Towards the goal of appropriate evaluation of all children having disabilities, a four part AAC assessment protocol is presented. Two aspects of the protocol are unique: the protocol is "inclusive", emphasizing the need to address cultural features directly; and the protocol includes a self assessment for all practitioners before they engage in the delivery of services to children within cultural communities which may differ from their own. In addition to the self assessment for practitioners, the protocol examines a child's communication partners, communication needs, and capabilities. A historical review of the "roots" of AAC reveals that many current practices are predominately White, European, and Western in origin. The proposed protocol is intended to expand our practices, encourage the development of broader clinical competencies and redirect the focus of assessment so that the processes become more culturally inclusive.
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