Steers AAC Language & Speech, Inc

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Steers AAC Language & Speech, Inc

Pediatric AAC Specialists

04/28/2026

The PODD AAC language organization meets the needs of any individual at any stage of language development. PODD layouts are customized to suit the needs of individuals with different movement, vision and language abilities.
✨There are THREE different sets of PODD books: ✨

Direct Access- for individuals who have the visual ability to look across the page and the motor ability to make selections directly on the page

Alternative Access: For individuals who have the visual ability to look across the page but require alternative access methods such as scanning or eye gaze to accommodate motor challenges

Alternative Presentation: For individuals who have visual challenges and cannot easily look across a page of symbols and target them directly. This collection includes books with high contrast symbols, some with auditory cues, auditory plus visual scanning, and auditory only scanning.

04/22/2026

“PODD is way of organizing vocabulary for communication at any time.” Gayle Porter, Introduction to PODD Manual, pg. 3

PODD (Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display) is a comprehensive communication system designed for individuals who cannot meet all of their communication requirements through speech alone.

It’s a way of organizing language so individuals can express their own thoughts, ideas, and messages across all environments and with a wide range of communication partners.

PODD exists in paper-based communication books as well as on speech-generating devices (like iPad apps or dedicated AAC devices), making it flexible and accessible.

What makes PODD unique is how language is organized. It’s based on pragmatics—how we actually use language in real life. This means vocabulary is arranged to support real conversations, social interactions, and different communication functions, not just labeling or requesting.

The system is also designed to support motor automaticity, so users can learn where words are located and find them more independently over time. This consistency helps build confidence, language development, and initiation.

PODD combines core vocabulary with fringe vocabulary, organized by communication function—so users can comment, ask questions, share opinions, and connect with others in meaningful ways.

✨At its core, PODD is about one thing:✨
giving individuals the ability to say what they want, when they want, in the way that works for them.

03/03/2026

Registration is now open!

Suitable for professionals and/or caregivers who support children/adults with complex communication needs.

02/24/2026

Suitable for professionals and/or caregivers who support children/adults with complex communication needs.

Registration to follow!

04/21/2025

AAC didn’t truly make sense to me until I attended my first PODD training. I will always be grateful that Gayle Porter and the AAC intervention philosophies that form the foundation for PODD came into my life and transformed my thinking and approach to AAC. If you have an AAC user in your life, come join me in the Bay Area for a 2 Day Into to PODD Training. PODD trainings can be hard to come by- if you live on the west coast, don’t miss out!

10/10/2024

Spreading the PODD love and knowledge around Castaic for the next 2 days. Thanks for hosting me, iLEAD Charter Schools!

05/31/2024

It’s happening!! So very excited to spread the PODD love to a room full of parents, caregivers, teachers and SLPs tomorrow. A huge shout out of thanks to my brilliant mentors, Linda Burkhart and Gayle Porter as well as to Alice Schafer, PODD-book-maker and administrative assistant extraordinaire. I wouldn’t have arrived here without a lot of help from these three amazing ladies.

05/02/2024

Registration is open to the public! To register for our upcoming workshop in Agoura Hills visit our website at: http://steersaac.com/sign-up-link-for-podd-trainings

04/16/2024

It’s official!! I am now one of 10 certified PODD Trainers in the US (and the only one west of Colorado). The wisdom of Gayle Porter is coming to West Coast!

10/31/2023

Vampire? What?! Miles is bringing you some Halloween laughs as he shows off his auditory + visual step scanning skills on the electronic PODD 15 aud/vis (beta version- in development). Because this video was taken during a zoom session, the screen displayed is Miles’ screen share which he’s accessing with his ASL proximity sensors. Miles is a true step scanning master!! *shared with permission from Miles and his family

07/28/2023

I never imagined my name would be on a title slide with Linda Burkhart’s. Special thanks and for allowing me to show off your skills and to my roomie and co-presenter, Jaime Show, for the laughs, stories, and turtle discoveries.

06/09/2022

So this is happening. When I was in graduate school, I heard the name “Gayle Porter” a lot. She authored the journal articles I cited in my research papers, developed this brilliant AAC system called PODD, presented internationally and helped those of us who were previously only PECS trained learn how to do AAC (a lot) better. I marvel at how much she has and continues to accomplish in her career. To say that I am humbled to stand beside her and to co-present my first Introduction to PODD course in August only encompasses one of the many emotions I’m experiencing. Lowly? Yes. Nervous? Absolutely. Terrified? You betcha. But really mostly just excited. This “trial-run” will hopefully be the gateway to me bringing PODD and a little bit of that vast trove of AAC knowledge and experience in Gayle’s Porter’s brain to people who can’t fly to Australia. Get ready, West Coast, PODD is coming your way!

Address

28035 Dorothy Drive #110
Agoura Hills, CA
91301

Website

http://www.AliSteersSLP.com/

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