Trick-or-Treating using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

 Tuesday Tidbit from Emily

October is AAC awareness month and we at Proactive Pediatric Therapy want to highlight the importance of AAC and its use during the upcoming Halloween festivities! AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication and is used to describe any type of communication other than verbal speech. Communication types such as, sign language, gestures, eye gaze, speech-generative devices, communication boards, etc. are examples of this. Approximately 4 million people in the USA rely on some type of AAC to communicate in their everyday lives (Beukelman and Mirenda, 2013).  

Parents of children who use AAC may consider it challenging taking their child trick-or-treating due to their use of AAC. Although it can be challenging, we would love to encourage parents to take the plunge and participate in this holiday activity using AAC! Below are some tips and tricks to help your child’s trick-or-treating experience go smoothly.  

Add Vocabulary to Your Child’s Device  

Add common phrases and words used during Halloween and trick-or-treating to your child’s device, whether it is high or low tech. Some examples of these are, “Trick or Treat,” “thank you,” “I’m a ____ (child’s costume),” “yes,” “no,” “I like_____ (type of candy, or specific kind),” “goodbye.” Make sure to show your child where these phrases/words are added so they are able to navigate to them when needed.  

Use Picture Cards  

Another option is to print out picture cards that say “trick or treat” on them for your child to give out as they trick or treat. These cards can even include a short description as to why your child is using this type of communication or how you would like them to respond to your child. Examples of these can be found online at pinterest.com when you search “trick or treating nonverbal cards.”  

Create a Social Story  

Another way to prepare your child for trick or treating is by reading them a social story. A social story would explain what trick or treating is and what the child should expect when doing it. This can be especially helpful for children who have sensory processing difficulties and/or difficulties with participating in new activities/routines.  

Practice! 

Lastly, it is important to practice trick-or-treating with your child. Go through each step with them and show them how they are expected to participate in this activity. You could even do a practice run with family and close friends.  

I hope these tips and tricks are useful to your family for this upcoming holiday. Have a fun and spooky day!