Like many parents, Nicole and Brett Guysi developed the habit of spelling words in front of their young children to keep conversations private. And it worked most of the time, especially with their daughter Brooke, who has limited verbal ability and uses an alternative communication device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although one time when the family stayed at a hotel, Nicole asked her husband if they could get some F-R-U-I-T as a snack for their children, Brooke and her brother Blake. Brooke went right to her alternative communication device and chose the word \u201cfruit\u201d to confirm. The family laughs about it now, but it demonstrates the importance of Brooke\u2019s device to connect her to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, Brooke, now age 9, had previously been nonverbal but uses her device to communicate with others. It\u2019s also improved her spoken communication by giving her familiarity and curiosity for words and phrases, says her mom Nicole Guysi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many individuals like Brooke rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to interact with others. Augmentative devices support existing speech, and alternative devices are used in place of speech that is absent or not functional. Historically the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) coordinated this benefit for qualifying members. As of Jan. 1, 2021, all new requests for purchases, replacements, repairs and training for AAC devices will transfer from DDD to the health plans, Mercy Care and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are honored to expand the services we provide our members,\u201d said Amy Pawlowski, executive director, complex care for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. \u201cOur goal is to develop efficiencies increase transparency and improve access to care. Assisting individuals in their communication journey is something we are well positioned to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The health plans already manage all other durable medical equipment benefits except for AAC. DDD will continue to oversee the health plans to make sure members are getting quality and timely services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What this means for DDD members<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As of Jan. 1, members who need assessments for AAC devices, or repair or training for current devices, will initiate the process with their support coordinators. The individual\u2019s support coordinator will help gather documents and forms, and will send required information to the member\u2019s health plan. The support coordinator will also monitor requests through the process until decisions are made. Members will need to use the same health plan for AAC services that they already use for other DDD services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If parents have concerns about their child\u2019s new AAC request after Jan. 1, they can call their support coordinator or the DDD customer service number, 844-770-9500. Parents can also call the member services department for their health plan, Mercy Care, 800-624-3879 or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, 800-348-4058.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In November, Raising Special Kids and the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix hosted listening sessions with Mercy Care and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan to gather feedback from members and their families about this change to the AAC benefit. Several questions arose about the timing for new requests and requests for repair, and also about training for new devices. Community information sessions hosted in December will provide more information as this change comes closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Could my child benefit from an AAC device?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n AAC devices are frequently associated with individuals who are nonverbal. But AAC devices can help anyone who has difficulty with verbal communication in any situation. According to the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP), AAC devices offer a \u201cvoice\u201d for individuals who can\u2019t speak, or can help those who don\u2019t speak clearly enough for others to understand. AAC devices can also enhance communication for those who can speak but need a boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrequently, we may forget what both of the As stand for\u201d in terms of augmentative and alternative communication, said Brandi Wentland, M.A., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist and AAC specialist with TherapyOne. \u201cAlternative communication is what comes to mind, but augmentative communication adds to existing speech. Someone could be able to speak but they also have apraxia or selective mutism. Or someone with autism can work on expressive language.\u201d Wentland estimates that only a small percentage of individuals use AAC devices compared to the number of people who could truly benefit from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AAC devices can also expand on what a child is already trying to say. A child could be able to say the word \u201cmilk,\u201d but they might want to say that they don\u2019t want milk or they want more milk, said Candice Steel, B.S., SLP-L, ATP, speech-language pathologist and AT specialist with the Scottsdale Unified School District. \u201cWe want to help to expand the child\u2019s message when they have more to say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a parent thinks their child could benefit from an AAC device, they can speak to the child\u2019s private or school-based speech therapist and to see if it would be appropriate to bring in an AAC specialist. The parent would also need to also contact their child\u2019s DDD support coordinator to initiate the request process through their health plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AzTAP offers a lending library so people can try out all types of assistive technology including AAC devices at no expense. AzTAP is federally funded and works through Northern Arizona University, with an office in Phoenix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur role is to work with families to become more educated about their choices,\u201d said Clayton Guffey, MSW, CRC, ATP, CEAC, program director for AzTAP. \u201cWe serve as a beginning resource for them prior to an evaluation so they can identify which resources to ask about and to consider.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n AzTAP can also offer suggestions for families who aren\u2019t enrolled in DDD or in one of the health plans, Guffey said. AAC devices can be provided by a child\u2019s school when appropriate to access schoolwork, or could sometimes be covered through private insurance. Device manufacturers also have funding departments that can assist parents, Guffey noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interested parents can contact AzTAP to request an initial consultation, currently taking place over video call. Once AzTAP and the parent identify an appropriate AAC device, AzTAP can ship it to the parent and provide additional training and consultation for the device over the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AAC in action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Krista Howard, age 34, has cerebral palsy and uses an AAC device to communicate, navigating about 144 buttons per page on her system. Krista attends Arizona State University and Estrella Mountain Community College, pursuing a degree in speech and language pathology. She\u2019s also worked full time for the Gompers program, coaching staff and participants in communicating with AAC devices and has assisted young AAC users as a paraeducator through Arizona\u2019s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. She speaks at conventions and is one of the co-authors of a book coming out next year, Exceptional AAC Leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Krista encourages parents to act as early as possible if they think their child would benefit from AAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t give up,\u201d Howard recommended to parents. It took her some time to become comfortable using her AAC device, and she now uses it extensively as a college student and as a professional. Howard also advocates the importance of peer support and helps to facilitate groups in Arizona called Out and About, where individuals of all ages meet and use their AAC devices together. Wentland and co-founders Dr. Caroline Musselwhite and Deanna Wagner also help facilitate these groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While an AAC device could be viewed as a sign of a disability, both Howard and Wentland prefer to see it as a gateway to an individual\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s more than learning your child\u2019s wants and needs,\u201d Wentland said. \u201cAAC gives people the ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Going forward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As this change to the AAC benefit evolves, look for more information from the health plans and from DDD. Parents are encouraged to stay up to date by visiting the DDD website or by contacting their child\u2019s health plan, Mercy Care or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. A list of FAQs are available on the DDD website here, and parents can also sign up for AAC update emails here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important for families to keep the lines of communication open with their support coordinator and other members of their child\u2019s care team if this change affects them. \u201cThere will be a transition period, but the heart and passion is there to make this process as good if not better than before,\u201d Steel said. \u201cAll the parties involved truly want to provide quality services to help meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n AAC Community Information Sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mercy Care and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan will host sessions to provide more information on this change. Session schedule:<\/p>\n\n\n\n English: Spanish: Visit www.MercyCareAZ.com<\/a> or www.uhccommunityplan.com<\/a> for information on how to register for these sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For More Information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact your DDD support coordinator Like many parents, Nicole and Brett Guysi developed the habit of spelling words in front of their young children to 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Mills","author_link":"https:\/\/raisingspecialkids.net\/es\/author\/maureenm\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Like many parents, Nicole and Brett Guysi developed the habit of spelling words in front of their young children to 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Monday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 17, 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monday, Dec. 14, 9.a.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DDD Customer Service – 844-770-9500 or DDDCustomerServiceCenter@azdes.gov<\/a>
Mercy Care – 800-624-3879
United HealthCare Community Plan – 800-348-4058
Office of Individual and Family Affairs (OIFA) – Mercy Care, OIFATeam@MercyCareAZ.or<\/a>g or United HealthCare Community Plan, advocate.oifa@uhc.com<\/a>
Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP) – 602-729-9534 or 800-477-9921 askaztap@nau.edu<\/a>
Out and About – Community group for AAC users
<\/a>FAQs about this change<\/a>
To receive AAC update emails from DDD, visit: https:\/\/bit.ly\/AAC-Updates<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"