Functional Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication – Educator Version (FIAAC-E)

The FIAAC-E is an educator-reported questionnaire which is designed to evaluate factors associated with effectiveness of AAC systems and communication participation of students who use AAC between the ages of 3 and 18 years

What is the FIAAC-E?
The FIAAC-E is an educator-report questionnaire that has 77 items divided among 11 dimensions as follows: communication effectiveness, communication function, communication opportunities, communication spontaneity, expressive language performance, educator- communication team collaboration, educator-parent collaboration, peer interactions, receptive language performance, social participation, and school environment. The FIAAC-E can provide insights across key dimensions of school-based communication participation at the time of AAC assessment to inform goal setting and intervention planning in the classroom. It may also be administered at two times during the school year to assess real-world outcomes following periods of AAC device or system use.

Why do we need the FIAAC-E?
Students who cannot speak or whose speech is unintelligible may benefit from AAC systems and techniques to improve their communicative performance and enhance their participation in everyday activities at school. Aided AAC systems may include electronic devices, such as speech-generating devices with customizable software or apps, and non-electronic solutions, such as communication boards. It is vital that students who could benefit from AAC devices have access to them in order to participate fully in school activity settings. Educators are key to the successful integration of the AAC device into their student’s life because they are primary communication partners at school, and as such are responsible for identifying vocabulary needs, encouraging participation at school, and supporting language and literacy development.We developed the FIAAC-E questionnaire to help educators and the team working with them to identify and address communication needs including training the student and their communication partners in the implementation of AAC devices and/or strategies within the school setting.