when team members observe others successfully overcoming similar challenges. Witnessing success builds confidence and reinforces the belief that success is attainable. To incorporate vicarious experiences, teams might videotape sessions to share techniques, host team meetings to discuss successes or model effective strategies. Teams can also initiate vicarious experiences by observing others in their district, special education cooperative, or agency working through a similar barrier to AAC implementation. If success hasn’t yet been achieved, vicarious experiences can still be initiated by sharing small wins or progress made by others working with students who have similar needs.
Image 2: Simple format for collaboratively developing look- fors (Derbiszewska and Tucker-Smith, 2020)
Building on this approach, Image 3 illustrates the collaboration between an SLP and a student’s mother in developing a shared goal for the child’s favorite activity at home: playing in the toy kitchen. This table, adapted from the Comprehensive Autism Planning System (CAPS), was used to support AAC implementation at home. Following a session, the mother enthusiastically reported the successful interactions she and her daughter experienced. The SLP and the mother reviewed the modeling data collected within the communication system. Through clear communication and well-defined expectations, the mother experienced success and, together with her daughter, discovered the potential of AAC. Effective teamwork and problem-solving skills are developed through support and guidance, rather than simply being assigned to a team. Intentional and purposeful structures that cultivate mastery experiences to support students who are using AAC are critical to helping the team build their own mastery experiences. VICARIOUS EXPERIENCES Vicarious experiences, considered by Donohoo (2017), as the second most powerful source of collective efficacy occur
Image 4: Graphic of a quote from Faddis, et al along with picture of a student using AAC device to read a book.
Image 3: Communication Support Matrix adapted from the Comprehensive Autism Planning System (CAPS) used to support AAC implementation
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