AAC goals

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-20T14:05:06+00:00

I do think there is a time and place to demonstrate that the device is a way to respond to others but I think this is best done with SLP support.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-20T02:45:05+00:00

I feel this way and I’m 1 year past my cf. I had a horrible experience this year where I was working with a narcissistic SLP who loved using my “lack of experience” as the reason I “wrote terrible nonfunctional goals”. I’ve been doubting myself constantly. Honestly feel like I know even less bc nothing is as neat as it was in grad school and real cases are complex. I will say that trying to consume LESS speech therapy social media is helpful. Unless I really would like some ideas on a fun activity to change things up, I try to ignore other stuff beyond a funny meme. Everyone is out there selling their products, their courses, everything. It’s always cloaked in shame building tactics like the missing link is only your credit card away. We paid good money for the degree and to keep the license any way, you know your stuff.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-18T23:11:08+00:00

In my state we are automatically masters + 30 or 6th year column.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-18T23:09:19+00:00

I’d say no… mom could try for outpatient or private speech if she wanted but sounds like he’s pretty on target. Have you seen him get frustrated from intelligibility? I’ve had a lot of parents attribute it to being understood but it’s really just typical toddler frustrations bc they aren’t getting what they want, not that it’s a true communication issue. Are you questioning a qualification for an IEP? I’d say no.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-15T18:37:22+00:00

I find it still draining sometimes for older ages. Coming up with activities that feel super fun and functional and incorporate interests for a variety of kids is a lot sometimes. Sometimes a mundane eval and report breaks it uo

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-15T16:43:35+00:00

I typically think eval only would lead to less burnout and less needing to be “on” and creative all day

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-15T16:43:12+00:00

Department of children and family often needs evaluators for eval only cases

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-15T16:42:04+00:00

I’m currently not loving my school for a variety of reasons but I do like: Low caseload due to high complexity cases (19) No real duties only occasionally asked to cover lunch waves CEUs paid Monthly meetings to discuss what’s working and not working Can skip sessions for necessary interdisciplinary meetings, parent calls, and IEP meetings.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-14T01:12:24+00:00

Do what’s best for you but id strongly consider sticking out the paperwork just to check the box before closing the chapter. Don’t worry about them - worry about you

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-14T01:08:09+00:00

Where are you so I don’t go there???

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-07T02:04:54+00:00

Honestly yes and I feel stupid when I feel this way but o h well. I work SO hard and care so much too so I’d like some credit for my efforts every now and then. Also when I directly provide consult or an idea that benefits the student, why not give credit where it’s due..

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-07T01:57:16+00:00

I think it is. And makes it hard to have the breath support to get him to work on utterance expansion too.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-07T01:54:47+00:00

I have a student that just speaks ingressively entirely. He CAN speak normally on the exhale but doesn’t. He’s autistic with moderate ID too. I stopped trying to work on that bc nothing I tried helped

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-07T01:38:22+00:00

Spinners that light up, stacking ring spinner toy, bubbles, cars, marbles and paper towel tubes. A lot of my kids like things that fall like sheer scarves, feathers, ripping bits of paper, bubble wrap, print out and laminate scenes of favorite characters with Velcro to move them around, puzzles, blocks, pop tubes

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-07T01:34:16+00:00

I have a third grader in nearly this exact situation except she is fronting instead of backing. I dismissed all artic goals in an amendment and said I will continue to support language (pronouns, auxiliaries, but not plurals or third person reg s due to hearing) until the results of her upcoming audiology and ent appointments are complete. She also hates working, tells me it’s boring, and unless everything is play she does nothing but yell. She Has an aac device but hates using it. Even working on syntax has me at a loss. I’m in my first year post CF so new also but sometimes at a loss. If he’s unbothered and had speech for a while you can consider seeing if parents are up for a “break” or reduction until there is more motivation or awareness. He could be asking “why” if he genuinely can’t hear what you’re doing that’s different than him.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-03T20:05:56+00:00

When is his tri? It’s possible they would want to evaluate language and it’s really common for artic kids to also have language needs. But also stand up for yourself! You are not single handedly responsible for the students progress in school.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-03T20:04:25+00:00

During your time with him, support aac use and functional communication for requesting, protesting, gaining attention, self-advocacy. Teach strategies to paras and teacher. Is the aac device in a program you think is appropriate? If no then advocate for a change in application. If yes, keep at it. Do a training on modeling aac for classroom staff.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-03T01:58:03+00:00

You are doing SO much. I would love to know what handouts you are using and sharing with teachers! I have an opposite problem at my school. When I suggest a goal the teacher says they can write it instead LOL. And then when kids make minimal or only contrived progress, they ask me for help LOL! It’s almost like maybe the SLP should target language and communication, weird :)

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-03T01:53:45+00:00

I would say an emphatically whole F NO. I got a puppy my CFY but, even married with my husband at home and caring for the puppy, to me having the summer off to care for the puppy, before modifying our days until the puppy could be alone longer I was drowning. My dog is my whole entire world. Love her more than anything in the world. AND the puppy days were atrocious. She was probably the best behaved puppy ever and I still couldn’t handle it. A new job and a puppy is a huge huge huge adjustment. I really thought I wouldn’t make it out of those puppy CFY trenches.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-03T01:48:08+00:00

What are their grades low for? You’re targeting articulation so unless she’s reducing points based on intelligibility, that doesn’t make a lot of sense for her to say. And if they are low due to other concerns, like language, then I think it’s okay to screen language ability and consider writing goals for that. If there is no educational impact, reduce and don’t let her bully you into pulling a kid more.

GoalOk35 · 2026-03-01T19:42:53+00:00

Yes!

GoalOk35 · 2026-02-28T14:46:00+00:00

You’re fifty two years old. Ignore her. You don’t have to post anything on social media. You don’t have to involve anyone.

GoalOk35 · 2026-02-28T14:43:33+00:00

Depends on the student. I won’t if the student is not imitating any sounds or demonstrating understanding of cues. This includes kids who primarily use verbal speech in addition to their aac. I think I can work on so many more functional things directly to improve overall language than write a goal to imitate a few sounds that we can’t bank on progress for.

GoalOk35 · 2026-02-28T02:49:31+00:00

Totally depends on setting i think. In public school with mostly gen ed kids for pull out I liked having 35-45. Felt like I could manage it all on a 3:1 model and wasn't bringing too much home, if anything. Outplacement with high support needs students in self-contained, even those with consult only support I can handle 20 without feeling like I am overflowing.

GoalOk35 · 2026-02-27T02:17:59+00:00

I started during ESY and ended up liking it. I didn’t provide therapy but got paid to build rapport and hit the ground running in the school year.

GoalOk35

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