" I want her to be happy. I want her to love and to be loved. I want her to be safe and secure. I want her to be accepted for who she is. I want her to dream big and know the thrill and the satisfaction of accomplishments that come from hard work. I want her to have the courage to try and sometimes fail. At the end of the day, I want her to know that she left the world a little bit better than when she started out. (A parent talking about her goals for her child, a preschooler who uses AAC)." (Light J, Mcnaughton D. 2015)
Working with our youngest learners is both exciting and challenging. As children are just beginning their journey in the academic classroom, it’s essential that we provide the right supports to help them express their needs, build relationships, and grow their language skills. Early access to communication is critical—not only for learning, but for developing confidence, independence, and connection.
This page is your one-stop resource for integrating communication supports into preschool and early elementary classrooms. Designed especially for students using AAC, our tools help teachers, paraprofessionals, and families embed language into daily routines, shared reading, and social play. Explore free downloadable materials, video tutorials, and classroom-tested strategies to help every student find their voice—wherever they are in their communication journey.
Before we can support communication growth, we need to understand how a student is currently communicating. Children communicate in many ways—through behavior, facial expressions, gestures, vocalizations, and emerging use of symbols or AAC. This section provides tools to guide teams in observing, understanding, and documenting a student’s current communication abilities and needs.
The Communication Matrix is a free, or inexpensive online survey based assessment tool. It provides a thorough formal, research-based assessment designed to:
Created by Dr. Charity Rowland, the Matrix is especially helpful for students with complex communication needs and can be used to track progress over time.
The Matrix can be completed simply by observing the child, interviewing family and other familiar partners.
🔗 Access the free online tool at www.communicationmatrix.org
This simple observation tool helps teams begin to answer key questions:
Download Below!
Developed by Joy Zabala, the SETT Framework helps teams make informed decisions about assistive technology, including AAC, by considering:
We’ve created a simplified SETT worksheet and a list of guiding questions tailored for early childhood teams to use during IEP meetings, AAC discussions, and team planning. These help ensure we look at the whole child and their learning environment when considering AAC supports. Take a look at our Case Study, Ethan. You'll find his Communication Matrix and SETT Framework.
Together, these tools help teams build a strong foundation for selecting AAC strategies and systems that match a student’s current abilities and future goals. Whether you're getting started with a new student or refining your understanding, these assessments provide clarity and direction.
Developing literacy begins long before a child learns to read. For students with complex communication needs, early exposure to books, print, and language-rich interactions is critical. Emergent literacy instruction helps children understand that communication can be shared through symbols, that print has meaning, and that they can engage with stories even if they are not yet speaking.
In this section, you'll find practical tools and materials designed to support early communication and literacy development using AAC.
Our AAC Picture Book Kits are designed for students at the earliest stages of communication—those who are just learning to attend to books, recognize symbols, and participate in shared reading.
Each kit includes:
Explore predictable text, rhyming awareness, color concepts, and symbolic communication, all in one engaging package.
Watch a week-long instructional series that demonstrates how to implement emergent literacy practices in real classrooms using our AAC Book Kits. Each video focuses on a core area of AAC-supported literacy:
Each session includes real examples, partner modeling strategies, and tips for adapting activities to meet the needs of a diverse classroom.
Designed for students who are beginning to build symbolic communication and early literacy skills, our Language & Literacy Book Companions align with common early education texts and help target:
These companions are ideal for small group instruction, inclusive reading groups, or literacy centers where students with AAC can meaningfully participate alongside peers.
With the right tools and support, every student can become a reader, writer, and communicator. These materials help bridge the gap for AAC users, turning books into meaningful conversations and literacy into joyful participation.
In preschool classrooms, routines are the backbone of the day—providing structure, predictability, and opportunities for learning. Embedding communication supports and clear expectations into these routines transforms everyday activities into powerful platforms for language development and social interaction. For young learners who use AAC or are developing communication skills, routines like arrival, snack time, transitions, and play are ideal moments to model language, offer choices, and create meaningful interactions. When communication becomes an intentional part of every routine, we reduce barriers, increase participation, and help all children find their voice throughout the day.
We’ve designed downloadable materials that align AAC instruction with typical preschool and early elementary routines. Each set includes:
Examples of Available Routines: Download Buttons Below!
Download these below or find them in our Classroom Toolbox and Library under Routine Classroom Activity Boards
