This week, Lauren is joined by Nicole, a speech-language pathologist at a private practice. Her undergraduate degree is in Human Development with an emphasis on health services from California State University San Marcos. After completing her bachelor‘s degree, she obtained her Master’s in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University. Upon completing her Master’s program, Nicole’s goal was to work with children because of her passion for giving children and their families the tools and knowledge they need to enable their children to develop the language and speech skills to thrive in their everyday lives.

(2:28) Nicole shares her experience working with her local device representatives, and how they have supported AAC access as well as (6:41) completing evaluations within her practice. (12:23) Nicole then describes the support device reps can provide for therapy teams, and what supports the practice she works for have used. Being relatively new to the field, (14:50) she also describes the additional resources she has sought to become an effective AAC implementer. Lauren and Nicole wrap with (21:16) sharing obstacles and successes she’s experienced, as well as (23:21) tips for fellow newer clinicians who are overwhelmed getting started. (25:31) Lauren gives us her Take AACtion step so that we can better take advantage of the resources we have available to us!

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