Philadelphia Intellectual Disability Services AAC Consultations
A program for consumers of Philadelphia Intellectual Disability Services
Philadelphia AAC Supports and Services
IDS Adult Referral
Due to high demand, we ask for your patience as we get back to you.
This program is for adult individuals enrolled with Philadelphia Intellectual Disability Services to receive augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services. Consumers and their teams will work with a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) from TechOWL, a program of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. Services are virtual and use a collaborative-coaching model.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Have a communication disability
- May be non-speaking or have limited, functional speech
- Speech may be unintelligible or difficult to understand
- Have complex communication needs
- Receive their waiver services through Philadelphia Intellectual Disability Services (the joinder/county of registration on the person’s ISP must be Philadelphia)
Initial Intake Consultation-Assessment
Consumers and their teams will participate in an Initial Intake Consultation-Assessment to develop a plan for AAC. This consultative assessment is intended to identify possible AAC solutions (speech-generating devices or related options) based on the consumer’s needs.
Recommendations from the Initial Intake Consultation-Assessment can include:
- Strategies to support successful and functional communication
- Selection of communication devices (from light tech to high-tech, including but not limited to speech-generating devices)
- Assistance with device trial, equipment, acquisition, funding support, etc.
- Informal referral to external resources for direct speech-language therapy
Additional Services
After the Initial Intake Consultation-Assessment, consumers may receive some additional services if needed. These may include:
- Support with the AAC/speech-generating device trial process
- Training on the AAC device or system
- Setup and/or customization
- Implementation strategies
- Troubleshooting
- Writing funding documentation for a speech-generating device (e.g., insurance funding, waiver justification letter, etc.)
- Follow-up as recommended and appropriate
Program Information
This program is not ongoing, direct speech therapy, communication specialist services, or English as a Second Language (ESL) supports.
We do not provide formal, standardized speech-language/communication assessments as part of this service.
Most services are provided via virtual platforms to accommodate a variety of team needs and availability. In-person training at the Institute on Disabilities office or the TechOWL Community Space at Temple University may be scheduled upon request.
We use a collaborative-coaching model. This service is intended to support teams in obtaining and implementing AAC devices/systems within the consumer’s everyday life.
Consistent correspondence and prompt follow-through with recommendations are essential for successful outcomes. If there are multiple (2-3) instances of no response to contact attempts, missed appointments, or significant delays in completing necessary next steps, services may be discontinued and considered inactive. This process helps us serve as many individuals as possible. Consumers and their teams are welcome to reinitiate services when there is greater availability and team participation.
The number of active consumers is limited. Referrals will be addressed in the order they are received.
Submit a Referral
To submit the referral for a new consumer, fully complete and return this form with a copy of the consumer’s ISP to hali.strickler@temple.edu.
Please use encryption or our secure email system: https://tusafesend.temple.edu/.
