This presentation will discuss implementing a school-wide collaborative teaming model to support students’ acquisition of functional communication and how to promote generalization of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) usage across school environments. Presenters will discuss the unique and overlapping roles of members of the school team in AAC modeling and the creation of opportunities for students to utilize AAC. The session will also discuss strategies from an OT, SLP, and educator’s perspective to support AAC usage and promote generalization of usage across school environments and during meaningful school routines. Presenters will use case studies to demonstrate the successful outcomes resulting from using this model.

Bios:

Ms. Hannah Harvey, M.S., CCC-SLP/L, is a school-based speech and language pathologist. She studied at Misericordia University, receiving her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology (2016). She is a current member of ASHA and is licensed in Maryland. She has 9 years of experience as a school-based speech pathologist in a local school district. Ms. Hannah Harvey has been a district assistive technology team member for 5 years. She serves preschool through 5th-grade students and has experience servicing students ages 1 year through 21

Dr. Ashley Lankford, ScD, OTR/L, ATP, is an Assistant Professor at Towson University in the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science. Ashley has 9 years of experience as an occupational therapist in Maryland public schools. She is a member of the Maryland State Steering Committee for Occupational and Physical Therapy School-Based Programs and was awarded the Sarah Burton Visionary Leadership Award in 2016. Her current research interests include Interprofessional education in school environments, best practices in school-based occupational therapy, and assistive technology to support pediatric occupational participation.  

Melissa Messing, BS, graduated from Wilmington University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2013. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Education through LaSalle University. She teaches the Continuum Classroom in a local school district and has previously taught kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. She was a Teacher of the Year nominee in 2022 and was selected to attend the National Teacher of the Year conference in Denver, Colorado, in 2023. Mrs. Melissa Messing serves all early childhood and elementary students with a full inclusion model. She strives to build on her students' strengths while supporting their needs. She provides all her students meaningful learning and communication opportunities throughout their academic day. She is passionate about creating a classroom where all students can actively participate in learning and grow their knowledge, communication, and social-emotional skills.