title: AAC and literacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review current research on the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for prompting literacy in children with special educational needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research studies relevant to emergent literacy and AAC use are reviewed. Studies focused on acquisition of literacy across various populations of children with special needs are reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Existing literature suggests that AAC may provide strategies and systems to compensate for impairments and disabilities of individuals with severe communication disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AAC may support literacy learning in children with special educational needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel. hetzroni@construct.haifa.ac.il
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Hetzroni
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004519:Education, Special; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index