Designing AAC Supports With Students with Madison Brumbaugh

Designing AAC Supports With Students

In this episode of More Than Words, we sit down with Madison Brumbaugh, M.S., CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and clinical assistant professor at The George Washington University whose work focuses on supporting individuals with complex communication needs. Madison has experience serving clients across the lifespan and working in public schools, private practice, and home health settings. She holds master’s degrees in Educational Research and Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Translational Health Sciences at GW. Madison is also active in professional leadership and advocacy, including roles with ASHA and state speech-language-hearing associations.

Whether you are new to AAC or have some background, this conversation highlights a fresh and essential perspective: how we can design AAC supports with students, not for them.

Madison breaks down what AAC actually is and what it looks like in real classrooms and therapy settings. From there, we explore how involving students in the design of AAC tools can increase engagement, support literacy, and help learners express themselves more meaningfully across environments.

We also discuss both low-tech and high-tech AAC supports, including visual organizers and personalized digital tools, and how students can help shape these tools to better meet their communication and learning needs. Throughout the conversation, Madison shares practical examples and mindset shifts that educators, therapists, and families can apply right away.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What AAC is and who it can support
• What it means to design AAC supports with students
• Why student involvement matters for meaningful communication
• How students can participate in designing both low-tech and high-tech AAC tools
• The connection between AAC, literacy, and classroom engagement
• Practical steps educators and families can take to center student voice

This episode is ideal for educators, therapists, and caregivers who want to better understand AAC and create communication supports that truly reflect the students using them.

Links and Resources:

• Madison’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-b-b171a9155/
• Madison’s information at George Washington University: Madison Brumbaugh
• About Madison Brumbaugh | DC Speech & Literacy

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media so you never miss an episode!

• Website: http://www.readingllcenter.com
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readingllcenter
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readingllcenter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWlbl8Ea8DJFADaNU9ZK1Vw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reading-and-language-learning-center