Rehabilitation and related professions have grown rapidly in China during this decade. Quality of life becomes a top priority after acute care service has been delivered. Communication is a unique and essential skill of humans and is one of the main factors influencing quality of life. People share their ideas with each other and advocate for their rights by communicating. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the general concepts of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The paper includes a brief explanation of AAC, types of AAC, targeted populations benefitted by AAC, principles of a language-based service delivery, and a discussion of interdisciplinary team member roles.>Rehabilitation and related professions have grown rapidly in China during this decade. Quality of life becomes a top priority >after acute care service has been delivered. Communication is a unique and essential skill of humans and is one of the main factors influencing >quality of life. People share their ideas with each other and advocate for their rights by communicating. The purpose of this paper is to introduce>the general concepts of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The paper includes a brief explanation of AAC, types>of AAC, targeted populations benefitted by AAC, principles of a language-based service delivery, and a discussion of interdisciplinary team>member roles

An augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) assessment is a complex, multidisciplinary process. Historic AAC assessment models have focused on treatment providing for basic communication needs more than on consideration of optimizing communication and maximizing an individual's potential. This paper presents an AAC assessment model based on the goal of interactive communication and a comprehensive evaluation of cognitive, linguistic, sensory and motor abilities that is evidence-based. We describe each component and assessment step within an evidence-based framework. The purpose is to offer a systematic, principled approach to selecting AAC assessment procedures in rehabilitation, speech language pathology and other related fields in order to strengthen their confidence in providing best possible services to clients who require AAC.