Rebecca Ito, M.A., CCC-SLP, BSC-AAC, is a speech-language pathologist and lecturer in the Teacher Education Program for mild/moderate Exceptional Student Needs (ESN) teacher education candidates. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her professional focus is on the use of assistive technology, with particular expertise in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Rebecca is a certified AAC specialist through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and an active participant in the Open Access AAC Statewide Lead Community of Practice. In her role within the Teacher Education Program, she prepares future educators to support communication access, AAC implementation, and inclusive practices for students with diverse learning and communication needs. Her instruction emphasizes evidence-based practices, collaboration with related service providers, and the effective integration of AAC and assistive technology in inclusive educational settings.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Rebecca works as a Speech-Language Pathologist with a local school district. Her clinical work includes assessment for Early Start to preschool transitions, AAC assessment and implementation, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to promote meaningful participation and communication access in inclusive environments.