Steers AAC Language & Speech, Inc

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Steers AAC Language & Speech, Inc

Pediatric AAC Specialists

08/28/2026

When a person’s communication system is viewed by both the AAC user and society around them as an extension of their body, everything changes.
Communication isn’t an activity reserved for speech therapy or tabletop tasks—it is a continuous, fundamental human right. When AAC travels everywhere the communicator goes (bathrooms, playgrounds, dinner tables, and car rides), we remove barriers to spontaneous connection.
Don’t leave someone’s voice on the shelf. Keep it accessible and within arm’s reach—always. 🗣️✨

08/17/2026

What if every teacher in every classroom where an AAC user is learning, picks up the student’s system or uses a mirrored system, and says something to the class?
Something bigger than AAC modeling.

It tells that student:

Your language belongs here.

And it tells every other student in the room:

This is another way people communicate.

When an AAC system is only used with the child who relies on it, it can unintentionally feel like something that belongs to that child alone.

But when a teacher picks it up and uses it to greet the class, make an announcement, tell a joke, ask a question, or get everyone’s attention, AAC becomes part of the communication culture of the classroom.

It’s not the “special device.”

It’s not the “different” way to talk.

It’s one of the ways we communicate here.

That kind of visibility matters.

Because inclusion isn’t just giving a child access to their language.

It’s showing them, and everyone around them , that their language is valid, valued, and worthy of being heard. 💛

07/09/2026

☀️Alyssa is reminding us the importance of having BOTH electronic and non-electronic systems. Electronically for her it’s, it’s the PODD 60 Expanded Key Word but here at the beach, her device is rendered useless by the sunlight. So she has her PODD book along with some swimming and beach activity specific displays to ensure she can tell her mom that she does NOT + WANT + GO in the water right now. Sunbathing it is, Alyssa! ☀️

06/01/2026

✨Non-verbal = One who is without words

✨Non-speaking = One who cannot produce verbal speech

Why does it matter? Non-verbal signifies “without language,” which can inadvertently imply cognitive deficits. Non-speaking is a term often preferred by self-advocates as it implies someone has language and communicates through other modalities such as AAC.

05/28/2026

“Habits for communication at any time include routinely ensuring the AAC system is carried and available for use in all situations and allowing time for the person to communicate their own message to support autonomous communication. Habits such as putting the AAC system away “until needed”, asking lots of YES/NO questions, offering choices from a limited set of options or speaking for the person do not.”
-Gayle Porter, as cited in the Introduction to PODD Workshop Manual, pg. 10

05/15/2026

✨Such wise words from the late Karen Owens. She was a mother, teacher and tireless advocate for all children to have a voice. We are so grateful to the Owens family for their videos on modeling, PODD and autonomy.

05/13/2026

A question we hear a lot: “But can’t I just turn on eye gaze access on the PODD Pageset on TD Snap?” Can you? Yes. Should you? No. PODD Page sets have been specifically and painstakingly designed for the user’s access method. Linda Burkhart shared with us that she and Gayle Porter often talk for hours about a single page’s layout. For example, turning on eye gaze in the direct select PODD pageset on TD Snap leaves the user without a “speak message” button. This means that if the user looks at the message window to edit their message/check what they have selected, the message will be spoken aloud regardless of the user’s desire. Where’s the “rest” button (that button that eye gaze users absolutely need to have) on a direct select pageset? Doesn’t exist. AAC is inefficient enough- make it as easy as possible for the user by matching the pageset design to the access method being used!

05/11/2026

✨We screen for CVI at every intake assessment- Screening Tools | teachcvi.net. Experience has taught us that this important diagnosis with huge implications for AAC is often missed by medical professionals.

05/06/2026

💫1. To have a symbol talker, you have to be a symbol talker.
💫2. Language is learned through immersion.
With consistent aided language input over time (with a variety of partners, settings, topics and words), anyone can learn to be a symbol talker!

05/04/2026

🤔 Why I (very often) use PODD:
1. APODD book exists for any individual who walks or rolls through my door. That means communication can start NOW.
2. PODD was developed over decades of use and feedback from families and children at the Cerebral Palsy Education Center in Melbourne, Australia
3.PODD offers longitudinal language growth- the language organization grows with the child as their language develops.
4.PODD exists in both electronic and non-electronic modalities.
5. PODD supports discourse and interactions. It makes talking with AAC easy. The creator of PODD, Gayle Porter, is truly brilliant and has built in so many design features that result in words just appearing where you need them.

Address

28035 Dorothy Drive #110
Agoura Hills, CA
91301

Website

http://www.AliSteersSLP.com/

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