Hi, I’m Heather Roach. I am a special education teacher and educational consultant supporting students with complex communication and learning needs across home, school, and community environments. I specialize in AAC implementation, curriculum access, and helping teams create practical supports that allow students to participate meaningfully in everyday learning and life. 

I’m also a parent of two fantastic children, including an 11-year-old with Rett syndrome who uses AAC, so I understand both the professional and personal sides of the IEP table. That perspective shapes my work as I help families and school teams build communication systems that are respectful, sustainable, and usable throughout the day.

I work alongside families, educators, and therapists to connect communication with movement, daily living, and academics, creating inclusive environments where individuals actively engage rather than simply be present. My focus is helping teams move from good intentions to confident implementation, so communication and learning become natural, collaborative, and meaningful.

I work with a wide range of AAC systems and approaches, guided by the individual learner and team needs. As one of only twelve certified PODD trainers in the United States, I also provide specialized training and consultation in PODD (Pragmatically Organized Dynamic Displays), a comprehensive AAC language system available in both printed and electronic formats with supports such as color coding, eyegaze and partner-assisted scanning.

Through consultation, training, and coaching, I help teams build confidence, alignment, and shared understanding so communication support becomes consistent, meaningful, and sustainable. I provide assessments, team coaching, webinars, in-person trainings, and consultation for schools, organizations, and families seeking practical strategies that improve communication access and curriculum participation.