A webinar titled “AAC During the Early Years: Assessment and Management”

Oct 9, 2026

Nitte Institute of Speech and Hearing organized a webinar titled “AAC During the Early Years: Assessment and Management” on 9 October 2026 at Avishkar Hall, ABSMIDS, in observance of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month. The session was delivered by Dr. Juhi Kidwai, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. The webinar aimed to create awareness about the importance of AAC in supporting communication development among young children with complex communication needs. The session focused on early identification, appropriate assessment, individualized management strategies, and the application of AAC approaches in early intervention. A total of 100 participants, including 90 students from the BASLP and MSc Speech-Language Pathology programmes and 10 faculty members, attended the programme. The session provided valuable insights into selecting appropriate communication supports based on each child's abilities, needs, and developmental level. Overall, the webinar enhanced participants' knowledge of AAC assessment and management, emphasized the importance of early intervention and functional communication, and reinforced the significance of inclusive, individualized, and evidence-based practices in speech-language pathology.