What is AAC?
People communicate in many ways: speech, body language, facial expression, shared gaze, gestures, sign language, culturally relevant gestures, touch, text, and pictures. People learn to communicate because they usually have many people to talk with for many different reasons.
It is a common fact of life that some people are born without the ability to speak for a variety of neurobiological reasons. However, this does not mean they cannot learn to communicate in other ways.
Some people lose their ability to speak due to stroke, neurological illness, or head injury.
No matter what the reason for not developing speech or losing speech, there are communication tools and strategies that give people alternate ways to convey thoughts, express messages, and exchange information.
These communication alternatives or supplements are called Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Aided AAC means the communication alternative is “external” to the person; it can be electronic/computerized or paper-based, but either way, it is carried externally to the person or mounted on a wheelchair, bed frame, or other stable holder. Examples of aided AAC computerized devices are an iPad or a tablet, a device dedicated for speech only (not text, email, calling or controlling lights in the house), or an integrated system that provides both written and spoken communication along with ability to send email, do text messaging, call a friend, or control different electronic functions in the house. Most aided AAC devices can be accessed in ways other than a finger point. If a person can purposefully activate tiny or large muscles anywhere in the body, make head turns, blink eyes, or even eye gaze now, people can connect into their aided device, and communicate.
Unaided AAC is not the same as aided. Unaided AAC is what people naturally carry with them, like sign language, gestures, or body language. A person who can easily move their fingers, hands and arms in relation to their body can successfully use sign language for all communication purposes.
For children who cannot move their fingers, and have other complex physical challenges, aided AAC systems (non-electronic or electronic) have the potential to help children learn language and literacy for both spoken and written communication. AAC gives children ways socialize, refuse/protest/negate, or get/give information. These are all necessary functions for full participation in education and everyday life.
For adults who have lost their ability to speak, AAC offers numerous ways to continue transmitting thoughts and participating in life.
People communicate in many ways – AAC is just one of those ways.