ASHA Learning Pass

In this course, three SLPs share their perspectives on working with multilingual students and overcoming challenges and barriers to equitable and effective augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions. The course explores practical strategies, tools, and templates to help SLPs engage students and families, support multiple languages in AAC devices for students who are speaking or nonspeaking, and advocate for affirming practices that center the whole child.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Design and implement AAC interventions that are culturally and linguistically affirming
• Engage families from multilingual backgrounds in AAC assessment and intervention
• Select or customize AAC systems to support clients’ heritage languages
• Advocate for inclusive AAC access and challenge myths related to cultural and linguistic diversity in AAC

Presenter Information

Maria De Leon MS, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist and founder of VocesAAC, a private practice offering culturally affirming, family- and person-centered AAC services. With over 10 years of experience, she specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and supporting individuals with complex communication needs through collaborative, evidence-based practices. Maria is passionate about equity, inclusion, and empowering communication across diverse communities.

Disclosures:

• Founder and Clinical Director of Voces AAC
• Co-founder of bilingue AAC
• SLP for a nonprofit organization in California
• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation 
• ASHA member 
• Member of California Speech Language Hearing Association (CSHA)
• ASHA SIG 12 affiliate

Vianca Ocampo, MA, CCC-SLP, worked as a speech-language pathologist in a private clinic in the Philippines for 3 years prior to moving to the United States. She received her Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) Certificate from the University of the Philippines in 2021 and her Master’s degree and Multicultural Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University in 2024. Vianca is currently a full-time speech-language pathologist in DeKalb Community School District 428 where she works with elementary and high school students. She provides AAC lectures and trainings to parent support groups and universities in the Philippines. Vianca also serves as a consultant to start-up companies producing Tagalog AAC devices.

Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation
• Recipient of the 2023 ASHA Students Preparing for Academic-Research Careers (SPARC) Award

Alan Vu, MA, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual Vietnamese American speech-language pathologist and the founder and CEO of Flexspeak, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled multilingual AAC app designed to support nonspeaking individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Alan draws from both clinical experience and lived experience as a person who stutters diagnosed with ADHD. He previously worked in medical and school settings with his most recent experience being at a special education school with primarily nonspeaking students who use AAC. Alan is passionate about designing inclusive, culturally responsive AAC tools that reflect the lived realities of multilingual users.<./p>

Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation 
• Founder and CEO of Flexspeak, an AAC company
• Alan is a person who stutters and brings lived experience with communication disabilities to his work

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete and submit the learning assessment no later than June 23, 2030.

Program History and CE Information

Dates: June 23, 2025–June 23, 2030