Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation

800 Priestman St. Fredericton, NB E3B 0C7

What is the Augmentative Communication Service (ACS)?

Augmentative Communication Service specializes in:

  • Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC); and
  • Electronic Assistive Technology (AT).

AAC means a system of:

  • strategies
  • adaptations
  • tools
  • devices

needed by people who either don't speak, or whose communication can be so hard to understand that it handicaps them.

AAC can range from simple "no-tech" or "low-tech" systems, all the way to very complex (often "high-tech") systems.

Electronic AT means:

electronic devices or software that can help people with a physical handicap use computers, telephones, and other common electronic devices to be more independent at home, work, school, or out in the community.

The mandate of ACS is to focus on:

  • finding the best AAC systems for people with complex communication needs
  • finding the best adaptation methods, equipment, andelectronic AT
  • helping people learn to use their AAC or AT systems
  • helping families, teachers, therapists, and others who work with our clients, to learn to help them make their AAC or AT systems most useful in their daily lives.

ACS also provides:

  • Education: Consultation, workshops, and literature is provided to help other therapists learn how to select and use AAC or AT systems for and with their clients.
  • Research: Testing new kinds of equipment and giving feedback to manufacturers, or creating new technology if existing technology cannot do what is needed. We may also do research testing the effectiveness of new products on the market.

Who we are:

  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Rehabilitation Engineer
  • Administrative Assistant

Who we help:

The Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation (SCCR) is a specialty tertiary centre equipped and staffed to treat the most complex neurological conditions. These conditions include stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophy, ALS, and cerebral palsy.

We have a provincial mandate so we serve all regions of New Brunswick. We see inpatients who stay for long periods at SCCR, as well as day clients, and clients who we see in their local environments. Services are also offered via video conferencing sessions if this is the best possible option. Periods of short intensive treatment are also possible in certain cases.

How to refer:

Referrals can be initiated by therapists, schools, parents, and other individuals, but must be signed by a physician.

Any referrals not accompanied by relevant medical and therapeutic documentation will be returned to the referral source until these documents are obtained.

Services we offer:

The majority of our patients are seen on a consultative basis where we provide assistance to local rehabilitation providers, teachers, and other professionals and caregivers who areworking with the clients on a regular basis. Our assistance can be in the form of:

  • direct assessments and recommendations
  • follow-up and monitoring of progress
  • training clientsor their local teams
  • guidance to the local teams in developing treatment plans and goals

What is the cost ?

Costs for services are covered by the public system (Department of Health, NB Government); however, any equipment we recommend is generally not free. Sources of funding for special equipment can differ from client to client, and may be covered by private insurance. There are a number of other funding sources and we can help put you in touch with these.

Contact Information:

Phone: 506-447-4214
Fax: 506-447-4160

For more information please visit our website: