NAU AAC Evaluation and Training Program

• Experienced Teams: Our evaluation and training services are performed by an experienced team consisting of a speech language pathologist and an occupational therapist.
• Community-Based Services: We provide comprehensive services for clients, families, and support teams within the individual’s preferred, natural environment.
• Remote Services: We offer remote telehealth services for intake, evaluation, and training through secure video conferencing with families and support team members.
• Interprofessional Teaming: We review detailed client information and seek input from family and support team members regarding the client’s communication needs and abilities.
• A Feature Match Approach with Device Trials: Each evaluation includes hands-on device trials with a range of communication devices. The client’s individual needs are matched to a device with the necessary features to make an appropriate recommendation.

We accept referrals from the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Long Term Care (ALTCS) Tribal Health Plan, as well as DDD-contracted Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) MercyCare and United HealthCare Community Plan. We also accept private pay referrals from school districts, charter schools, and families.

Below is a list of documents we need to schedule an AAC evaluation through your funding source. Teams can send us this paperwork as they receive it, and we are happy to reach out to support coordinators and therapists if you provide their contact information.

Please send the following documentation to aacevalprogram@nau.edu or by fax at 855-819-0087 to complete your referral:

Required Documents:

• A prescription from the member’s Primary Care Physician for the AAC evaluation. Please be sure you ask your physician to document that you’ve discussed the need for a speech device. The client must be seen within 6 months of the physician signing a prescription for the speech device after completion of the evaluation. Most funding sources will accept telehealth visits provided by your MD, DO, NP or PA.
  • The Rx must indicate:
    • “AAC Device Evaluation”
    • Physician’s National Provider Identifier (NPI)
    • Member’s primary medical diagnosis ICD-10 code
  • The NAU background packet. See links below. This information will be used by medical review during the prior authorization process. The form should be completed by a Speech-Language Pathologist. This background information is also intended to prepare our teams to provide a thorough evaluation.
  • Legible copies of both front and back of ALL insurance cards, including the DDD ALTCS, AHCCCS, and any third-party payor cards for private insurance. If there is Medicare coverage, the member’s Social Security number is also REQUIRED.
  • Some insurance plans require a copy of the most current Person-Centered Service Plan (PCSP) from the DDD support coordinator.
  • Some insurance plans require a copy of the most recent speech-language documentation of services for prior authorization. Our team will help you determine if this additional documentation is needed.

Once all completed documentation is received from the referral team, NAU will obtain prior authorization and call to schedule an intake appointment and the evaluation. We provide hands-on evaluations in the Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson areas and remote evaluations statewide.

We welcome feedback about what will work best for the client during the evaluation. Please reach out to us at aacevalprogram@nau.edu with any questions.

• Fillable Background AAC Referral Packet – Word
• Fillable Background AAC Referral Packet – PDF

Full list of AAC providers for MercyCare members, including our teams at NAU.

Member guide for AAC for MercyCare members, including our teams at NAU

United Healthcare Community Plan (UHCCP) Member Guide

ArSHA padlet

Nikkol Anderson, OTD, MA, OTR/L, ATP
Nikkol is an occupational therapist and credentialed as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from College of St. Catherine before going on to earn a master’s degree in special education and rehabilitation from University of Arizona and a doctoral degree from University of Utah. Nikkol has over 20 years of experience working with individuals who utilize assistive technology (AT) and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) statewide in Arizona. She is program manager for the Institute for Human Development’s AAC Evaluation and Training program and coordinates the Graduate Certificate in Assistive Technology at Northern Arizona University. The certificate program helps prepare students for the RESNA ATP credentialing exam.  Nikkol and her team also provide demonstrations and equipment loans to persons with disabilities in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona. She believes that quality assistive technology services require the expertise and experience of skilled clinicians who work in collaboration with the client, their family, and other service providers. She is passionate about supporting communities in which people use their AT and AAC devices to fully participate in all life experiences. 

Keziah Conrad, Ph.D., M.S., CCC-SLP
Keziah is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. She earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in cultural and linguistic anthropology from UCLA before training in communication sciences and disorders at NAU. Keziah is certified in DIR Floortime (DIR-Basic). She specializes in supporting emergent communicators and their families or care teams, and she loves using tools such as AAC to strengthen language skills, build attunement between communication partners, and deepen relationships. At NAU, Keziah provides AAC evaluations and works as part of the Growing in Beauty Early Intervention team.

Staci R. Dover, M.Ed., M.S., CCC-SLP
Staci Dover specializes in augmentative and alternative communication and literacy and has served over 20 years in public education.  She is a former National Board Certified Teacher, reading specialist, and literacy coach. Staci received a master’s degree in special education in reading disabilities from the University of Florida in 2010 and completed a second master’s degree in clinical speech pathology from Northern Arizona University in 2018. Her specialties include dyslexia, literacy, and augmentative and alternative communication. 

Staci holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a member of SIG 12 and SIG 16.  Ms. Dover is an active volunteer member of the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArSHA). Staci founded ArSHA’s AAC committee in 2018, which received the President’s Award for their advocacy work in 2021. She received the ASHA Aces award in 2022 and the ASHA Early Distinguished Career Professional Certificate in 2023. She currently serves as President of the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is a member of CSAP, the Council of State Association Presidents. Staci enjoys volunteering at CATI Clinica and Mi Escuelita, part of the Educarte non-profit organization in Puerto Penasco, Mexico and is planning a mission trip to Guatemala for the summer of 2024. Staci is passionate about meeting families where they are and making them feel comfortable and competent on their AAC journey. Her passion is working with children, coaching families and mentoring other professionals in evidence-based practices for language and literacy. She and her husband have six kids and six grandkids, and a very needy Goldendoodle. 

Dr. Taylor Hickok, MS, DBH, CCC-SLP
Dr. Taylor Hickok is an ASHA-certified speech language pathologist specializing in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Psychology before going on to earn her master’s degree in Communication Disorders Arizona State University in 2016. She received her doctorate in behavioral health management from Arizona State University in 2018. Taylor has 8+ years of experience as a speech therapist and speech therapy consultant, working with individuals who utilize augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in several states: Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and North Carolina. In addition to providing AAC trainings to families through Northern Arizona University, she is the founder and clinical director of her private practice, Rehab Rising. Dr. Hickok is passionate about deeply connecting with individuals and their families, and walking with them as they embark on their AAC journey. In addition to her work as a speech language pathologist, Dr. Hickok enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, eating lots of sushi, traveling to other countries, and writing fiction novels. 

Sasha Perry, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Sasha Perry is an occupational therapist and credentialed as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). She earned her bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. She has been working with individuals with disabilities for 10 years in a school setting. Her work for the past 6 years has been focused on assistive technology, specifically alternative access for communication and play/leisure activities. 

Michelle Raymond, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
Michelle is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and board-certified specialist in child language and language disorders. Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and her master’s degree from Hampton University. Michelle has extensive training and experience working with individuals with complex communication needs across the life span including evaluation and intervention related to augmentative and alternative communication. Michelle works at the University of Arizona as an assistant clinical faculty member where she provides supervision and training to preservice SLPs and teaches Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Michelle has experience in schools, private practice, and outpatient facilities. Michelle has also taught a course on instructional strategies for inclusion and intervention for Colorado Mesa University’s early childhood special education program. Michelle has provided training and consultation and training numerous school teams, families, and professionals to support children who use AAC. She is a recipient of the McLeod-Yoder Award for her work with children with severe disabilities.  

Danika Stampfel, M.S., CCC-SLP
Danika Stampfel graduated NAU with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, Speech – Science and Technology with Minors in Special Education and Psychology. She went on to earn a Master’s of Science in clinical speech-language pathology from Northern Arizona University. She currently works at North Valley Pediatric Therapy in North Phoenix working with patients from birth through adulthood and also serves as the Deer Valley Speech Lead. She is also an AAC evaluator and trainer for Northern Arizona University’s AAC Evaluation and Training Program servicing the greater Phoenix area. With over eight years of experience, she specializes in various AAC devices and access methods for clients who have complex communication needs. She also volunteers with ArSHA, Arizona’s Speech Hearing Association. She is also a member of ASHA’s SIG 12. She is passionate about helping clients find their voice and empowering families to implement AAC into everyday life.