Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a term that’s used to describe various methods of communication that can be used to help people who have difficulties speaking verbally or writing effectively.

Our Augmentative Communication Services (ACS) General Level Clinic helps children, youth and their families find ways to communicate. The Ministry of Health’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP) authorizes the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent (CTC-CK) to provide appropriate ACS services to children and youth with home-based complex communication needs.

Who We Are:

The ACS team is made up of Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Communication Disorders Assistants who have additional, specialized training in Augmentative Communication Services.

What We Provide:

The Augmentative Communication Services team can help with:

• Supporting children, youth and their families who have communication difficulties
• Prescribing and customizing AAC devices to meet each individual’s needs
• Training and consultation regarding AAC devices in all environments (ex. Home, school, work) for the individual and their caregivers

For clients on the ACS caseload who turn 19 years of age, the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent will continue to follow them if they have ongoing communication needs that can best be met by our services.