The Grove Education Centre is committed to ensuring all students with complex communication needs (CCN) will have and use an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system that is autonomous and practical for their individualised needs within school, home and community environments.

Communication is the foundation of all learning and we are committed to providing communication opportunities and supports for students to experience success. It is an integral part of all our teaching & learning programs as it enables our students to understand others and express themselves.

We work collaboratively with our allied health teams to provide a communication-rich environment across the whole school day.

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication?

AAC is a set of tools and strategies that an individual uses to solve everyday communicative challenges. Communication can take many forms such as speech, a shared glance, text, gestures, facial expressions, touch, sign language, symbols, pictures, speech-generating devices, etc. Everyone uses multiple forms of communication, based upon the context and our communication partner. Effective communication occurs when the intent and meaning of one individual is understood by another person. The form is less important than the successful understanding of the message.

Definition courtesy of https://www.isaac-online.org/english/what-is-aac/

What is Proloquo2go?

Proloquo2go is a symbol-supported communication app to promote language development and grow communication skills, from beginning to advanced communicators.
Proloquo2go is the only AAC app that combines unique features, such as, research-based vocabulary levels, activity templates to support motor planning and Expressive Power to express yourself. All that with minimal customization effort!
http://www.assistiveware.com/product/proloquo2go

What is Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD)?

PODD is a symbol and text based communication book or speech generating device to provide immersion and modelling for learning. Language is organised pragmatically, which promotes the use of a range of autonomous messages across a variety of topics and environments.
PODD is available in a range of page sets and access set ups depending on the needs of the individual user.
https://cpec.org.au/store/podd/

What does it look like at The Grove Education Centre?

Communication is the foundation of all learning and we are committed to providing communication opportunities and supports for students to experience success. It is an integral part of all our teaching & learning programs as it enables our students to understand others and express themselves.
We work collaboratively with our allied health teams to provide a communication-rich environment across the whole school day.

Click here for a document with more information.