Online AAC Evaluation, Therapy, &
Device Support for Kids & Adults
The goal isn’t just a device.
It’s communication & connection.
Evaluations, funding support, device training, and ongoing therapy that turn communication tools into real-life opportunities.
There Is a Path Forward
An estimated 3.5 million Americans cannot be understood by the people they love most. If you are one of those families, you may have already been told to wait and see, or handed a device with no guidance, and watched it sit unused.
You already know how isolating that feels. That ends here.
What Is AAC?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Augmentative means it adds to existing communication. Alternative means it replaces speech entirely. Both are valid, and many people use a combination depending on the situation.
For many people, AAC is a lifelong communication system. For others, it is a short-term bridge toward verbal communication or can grow and shift alongside them over time. Research supports what we see in practice: AAC does not suppress communication development. It expands it.
Types of AAC Systems
AAC is not one thing. It exists on a spectrum, from low-tech tools to sophisticated devices that generate full sentences and connect to apps.
- Light-tech: picture boards, communication books, and symbol systems that require no batteries or screens.
- Mid-tech: speech-generating buttons and simple devices that play pre-recorded messages.
- High-tech: dedicated AAC devices and apps, including Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life, TD Snap, and Avaz. These systems can grow with the user over time and are often what families are researching when they arrive at a practice like RL.
AAC is used by children and adults across a wide range of diagnoses and presentations. It is not a last resort. It is a tool. And like any tool, it takes time, training, and consistent practice to become second nature.
Who AAC Helps
AAC is not age-specific or diagnosis-specific. If someone has difficulty being understood, AAC may help.
AAC is commonly used to support communication for people with:
- Autism
- Apraxia of speech
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Developmental delays
- Rare genetic conditions
- ALS
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
This is not an exhaustive list. If you do not see a specific diagnosis here, reach out. AAC serves a wide range of communication needs, and an evaluation is the best way to determine whether it is the right fit.
A Story of What AAC Makes Possible
One of our clients came to us with very little verbal communication. Through the AAC process, something wonderful happened.
It turned out this person had a deep love of knock-knock jokes. With the right device and the right support, they could finally tell one.
That moment was not just about communication. It was about personality, humor, and being able to make the people around them laugh.
That is what AAC actually does when the support behind it is right. It does not just give someone a way to ask for what they need. It gives them a way to show people who they are.
The RL Therapy Difference
Most AAC journeys involve getting a device. Ours involves everything that makes the device worth having.
Here is what we provide:
Comprehensive evaluations
To identify the right system for this person and their life
Device trials
When needed, because the first option is not always the best fit
Funding navigation
Through insurance, regional centers, and grants
Full device setup and personalization
So it is ready to use from day one
Training for everyone
In the person's life, including family members, caregivers, and educators
Ongoing therapy
To make progress toward your family’s specific goals, and ensure the device becomes a natural part of how the AAC user communicates every single day
The most common reason AAC stops working is not the device. It is the lack of support around it. Ongoing therapy is built into our process to ensure that communication becomes second nature, not something that fades.
RL Therapy Group provides AAC services to children and adults throughout California, entirely online.
How It Works
Every AAC journey starts with a single conversation.
Schedule a free consultation and let us show you what the path forward can look like.
01
AAC Evaluation
We start by getting to know your child or loved one, their communication strengths, their needs, and their daily life. From there, we identify which AAC system is the right fit and begin the process of making it a reality.
02
Funding Navigation
AAC devices can be expensive, but most families in California do not pay out of pocket. We help identify and pursue coverage through insurance, regional centers, and grants, guiding you through the process so you don't have to figure it out alone.
03
Device Setup & Training
Once the device is in hand, we make sure everyone knows how to use it. That means the individual, family members, caregivers, and anyone else who is part of daily life. A device is only as useful as the support built around it.
04
Ongoing AAC Therapy
This is where the real work happens. We continue working with your child or loved one to build fluency, expand vocabulary, and make communication a natural part of everyday life. Not just for now, but for wherever life takes them next.
Who Pays for an AAC Device?
AAC devices are covered by many insurance plans when deemed medically necessary, and a number of state and regional programs exist specifically to help families access the devices and support they need.
Most families are surprised by how many options are available once someone helps them look. At RL Therapy Group, that someone is us.
We are in-network with Tricare West (military health insurance), Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna in California. We are approved providers with the San Diego and Redwood Coast Regional Centers, and we work with AbleNet to navigate device acquisition through insurance. We are also vendor partners with California’s Voice Options Program, a state grant that covers device demos, trials, and setup for California residents.
No matter your funding situation, we work to get your loved one the device they need.
AAC Success Stories
They've given my son a voice.
As the parent of a 3-year-old non-verbal autistic child, finding effective support has been a journey. I am incredibly grateful to RL Therapy for the profound positive impact they've had on our lives. They provided us with several Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices free of charge, which was an immense help in itself.
The most incredible outcome is the progress my son has made. He's not only actively using the device but has also started to say words more clearly and practices constantly.
RL Therapy genuinely helps, and they've given my son a voice.
A. W.
My lil one picked it up really well, and her vocabulary started to expand.
RL therapy took care of getting all the documents and made everything very smooth for us. Once we received our AAC device, we were also given training with our AAC SLP, Elizabeth. Everything she taught us was easy to understand and well explained, and it even helped me with my older son's AAC device, since with him I never even received that kind of training.
Elizabeth answered each and every question I had and worked very well with my lil one, making sure she was seen and heard at all times. My lil one picked it up really well, and her vocabulary started to expand more and more.
A. O.
My son has already begun to advance in his speech.
RL Therapy has been assisting me over the last few months with getting my son an AAC device. From my very first call to them, I have had nothing but a positive experience. They are super friendly and very knowledgeable.
I can’t thank Brenda enough for all of her help coordinating the application process, calls, trial period and final receiving of the AAC iPad. Another big thank you to Viviana who is wonderful and helped with all of our trainings to learn how to use the device.
My son has already begun to advance in his speech in the short time we have been using it. Thank you!!
A. C.
He now has a tool for communication and development again.
I am very grateful to this company for its help!
After graduating from school, my son was left without support and the communication opportunities he was used to. Thanks to this device, he now has a tool for communication and development again. This is not just technology — it’s an essential part of his life.
Everything was organized quickly, efficiently, and with great attention to our situation. This kind of care truly means a lot.
I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for support and reliable communication solutions!
T. Y.
AAC FAQs
What is AAC therapy?
Is my child too young for AAC?
Do you offer AAC support for adults?
Will using AAC stop my child from developing speech?
Is online AAC therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
How do I know if my child needs an AAC evaluation?
What AAC devices do you work with?
What happens after we get the device?
Getting the device is a real milestone, but it is not the finish line.
Think of it this way: handing someone a Spanish dictionary does not mean they now speak Spanish. AAC is a language. Learning it takes time, consistent practice, and the right support around you.
Once the device arrives, we personalize it for your child or loved one. Then we train them, along with the family members, caregivers, and educators who are part of their daily life. That support network matters because a device is only as useful as the environment it lives in.
If ongoing therapy does not occur, we commonly see device abandonment. The device is there. It works. It is capable of so much. But it stops being used. Sometimes the fit was not quite right. Sometimes training was not enough. Sometimes there was not enough ongoing support to fully bring it into daily life. We stick with you to close that gap so your child or loved one can continue to benefit from AAC.
Does insurance cover AAC devices?
Many insurance plans cover AAC devices when deemed medically necessary. We currently work with Tricare West, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna, and partner with AbleNet to navigate device acquisition through insurance.
We are also approved providers with the San Diego and Redwood Coast Regional Centers.
For California families, the Voice Options Program (VOP) is a funding option for AAC devices available statewide. RL Therapy Group is an approved VOP provider serving multiple regions across California.
Our AAC team will figure out the best funding source for you to help you loved one get the device they need.
Can my regular speech therapist provide AAC training?
AAC involves more than most people expect, and not every speech therapy practice is set up to handle it all.
Finding the right device means evaluating which system fits how someone communicates, how they physically access it, and what they need it to do. Then comes the funding side: insurance authorizations, California Voice Options Program (VOP) funding, regional center approvals, and the documentation each one requires. Once the device arrives, it needs to be personalized before training begins.
Each piece of that requires specific, focused experience. Many general speech therapy practices concentrate on communication goals and refer out for AAC. RL’s team works across the entire process, from evaluation and device acquisition through training and ongoing support.
Big Moments Start Here
A family dinner where everyone is part of the conversation. A child who walks up to a classmate and says hello. A parent who tells their child “I love you” and hears it back.
These are the moments we work toward every single day.
If you are ready to find out what AAC could make possible for your child or loved one, we are ready to talk. Schedule a free consultation, and we’ll guide you through your next steps.
Reach Out for a Free Consultation
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