Sec. 3. Purpose
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The purpose of this Act is to provide for comprehensive training, technical assistance, and resource centers on augmentative and alternative communication devices, services, and supports that— are created and operate in order to raise expectations and improve awareness of the need for effective augmentative and alternative communication devices, services, and supports for individuals with significant disabilities affecting communication; identify, document, and disseminate information regarding best and promising practices (in existence on the date of identification of the practices), from research carried out in a manner that includes individuals with significant disabilities affecting communication and their families at every point in the research process, to increase communication access, literacy, and effective communication for individuals with significant disabilities affecting communication; partner with assistive technology or engineering programs in institutions of higher education to conduct research in and development of communication options for individuals with significant disabilities affecting communication; increase the skills of speech-language pathologists, special educators, early intervention specialists, occupational therapists, administrators, and related services personnel, to evaluate and provide communication services, and other supports to individuals with significant disabilities affecting communication to enable those individuals to obtain increased or improved— participation in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education; academic skills including literacy and math skills; employment and career outcomes; and self-advocacy and self-determination skills; and increase the ability of individuals with significant disabilities affecting communication to communicate, through leadership training for individuals who use augmentative or alternative communication devices, services, or supports, their families, and persons who provide devices, services, and other supports to such individuals, on topics related to self-determination, self-advocacy, and person-centered planning.