What Is AAC Awareness Month?
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is highlighted in October every year. This time is dedicated to raising awareness about AAC and its impact on individuals with communication challenges. AAC uses alternative communication methods—such as speech-generating devices (think iPad), communication boards, and pictures—to help people communicate.
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What Is AAC?
AAC is a form of alternative communication to assist people who are unable to use their voice, or have difficulty speaking. It allows individuals to communicate their wants, needs, feelings, and make comments. Most people may automatically think of speech generating devices when you hear AAC, but it actually includes low-tech and high-tech options.
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AAC includes
- Low-Tech: picture cards, choice boards, visual schedules, functional sign language, and low tech devices. These technology-based systems include switches, communication devices (i.e. Go Talk), and buttons (i.e. Big Mac).
- High-Tech: communication devices (i.e. iPad with apps) and speech generating devices (i.e. Tobii Dynavox). Most speech generating devices also include apps that can be purchased and used on the iPad.
- Unaided communication: Non-verbal methods like gestures, facial expressions, and body posture.
- Aided communication: Picture boards, symbol systems, and technology-based systems that help convey messages.
Who Uses AAC?
The individuals that use AAC are not able to effectively communicate. This includes people that are nonverbal. However, it also includes individuals that have some verbal words, but are unable to effectively communicate with others. Even if someone is able to say a few words, they may benefit from AAC. Common challenges include behaviors, frustration, shutting down, and loss of self-esteem. AAC supports individuals with various conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, ALS, and speech or language disorders. It’s about providing everyone with the tools they need to engage in social interactions.
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Why Is AAC Important?
Most importantly, it provides individuals with a voice. For many, AAC is not just a tool but a lifeline that allows them to express themselves, connect with others, and participate in society. Communication is a fundamental human right, and AAC empowers individuals by providing them with the means to express themselves, share their feelings, and advocate for their needs.
What Are The Benefits of AAC?
Most individuals just want to be acknowledged. They want to be heard, make comments, and to be able to express their feelings. Being able to express feelings and emotions is essential to supporting a sense of well-being. AAC also decreases frustration because individuals are able to communicate; and this leads to less behaviors in the classroom setting. What led me to focus on AAC is my son. My son has autism and didn’t talk until he was five. I used AAC as an early intervention tool to help him communicate. Now he is able to talk and communicate without using a device.
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Practical Tips For Educators
Ready to get started? Discover my tips to incorporate AAC into your classroom today.
Tip #1: For low tech AAC, Make a visual schedule for a lesson, have a choice board of preferred activities, and teach functional signs to your students like “more” “all done” or “thank you.”
Tip #2: For high tech AAC, familiarize yourself with the device and model how to use it. Start with a smaller set of options as your student learns how to use the device.
Tip #3: Honor all communication attempts. Whatever they communicate, go with it and reinforce what your student says. This helps acknowledge their voice and how they feel.
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Conclusion
AAC Awareness Month is an opportunity to celebrate the importance of communication and to advocate for others. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or SLP, your support makes a difference–and ensures that everyone is able to communicate. This October, let’s use this month to foster a world where everyone has a voice–regardless of how that voice is expressed.
Additional Resources
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