Working Together for Success:  Understanding Multidisciplinary Teams in Schools  

When a student uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), it takes a team to support their success. In schools, this team is called a multidisciplinary team. That means a group of professionals and caregivers who bring different skills and perspectives to help meet the student’s needs. 

Who is on the Team?  

Every school and district is structured a little differently, so the makeup of the team might vary. No matter how it’s organized, each member plays an important role in helping the student use their AAC system effectively across settings. 

Here are some common team members and what they bring to AAC support: 

• Speech Language Pathologist (SLP): Helps assess the need for AAC, selects and programs the device, provides intervention and language therapy for the student who uses AAC, and teaches everyone how to support communication. 
• Special Education Teacher: Incorporates AAC into learning and classroom routines and provides daily opportunities to use it. 
• General Education Teacher: Encourages communication in the classroom and helps include the student in group activities and discussions. 
• Occupational Therapist (OT):  Supports a student’s fine motor and sensory needs. They may also help ensure the student can physically access the device in the most energy conserving and efficient way. Uses the AAC device to help the student engage in activities.  
• Physical Therapist (PT): Assists with body positioning and movement that may affect access to the AAC system. 
• Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist: Supports the selection and setup of the AAC system and helps with technical training or troubleshooting. 
• Paraprofessional (or aide): Provides modeling, encourages communication, creates meaningful communication opportunities, and helps the student have access to their AAC throughout the school day. 
• Parents and Caregivers: Know the student best and offer insights into what works well at home. They also reinforce AAC use outside of school. 
• Outside Service Providers (such as private SLPs or ABA therapists): Can offer additional expertise and strategies to help ensure consistency across environments. 
• Administrators (like principals or program support teachers): Help make sure the team has time, training, and tools to support AAC success. 

Shared Responsibility and Team Collaboration 

AAC works best when everyone on the team understands their role and contributes in a consistent, meaningful way. It is not just the job of the speech therapist or assistive technology specialist. From the classroom to therapy, lunch, and recess, each adult has opportunities to model, prompt, and support communication. 

True success with AAC happens when the school team, families, and outside providers work together. Collaboration builds trust, improves consistency, and makes it easier to problem-solve as a team. The good news is that strong collaboration doesn’t have to take a lot of time. A quick weekly email, a shared document, or a brief, private check-in during transitions can keep everyone connected. Focusing on one shared AAC goal or word each week helps the team stay aligned. Small actions, done consistently, lead to big progress. 

Stronger Together 

Supporting a student who uses AAC is not the responsibility of one person. It is a shared effort built on trust, collaboration, and respect. Each team member brings a unique strength, and when those strengths come together, communication becomes more consistent, meaningful, and empowering for the student. 

No matter your role—whether you are an educator, therapist, caregiver, or support staff—you are an essential part of the student’s communication journey. When the team works together, AAC becomes more than a tool. It becomes a voice, a way to connect, and a bridge to learning, relationships, and independence. 

Quick Tips for Collaborating  

We understand time is valuable and limited in a school. Your days are filled with many important tasks and it can seem impossible to find time to collaborate. Since collaboration is key but time is valuable, here are some tips for maximizing communication without adding lengthy meetings! 

• Use a shared notebook, folder, or app for team updates. A quick note about what worked today can be really helpful. 
• Send short emails or voice memos to keep everyone in the loop about progress or challenges. 
• Schedule short check-ins every few weeks. Even 10 minutes can help the team stay aligned. 
• Share short videos or photos (with permission) of the student using AAC successfully. 
• Pick one or two core words or goals for the week and have everyone focus on modeling those. 
• Celebrate small wins together. Sharing something that went well builds energy and keeps the team motivated. 
• Work with your administrator to use time during in-service for AAC trainings and dedicated time for team collaboration  
• Be open to learning from each other. Each team member has something valuable to offer. 
• AbleNet’s Empowerment team is here to help! You can schedule a meeting at your own convenience or give us a call with AAC questions 

If you’d like to schedule a training for school staff with our team of SLPs, please click the link here!