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Home » Planting the Seeds of AAC: Growing a Communication-Rich School Culture, Part 1

Planting the Seeds of AAC: Growing a Communication-Rich School Culture, Part 1

Date: 10/14/2025 Time: 11:00-12:00 Location: internet Type: Webinar
Price: $55 Make a Payment

Description

This five-part series will provide actionable strategies for cultivating a communication-rich school culture where AAC is embedded across environments, embraced by all staff, and celebrated through peer inclusion. Participants will explore leadership-driven initiatives, tiered professional development, classroom integration techniques, and strategies for sustaining long-term change. Join us to discover how to plant the seeds of AAC, nurture its growth, and create a flourishing, inclusive environment where all students can blossom as communicators.

Fall Series

10/14/2025: Planting the seeds and preparing the soil: Key beliefs of an AAC affirming school

12/9/2025: Cultivating the environment: School-wide implementation strategies

Winter-Spring Series

2/9/2026: Planting AAC in every classroom: Practical integration strategies

4/14/2026: Growing stronger together: Peer involvement and sustaining AAC culture change

5/14/2026: Tending the Garden: Coaching Support for Implementation

Learning Objectives

  1. Develop a shared understanding of key beliefs that define an AAC-affirming school culture.
  2. Apply school-wide strategies to embed AAC into daily routines and instruction across environments.
  3. Identify methods to engage peers, empower staff, and sustain inclusive communication practices over time.

Presenters

Sara Ayars, MS, CCC-SLP

Sara is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology Specialist with the Special Education Technology Center, and an adjunct professor at Western Washington University. With over 18 years of experience in public education, she specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and supporting the communication needs of students ages 3 to 21 across diverse educational settings. Sara partners closely with educators, offering coaching and guidance to ensure comprehensive support for students with high support needs. She is deeply committed to fostering inclusion, promoting accessibility, and creating meaningful learning experiences for all students. 

Contact

Email Sue Wright at the SETC office

Clock hours for this webinar and others in this series are available from ESD105 for a small fee. The following Professional Development Enroller link provides more information about clock hours: pending