Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)…It’s not as scary as you think!
It all begins with an idea.
I remember my first day working with a students who use AAC to communicate. I saw iPads with buttons that spoke, paper based communication boards with words that students pointed to, buttons that they pressed to speak certain messages, whole books/binders full of pictures. I even saw children who had such significant difficulties moving their bodies that they used their eyes to point to pictures. I remember feeling intimidated and thinking “What do I know?!”
However, I had someone to remind me that “its not that deep!”. All these children want to do is connect with someone and have build a meaningful relationship with them. Afterall, that’s what communication is at its core. So, let’s end the stigma on AAC and break it down a little here.
What is AAC?
AAC is any tool that helps us either navigate our environment or get our messages and ideas across to someone. When we think about it, EVERYONE uses AAC.
If you drove your car and looked to the traffic signs to guide you through the streets safely, you used AAC.
If you’ve ever been in a foreign country where you didn’t know the language and found the bathroom by locating the universal symbol of the bathroom, you used AAC.
If you use subtitles when you watch TV, you used AAC.
If you texted your friends or sent a work email…you guessed it! You used AAC.
Even though some individuals, may rely more heavily on these tools, we all use and benefit from AAC.
When we talk about AAC for helping individuals communicate:
Augmentative = using the communication system to support oral speech.
Alternative = using the communication system instead of oral speech.
A big myth that has been thoroughly debunked by research is that giving someone AAC will hold them back from ever speaking. The truth is that AAC actually helps support the development of oral speech.
What now?
If you know someone who relies more heavily on AAC to communicate here are a few lessons I learned over the years.
Always have the communication system out and easily accessible for the individual. It should go with them wherever they go…just like our own voice.
Never take it away! Even when it seems like they don’t need it anymore. Imagine if your phone was taken away from you? Even though you don’t need it at all times of the day. you rely on it for certain things.
This is a new language the individual is learning. Expect you will be modeling how to use the system way more often for the individual than they will be using it at first.
This is a long process and expect it to take time.
Be patient and keep modeling!
AAC doesn’t have to be scary. At the heart of it, it’s just individuals wanting to connect with each other. The only difference is that they may be communicating in a different way than you.
In the end, our goal is really to learn how to speak their language to make communication meaningful for them.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.