Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) is any form of communication other than speech. AAC can include Key Word Sign, communication boards or books and speech-generating devices.
People use AAC to support their communication when they have no natural speech or when their natural speech is challenging to understand.
AAC has enabled me to get a degree, work, and interact with my family, friends and support workers.
Even the fastest AAC users can be slower than someone who uses natural speech to communicate so we need more time to have our say.
- Be patient and wait for the person to complete their message
- Be aware of the person’s facial expressions, body movements, signs or pointing
- Be mindful that technology isn’t perfect and does not always work properly
- Communicate with the person not the device
- Respect screen privacy, unless you’re invited to view. Think of an AAC device as you would someone’s phone.
- Ask yes or no questions. It’s important to try not to ask questions with binary choices. For example, do you want to wear the red t-shirt or the blue t-shirt?
- Ask one question or offer one topic for discussion at a time. It’s also an idea to check for understanding. AAC sometimes does not accurately share what the user intends to say, such as a certain emotion or humorous tone.
- Some people don’t mind if you guess what they’re trying to say but others prefer to complete the message themselves. It is best to ask the person.
- There are situations where people can not access their AAC system, such as when they are in the shower. So be aware of this and try to time your conversations well.
AAC systems are most commonly prescribed by a speech pathologist who specialises in AAC. Interestingly, one of my Hireup support workers has decided to study speech pathology after getting to know me. She has now completed her degree and is about to embark on her career as a speech pathologist!
If you’d like to learn more about AAC, visit the AGOSCI website.
Keen to read more from Fiona? You can check out her article about receiving support during COVID-19.
