Speech-Language Pathologist

A healthcare professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. In the context of accessibility, SLPs play a central role in AAC intervention — evaluating individuals for AAC needs, selecting appropriate devices and strategies, configuring AAC systems, training users and their communication partners, and monitoring progress. SLPs bring specialized knowledge in language development, communication skill building, and therapeutic techniques that is essential for effective AAC implementation. Pre-service SLPs are students actively studying to become clinically certified and may have limited exposure to specific AAC technologies like visual scene displays.