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

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

Date: 10/14/2025 Time: 11:00-12:00 Location: internet Type: Webinar

Description

Price: $55 Make a Payment

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. She also contracts with the Bellevue School District and serves as an adjunct professor in Western Washington University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program. With over 17 years of experience in public schools, Sara specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and supporting the communication needs of students aged 3 to 21. She collaborates with educators to provide coaching and to ensure comprehensive care for students with high support needs, focusing on fostering inclusivity, promoting accessibility, and creating meaningful educational experiences.

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