There is a wealth of information and materials for you on our website, so you may be asking yourself, "Where in the world do I start?" No worries, we've got you! This is the first stop in your training! In this unit we will be answering some primary questions to get you started!
Our specialized training hub dedicated to supporting communication success in Early Intervention in the home and our preschool classrooms
AAC Partner Strategy Kits are engaging posters/handouts, descriptions and short videos explaining and modeling techniques for you to use to help your student be willing, and able to communicate using their AAC system!
5 steps to move from training to talking, give you a clear path for you and your student learner. Learning to communicate is a shared journey between the learner and their partners, and that makes sense! Communication is a shared activity between two people. It is the means for us to make connections, meet our needs, engage socially, participate in shared experiences, and bridge the gap between our experiences and sharing these their partners.
The funding process for acquiring a speech generating device (SGD) at DTA Schools is a comprehensive and collaborative endeavor aimed at providing students with the necessary tools for effective communication. When the IEP team and the student's family express interest in pursuing private funding for an SGD, DTA Schools takes on the responsibility of creating a formal Speech Generating Device Evaluation Report (SGD Report), meticulously detailing all relevant information required by most insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare funding channels. The process requires a visit to their family physician to discuss the need for an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system, obtaining a prescription and visit notes documenting the physician's opinion of the need for the device. The family's consent is sought to allow the SGD manufacturer to apply on their behalf to the funding source, be it insurance or Medicaid, and to agree to cover any costs that are not fully covered.
The speech generating device manufacturers (ex: Tobii Dynavox, Prentke Romich, Ablenet) are fully responsible for pursuing funding with insurance or Medicaid. DTA Team has no control of the process once we present the necessary documents to the manufacturers. Some manufacturers are very quick, with delivery in less than 4 weeks, others are much slower, with devices in funding as long as 6 months. We will advise you on our history with the different manufacturers, so that you make decisions knowing what to expect. Please understand that we cannot in any way control this timeline. It is impacted by how efficient the manufacturer's funding department and the insurance or Medicaid operates.
If the funding application is successful, the SGD will be delivered and customized by the DTA Schools team, with input from the family and school team, unless otherwise requested by the family or IEP team. While securing coverage is not guaranteed, DTA Schools is dedicated to ensuring that students have access to the communication tools they need to thrive.
We are so happy to work with you on your student's AAC evaluation. This session is an introduction to our process, how we systematically ensure that we are using a collaborative team approach to choosing an AAC solution when needed.
Let's talk about the referral process for AAC advanced consultation and assessment from DTA Schools. In this video, we'll walk you through the essential steps involved in getting the necessary information to support students' communication needs.
This assessment process is a comprehensive approach that incorporates team input, records reviews, direct assessments, and AAC skills assessment to identify appropriate communication solutions for individuals with speech, language, and communication needs. Let's take a look!
The "Findings Review" process involves the DTA Team developing a Preliminary AAC Assessment Report to guide the IEP team discussion in determining suitable AAC solutions, a subsequent meeting with the IEP Team and family to discuss and decide on the desired AAC solutions, and communication of the outcome to the DTA Schools for further action.
The funding process for acquiring a speech generating device (SGD) at DTA Schools is a comprehensive and collaborative endeavor aimed at providing students with the necessary tools for effective communication.