Your child has an AAC system (communication book, iPad with communication App, dedicated speech generating device)and now you are struggling with implementing it as a successful communication tool. Speech is your end goal,however it isn’t coming fast enough and the child is becoming more frustrated. How do you balance using this AACsystem with your speech goals? How do you encourage educational staff to use this AAC system with this child? Mostcommunication partners have been trained to model for speech, however when it comes to implementing AAC systemsthey fall back to quizzing the AAC User on receptive vocabulary. The focus becomes finding vocabulary and not using itpurposefully. Using the AAC system is akin to talking in a foreign language. Recognizing communication opportunitiesand building communication can be different when you are utilizing an AAC system. And while speech is still your endgoal, getting to the goal line is often like crossing a mine field. This presentation will focus on evaluating theenvironment needs and developing a plan for implementing the AAC system (regardless of whether it is high or lowtech!), techniques useful to help facilitate use of the AAC system and balance speech needs, and what communicationpartners should know when talking with an AAC User.