(AACP) Augmentative and Alternative Communication Profile

The AACP allows you to assess communication skills and design intervention for the ever-changing needs of people who use AAC systems. It has two functions: (1) Measures subjective, functional skills for developing communicative competence using AAC systems, retests skill level, and monitors progress, and (2) Guides intervention to help clients who use any type of speech-generating AAC system.

The AACP allows you to: identify areas of strength and those that need intervention; determine functional, long-range objectives and what steps are needed to achieve them; monitor individual performance over time; identify ways that AAC support team members can define and coordinate their roles for intervention programs; and identify and provide optimal learning environments.

Items are divided hierarchically into ability-based levels called Skill Set Levels in four Areas of Learning.

• Operational Area of Learning: Assesses technical skills used to operate the AAC system
• Linguistic Area of Learning: Evaluates receptive and expressive language skills used in the home and community
• Social Area of Learning: Evaluates skills needed for social communication
• Strategic Area of Learning: Evaluates the knowledge of what can be communicated and how best to communicate it, as well as compensatory strategies for effective communication