Generalization is KEY

Generalization is the key to learning any new skill. We haven’t truly learned a new skill until we can perform that skill in a variety of situations. Generalization can be a tricky piece of the puzzle for those who use AAC. We can easily get stuck in a rut when it comes to treatment ideas and the goals we are targeting in sessions. If you feel like you or your client are losing interest, it’s time to change things up! Not only are the ideas below great for generalization, but when we take AAC out of the clinic and into the real world we show the AAC user, and those they interact with, that AAC is a valuable form of communication.

If you are in a hospital or clinic setting:

1. Take the AAC user to the cafeteria or coffee shop and have them order something.
2. Take the AAC user to the front desk and have them ask questions of the front desk staff, tell a joke, or do an interview.
3. Take the AAC user to the waiting room and have them introduce themselves to others in the waiting room and have a short conversation.
4. Get a group of AAC users together and have them play a game or participate in a conversation together.

If you are in a school setting

1. Have the AAC user go to the library to check out a book and talk with the librarian.
2. Have the AAC user be the class helper and deliver items around the school. Have them use their device to interact, ask and answer questions.
3. Go to recess with the AAC user and help them navigate social interactions on the playground with their device.
4. Have your AAC user create a poll and poll several students in their classroom or in other classrooms.
5. Have your AAC user tell jokes to people in the hallway.

If you are in a home setting

1. Take the AAC user to the park and help them engage with others at the park to take turn, ask and answer questions.
2. Go to the grocery store with the AAC user and have them interact with the cashier or ask a clerk for an item.
3. Have the AAC user interact with their siblings during a session. Help them to have a short conversation, take turns in game play, and ask and answer questions.
4. Go to story time at the library with your AAC user. Help them participate in the story time by asking and answering questions.
5. Go on any fun field trip (the zoo, the park, the children’s museum) and help your AAC user interact with others.

In most cases, you will need to spend some time talking about the new activity with your client. You may want to practice using the device and targeting specific vocabulary before you head out to the real situation. Practice and role play are great ways to set your client up for success. The list above is just to get you started, to get out of the therapy rut, and to inject some fun and function into your sessions. If you are getting bored in therapy, chances are your client is too. Change it up not only to keep things fresh but to help with generalization of skills. There are no rules, be creative. The sky is the limit!