Feeling overwhelmed trying to support a child with complex communication needs?
If you're a parent, teacher, or therapist looking for clear, practical guidance on AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), you're not alone — and help is within reach.
At The AAC Academy, you'll find expert-led courses and resources designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to support AAC users effectively. Whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your understanding, their structured online programs are created by experienced professionals who are passionate about inclusive, person-centered communication.
Whether you support a child at home, in school, or in a therapy setting, The AAC Academy offers both practical tools and a supportive learning community to help you make meaningful progress.
The AAC Academy is led by certified clinicians who understand the real-world challenges and rewards of AAC. Their mission is simple:
– to empower every communicator to be heard –
What Is The AAC Academy and What Do They Offer?
The AAC Academy is part of the nonprofit AAC-cessible Foundation, and their mission is simple: to make communication possible for everyone.
They offer affordable and easy-to-access learning opportunities for anyone who wants to better understand and support people who use AAC – Augmentative and Alternative Communication. This includes tools and strategies used by children and adults who have trouble speaking or writing.
Whether you’re a speech therapist, teacher, parent, or caregiver, you can join live webinars or take on-demand courses that teach practical, research-based ways to support communication. You’ll also become part of a welcoming community—what they call the AAC Village—where people can ask questions, share ideas, and learn together
Why My Schooldog cares about AAC
Learning to use AAC takes time, repetition, and motivation—just like how children developing spoken language need years of practice before their speech fully matures. For some children, especially those who struggle with traditional learning environments, staying motivated to practice AAC can be a real challenge.
That’s where creative tools—and even a school dog—can make a difference. At My Schooldog, we believe that for children who feel safe and happy around dogs, a calm and friendly canine companion can open doors to learning. Through playful language games and dog-themed activities, we aim to create a positive, low-pressure environment where children are more willing to engage with what's hard or boring.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Interacting with a dog can also help children develop essential communication skills—such as making contact, sending messages, and learning to recognize and respond to signals from others. Dogs naturally communicate using a combination of visual, tactile, and auditory cues. By learning to “listen” and “speak” in ways that a dog understands, children practice many of the same core principles found in AAC: turn-taking, intentional signaling, reading body language, and building shared understanding.
We truly believe in the power of motivation, connection—and the magic that happens when a child and a dog learn side by side.
