Family-Centered, Learner-Led, & Evidence-Based
Parents & Families as Teachers
We believe that parents and family members are not only capable, but uniquely qualified to teach their child the skills needed to connect and communicate. At Summit AAC & Autism Support, we put the family at the head and strive to collaborate and coach for the mutual goal of helping complex learners thrive.
Our coaching approach builds on the strengths that every caregiver brings to the task of teaching. We prioritize the development of a trustworthy and effective coaching relationship and strive to coach families according to their learning needs and life circumstances. We believe that you can do hard things, and that we can help those hard things feel a little less hard with compassionate and practical coaching plans that lead to lifelong results.
Learners as Leaders
We see complex learners as competent. We presume potential in all people. We strongly believe that it is our responsibility to include learners as partners in their own learning, to value their interests without judgment, and to put those interests at the center of their learning experiences with us. We want every learner that we encounter to love their time learning with us, and to leave with the next step skills they need to continue pursuing their goals and dreams. Our teaching approach is rooted in being human, follows developmental expectations, and prioritizes learner needs in all areas to create a learning opportunity that is accessible, enjoyable, and impactful.
A Robust Toolbox
There is no “one best way” to do anything, including the task of teaching complex learners how to connect and how to communicate with AAC. Our coaches are trained and experienced in evidence-based teaching approaches that lead to solid progress. Our educational approach for partners and learners alike pulls from established research, practice, and training strategies that include:
DIR/Floortime
Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk
Hanen: More than Words
Parent Mediated Intervention (PMI)
Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT)
Prelinguistic Milieu Teaching (PMT)
Our coaches are well-versed in AAC tools and strategies, as well as universal design for learning (UDL) and assistive technology. Our AAC toolbox includes:
Language Acquisition Through Motor Planning (LAMP)
Universal Core Vocabulary
PODD Communication tools and strategies
Aided Language Input (Modeling & Simulation)
Multimodal communication
Try us Out!
Meet with a coach for free to see if we are a good fit.