Course Code: REL-RTS-0-APA
Hours: 1
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2028
Learning Objectives:
Match features of low-, mid-, and high-tech AAC tools to physical and functional communication needs of persons with ALS.
Recognize the implementation process for AAC devices to maximize independent communication for persons with ALS.
Identify practical strategies to obtain funding for AAC devices.
Outline:
Section 1: Understanding ALS Communication and AAC
What Is ALS?
What Is AAC?
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 2: Feature Matching
AAC Features
Feature Matching
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 3: AAC Implementation and Ongoing Support
AAC Implementation Process
Communication Partner Education
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 4: SGD Funding
Medicare and Insurance-Based Funding
Documentation Requirements
Knowledge Check
Key Takeaways
Section 5: Clinical Vignette
Jim’s ALS Communication Journey
Key Takeaways
Section 6: Conclusion
Course Summary
Course Contributors
Resources
References
Writer: Susan Almon-Matangos, MS, CCC-SLP
Susan Almon-Matangos, MS, CCC-SLP, is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with over 40 years of experience. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Jacksonville State University and her Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology from The University of Alabama. She has provided care to clients across the lifespan with diverse diagnostic conditions in settings including school, hospital, skilled nursing facility, outpatient clinic, and home health settings. In her previous role as a national clinical director for a contract therapy company, she developed training programs for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology focusing on clinical rehabilitation needs of older adults in post-acute care. Currently, she serves as the Lead Subject Matter Expert Writer for Speech-Language Pathology at Relias, where she leverages her clinical expertise and analysis of published research. She is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Subject Matter Expert: Amy Miller Sonntag SLPD, CCC-SLP
Amy Miller Sonntag, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with almost 30 years of experience in AAC. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio), a Master of Arts in speech-language pathology from Ohio University (Athens, Ohio), and a Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois). She has served clients who need AAC across the lifespan in outpatient clinics, school, hospital, and university clinic settings. Currently, she is a Clinical Associate Professor at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She teaches graduate and undergraduate coursework in AAC and provides pre-service clinical education experiences to speech-language pathology students. She is also an active member on research teams with a focus on improving AAC outcomes and mentors undergraduate and graduate research and capstone projects. She is licensed in the state of Ohio and a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Intermediate level Speech-Language Pathologists; Intermediate level Speech-Language Pathology Assistant; in the following settings: Assisted Living Facility, Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORFs), Home Health Agencies, Skilled Nursing Facility.
Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.
Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.
All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.
Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.