When working with young children a multi-modality approach is essential. It is also essential that they provide alternative outlets for expression as early as possible in order to provide opportunities for peer interactions, for learning new information, for identifying wants and needs, and for controlling and exploring the environment. The assessment process for any individual in need of an augmentative communication system is an extensive one. A young child's needs should be assessed in natural contexts and compared to their peers in the same contexts including predictable routines, during play , in contexts at home, in the community and in the classroom. The ability to make choices is one of the foundation blocks of communication development.
Young children learn to make choices for a wide variety of benefits.
Making choices gives a child feelings of control, participation, and exploration in addition to just selecting preferences. As choice making options are expanded, it is also critical to develop and expand other early developing language skills including initiating interactions, turn-taking skills, use of social language rituals, terminating interactions, gaining attention through language, etc. Emergent literacy research shows that many children learn to read and write better through active participation in literacy activities. For young children needing AAC, the Intrinsic Factors must be given careful consideration and adaptations and accommodations must be provided so that these children will not experience restricted opportunities for learning. Camarata, S. Helping Children with Disabilities Learn to Talk.