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North Santiam SD 29J spotlights augmentative communication in kindergarten program
Summary
Staton Elementary presented augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools to the board, showing how school‑issued and insurance‑funded speech devices have helped students communicate needs, reduce risky behavior and increase classroom participation.
Staton Elementary teachers and specialists demonstrated how augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are helping young students take part in instruction and express needs.
During the board’s regular meeting, principal Wendy said the school’s work is grounded in a commitment to belonging, social‑emotional learning and readiness. Speech pathologist Katie Grossen described classroom strategies and showed both low‑tech boards and high‑tech speech‑generating devices used by eight Staton students.
“Communication is a basic need,” Grossen told the board. She demonstrated classroom supports (picture books with AAC icons, whiteboards and a ‘Kelso wheel’ for solving small problems) and played a short video from AbleNet, the vendor that supplies trial devices and helps families with insurance submissions. Grossen recounted a case in which a child used a speech device to tell staff, “my stomach hurt,” which led to urgent‑care treatment — an example she cited as proof the devices can meet even medical needs.
Grossen also explained the referral and funding pathway: the school trials devices, collects data and refers students for Willamette ESD assessment; AbleNet and families then pursue insurance authorization. She said some district‑purchased modeling iPads are kept in class for students who do not yet have personal devices funded through insurance.
Board members credited classroom teachers and special‑education staff for programming device vocabularies and for collaborating to make AAC available across daily routines. Principal Wendy introduced classroom staff who support the program and thanked them for the effort and training required to make the systems work.
The presentation closed with an invitation to board members to ask questions about teacher training, device management and the district’s role in assisting families with referrals and insurance documentation. Administration said the district will continue coordination with Willamette ESD and will share follow‑up information requested by directors.
The board did not take action on funding during the meeting; staff said requests for purchased classroom devices and potential system changes will be brought forward through routine budget and service‑planning processes.
