EI Essentials

You fought hard to get that AAC device approved. The last thing you need is for it to end up in a daycare lost and found bin with no name on it! What's included: ✔ Editable label with fields for the child's name and caregiver phone number ✔ Child-friendly design with "This is how I express myself" messaging ✔ Print, laminate, stick, and go ✔ Canva template link included, edit in minutes, no design skills needed💡 How SLPs are using this: Add it to your new AAC user onboarding checklist. Pe

They're about to put the device in a drawer. This one-page handout gives families a reason to keep going and gives you something to hand them before they do. What's included: ✔ 6 research-backed stages of AAC progress in parent-friendly language ✔ Color + B&W versions included ✔ APA reference page included ✔ Warm, validating content that meets caregivers exactly where they are ✔ Parent-friendly language with zero jargon 💡 How SLPs are using this: Hand it over the moment a family says "I don

Writing AAC goals is hard enough. Writing them in front of a parent, on the spot, in an IFSP meeting? That's a whole different level of pressure. What's included: ✔ 44 ready-to-use AAC goals organized by routine, not communication function ✔ 11 routines covering the real moments of a child's day ✔ Every goal written with "using [his/her/their] AAC device" already in it ✔ A 3-question reflective framework to write goals with families, not for them ✔ Color + B&W versions included ✔ APA refere

Nobody teaches you what to do the day a family gets their AAC device. Here's your plan. This checklist walks you and the family through everything that needs to happen on day one. From turning the device on to setting a charging plan to practicing together in a real routine.What's included: ✔ 2-page print and go checklist for the first day a family receives a device ✔ Covers device basics, the communication app, guided access, and daily practice ✔ Space to document the support team and next step

You know high tech AAC will help. Now you just have to get the family on board. This handout does the work for you in plain language that meets parents exactly where they are.What's included: ✔ One-page parent handout in easy, approachable language, no jargon✔ Myths vs. Facts covering the 4 most common AAC concerns ✔ Research-backed content with a reference page ✔ Print or send digitally💡 How EI SLPs are using this: Hand it over at the first mention of AAC before hesitation turns into refusal.

Helping families understand which words to focus on can be one of the biggest challenges in EI. Many caregivers want colors, shapes and ABCs, but those words don’t lead to meaningful communication. This checklist helps you and families focus on the words that matter most for real, functional communication.What's included: ✔ SLP-approved first words organized by category ✔ Covers function words, people, objects, verbs, descriptors, and more ✔ Parent-friendly layout that's easy to use at home ✔ Pe

A parent who doesn't understand why you do what you do will never fully buy in. This handout gives them the "why" behind Early Intervention in plain language they can actually connect with.What's included: ✔ 3-page grab-and-go resource you can print or send digitally ✔ 5 research backed principles explained in parent-friendly language ✔ Covers routine-based learning, caregiver coaching, and why EI works ✔ Aligned with current EI best practice ✔ Print or text/email directly to families💡 How EI S

You know AAC is the right next step. Getting the family there is the hard part. This ready to use high tech AAC flowchart was made for EI SLPs who need to move hesitant families forward without explaining everything from scratch at every single visit. What's included: ✔ A single page yes/no flowchart that guides families through key AAC readiness questions ✔ Warm, validating language for every outcome, including families who are not ready yet ✔ A clear next step that positions you as the gu

Families need to see progress to stay motivated. This tracker makes every new word feel like a win worth celebrating.What's included: ✔ Simple tracking sheet that documents what the child said, how they said it and whether it was spontaneous or imitated✔ Works for late talkers, gestalt language processors, Autism, Down Syndrome, etc✔ Parent-friendly format anyone can use between visits ✔ Builds consistency and carryover at home and in sessions ✔ Print-ready PDF💡 How EI SLPs are using this: Fill

Families want to help their child talk. They just don't know where to start. This poster gives them a clear, simple target so they stop guessing and start teaching.What's included: ✔ Top 10 high-impact first words grounded in functional communication ✔ Goes beyond labeling to teach words kids actually use every day ✔ Simple visual parents can understand and put to use right away ✔ Evidence-based and SLP-approved ✔ Print-ready PDF💡 How EI SLPs are using this: Hang it on the fridge during a home

😩You show up with good intentions and zero plan. Sound familiar? This step-by-step guide helps you walk into every EI visit knowing exactly what you're doing and why.What's included: ✔ Simple 5-step visit structure you can follow every single time ✔ Coaching questions that fill the awkward silence and get caregivers talking ✔ "Our Plan Between Visits" handout families actually hold onto ✔ Fits right into your welcome packet💡 How EI SLPs are using this: Review it in the car before you knock. Fi

A compact, ring-bound quick reference that puts all birth–3 communication milestones at your fingertips so you can confidently answer “Is this typical?” during any home visit.