Augmentative Altnernative Communication (AAC) Support
Empowering Communication Beyond our Clinic
At GTC Therapy, we specialize in supporting individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Our services go beyond traditional therapy—we offer comprehensive evaluations, direct treatment, and collaborative consultation to ensure communication thrives in everyday life, not just during sessions. Real progress happens when teams work together, and we’re here to help build that bridge.
What we offer…
Augmentative Alternative Communication Evaluations
We conduct comprehensive, individualized assessments to identify the best communication systems and tools for each person. This includes trials with various AAC systems, collaboration with caregivers, and detailed recommendations tailored to real-life use.
Direct Therapy
We provide ongoing therapy to help AAC users build and refine their communication skills. Therapy is functional, affirming, and individualized to support meaningful interaction across all parts of life.
Consultation & Indirect Service
True success with AAC happens when communication is supported everywhere. We work with families, schools, and support teams to ensure that AAC tools are understood, implemented, and used consistently—at home, in the community, and beyond.
Why indirect service matters…
“Just as a dance couldn’t possibly be a dance unless people moved to it, so language doesn’t become communication until people grow to understand and express it back. It has to be a two-way exchange. This is why ‘communicating’ is an action word” (Staehely, 2000, p.1)*.
Research shows that people who use AAC have more success if they in an environment that embraces and encourages AAC use (Beukelman & Light, 2020) with communication partners that have AAC knowledge, skills, and competence (Gohsman & Johnson, 2023; Beukelman & Light, 2020).
And this makes a lot of sense - communication doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is a two-way exchange. How parents, friends, teachers, and other caregivers feel about communicating with AAC matters. In some ways the best thing we can do to support AAC users is working on our own skills and behavior as communication partners.
Consulting and indirect services are the best ways to accomplish this goal. At GTC we prioritize caregiver involvement, collaboration, and supporting an entire AAC user’s team.
We don’t just teach communication. We build communication ecosystems.
Beukelman, D., & Light, J. (2020). Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting Children and Adults with Complex Communication Needs, 5th Edition. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etextbooks/588
Gohsman, M. K., & Johnson, R. K. (2023). Reported barriers to augmentative and alternative communication service delivery and learning preferences among speech-language pathologists. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32(4), 1595–1609. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00036
Staehely, J. (2000). Speaking up spelling out: Personal essays augmentative alternative communication (M. Fried Oken & H. . Bersani, Eds.; pp. 1–12). Paul H. Brookes.
Funding
There are several options for funding AAC services. GTC Therapy utilizes a combination of insurance based funding and private pay, depending on the services provided. We have an in house billing department that can help answer questions about your particular insurance and funding options.
GTC Therapy is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Cigna, Aetna, Mass General Brigham, Tufts, Fallon, WellSense, and MassHealth. For private pay rates please schedule an intake or call our office at 978-254-1002.
AAC Evaluations
Evaluations are often covered by insurance. We encourage you to call your insurance company to verify your coverage.
Billing Codes Used for AAC Evaluations:
92607 (Prescription of Device, 60 minutes)
92608 (Prescription of Device, 15 additional minutes)
Parent Coaching, Team Training, & Consultation
Some insurance providers will cover parent coaching, team training, and consultation, however many will not. We encourage families to call their insurance providers to ask if the codes below are covered.
Billing Codes Used for Parent Coaching & Training
97550 (First 30 minutes)
97551 (Each additional 15 minutes)
Speech Therapy
If you’re therapist recommends this as part of your transitional plan of care it will likely be covered by insurance. We encourage you to call your insurance company to verify your coverage.
Billing codes used for Speech Therapy & AAC Programming
92507 (Speech Therapy)
92608 (AAC Programming)