Coral Currents Episode 7: Bridging AAC, ABA, and Affirming Care

I had the privilege of sitting down with Brittany Freedman, a clinician who lives at the intersection of AAC, ABA, and affirming care.

Brittany’s journey into speech-language pathology began with a deeply personal story—her grandmother’s dementia diagnosis. Witnessing how communication loss limited her grandmother’s independence shaped Brittany’s belief that communication is a human right. That conviction ultimately drew her to AAC, which she describes as “the coolest thing in the world” because it grants individuals access to connection they may never have had before.

What makes Brittany’s perspective unique is her decision to pursue certification in ABA while continuing her work as an SLP. She’s candid about both the challenges and the beauty of bridging these two fields. Rather than seeing conflict, she sees opportunity: “When ABA and speech therapy come together, you just see how impactful that is for the client.”

In our conversation, Brittany emphasized the importance of focusing on socially significant behaviors—skills that genuinely matter in a child’s everyday life. She also reminded us that progress is not always linear; children develop on their own timelines, and we need to honor that reality.

We also talked about her passion for interprofessional collaboration and her commitment to being approachable and family-centered. One of my favorite moments was hearing how Brittany introduced AAC devices to an entire kindergarten class. The next day, her student’s peers were not only aware but actively supportive—helping set up the AAC device and recognizing it as essential to communication. That story illustrates how awareness leads to acceptance, and how early education can foster inclusion.

Brittany also shared practical lessons she’s gained from her ABA training—like simplifying visual stimuli, supporting device ownership, and learning behavior management strategies for group settings. These skills have strengthened her speech practice and helped her navigate real-world challenges.

Finally, Brittany opened up about why she shares her work on social media: to inspire others to join the field and to create a space where SLPs can connect, learn, and reflect.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance evidence-based practices with affirming care, or how to merge perspectives across disciplines, this episode is for you. Brittany’s insight reminds us that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in therapy— but there is always an opportunity to listen, learn, and grow together.

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