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Live Webinar · October 21, 2026
Recorded Webinar · October 21, 2026

Approaches to Augmentative and Alternative Communication with Students who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Presented by Erin Crafton, MS, CCC-SLP

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Date
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Time
1 PM ET
12 PM CT · 11 AM MT · 10 AM PT
Length
60 minutes, including Q&A
CEUs
Details to come

About This Webinar

As audiologists, you serve as the primary experts on auditory access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students. However, when a student's communication or academic progress plateaus despite intervention, recognizing the next step is crucial. Approaches to Augmentative and Alternative Communication with Students who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing explores how Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can serve as a vital tool to mitigate language deprivation, bridge developmental gaps, and support literacy, especially for DHH students who have additional needs.

In this presentation, you will learn how to model communication without expectation, advocate for students' language access, and recognize the variety of options to consider for AAC, and help to ensure that every student has an accessible, reliable path to communication. Real-world case studies will demonstrate AAC's versatility across complex clinical profiles.

Case Studies

Comorbid Diagnoses

Supporting DHH students with autism through combined American Sign Language (ASL) and high-tech AAC modeling.

Auditory Deprivation

Utilizing AAC as an immediate stopgap for language access while establishing primary visual language programming.

Literacy & Learning Disabilities

Using AAC creatively to bypass traditional reading and writing bottlenecks for students with severe learning disabilities.

Learning Objectives

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

  1. 1Identify AAC Modalities: Name at least two types of low-tech and high-tech AAC systems commonly utilized in educational settings.
  2. 2Recognize Referral Triggers: Describe clinical scenarios and developmental plateaus where AAC evaluation is warranted for a DHH student.
  3. 3Adapt Practice for DHH: Implement at least two practical strategies to modify and support AAC usage for students with varying degrees of auditory access.

Agenda

  • Introduction5 min
  • AAC Basics10 min
  • Implementation15 min
  • Case Studies15 min
  • Q&A15 min

About the Presenter

Erin Crafton

Erin Crafton, MS, CCC-SLP

Erin received her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Gallaudet University in 2010. Since then, she has worked almost exclusively with students who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. She has worked in a variety of communication philosophies: oral/aural at the River School in Washington, DC, simultaneous Signing Exact English and spoken English at Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children in Shoreline, WA, and American Sign Language (bilingual-bicultural approach) in Edmonds School District in Washington.

She currently works full time in Edmonds, a regional ASL program in the Puget Sound area.

Registration

Member
$27.50
Non-Member
$35.00
Student Member
Free

Zoom link: The Zoom link will be emailed after registration is confirmed.

Captioning: Zoom captions are available for all attendees.

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Recording

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Continuing Education

EAA Learning Hub

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Suggested roles of educational audiologists, teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, and speech-language pathologists.

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Practice Topic

Collaboration & Team Roles

Who does what across the team supporting D/HH students: EdAuDs, clinical audiologists, ToDHHs, SLPs, school staff.

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