Steers AAC Language & Speech, Inc

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Steers AAC Language & Speech, Inc

Pediatric AAC Specialists

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!

05/09/2022

I’m a parent. I want my kids to be comfortable, safe. I want to know when they’re hurting, hungry, thirsty, sick or in pain. I know that all parents want this for their children. It can be easy to forget that, for all of us, “comfortable and safe” also means feeling connected, building relationships and yes, snuggling with a new baby sister.

This is Owen and his new little sister, Emerson. As all older siblings do, Owen is adjusting to having a new little person at home. At times, he has been grumpy, upset, and frustrated for no apparent reason. It would be easy for parents of a 3-year-old child who lacks spoken communication to think that Owen is perhaps jealous of the attention his sister is receiving, that’s he’s feeling usurped or perhaps annoyed by this disruption in his life. But, Owen’s parents don’t think that because he has communication and he has a way to tell them.

Owen was acting fussy and he initiated communication by vocalizing. His parents asked him if he had something to say. Owen nodded his head “yes.” His parents scanned him through his book. He said, “WHERE IS A PERSON + BABY SISTER EMERSON???”

So it turns out Owen wasn’t jealous. He wasn’t annoyed. He wasn’t “adjusting” to his new sister’s presence. He was thinking about her and wanted to know where she was, so Owen and his dad snuck in and peeked on Emerson while she was sleeping. Owen listened to her breathe and smiled. He wasn’t fussy anymore. *Posted with permission from Owen’s family.

Address

28035 Dorothy Drive #110
Agoura Hills, CA
91301

Website

http://www.AliSteersSLP.com/

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