be based on a person – e.g., reconnecting with a college roommate.
Keep it client-centered
Many patients report feeling left out of the goal writing process. One approach that ensures it’s a collaborative effort is the FOURC approach: Choose a Communication Goal, Create Client Solutions, Collaborate on a Plan, Complete and Continue (Haley, Cunningham, Barry, & de Riesthal, 2019).
Make sure it’s realistic
It can be helpful to identify what type of AAC communicator your client is using the AAC Categories of Communicator framework (Garrett & Lasker, 2005). If the user is making partner-dependent contextual choices, look at skills to target at the next category up rather than skipping to independent production.
Target the key areas of AAC communication competence (Light, 1989)
- Operational: Basics of device use (power, volume, selecting icons)
- Linguistic: Using the device to meet a variety of communication functions, like commenting, requesting, or sharing information
- Social: Using the device as a social tool – greeting, turn taking, changing the topic, etc.
- Strategic: Using the device to repair communication breakdowns
Free Downloadable: Interest Rating Checklist
Use this communication board–style checklist to help identify personal areas of interest, and customize their device based on what matters to them.
Still feeling stuck? Take a look at Lingraphica’s goal bank for some inspiration. For more information on all these approaches, be sure to check out Conquering AAC Part 2.
About Contributor
Lingraphica Team
AAC Experts
Lingraphica helps people with speech and language impairments improve their communication, speech, and quality of life. Try a Lingraphica AAC device for free.
