What is AAC?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication: all the ways a person can communicate beyond, or alongside, spoken words.
What AAC looks like
AAC ranges from no-tech to high-tech. It can be gestures and key word signs, photo and symbol boards, communication books, or speech-generating devices and apps where a person selects words that are spoken aloud.
Most people use a mix. Just like everyone, AAC users communicate differently depending on the moment: a glance, a sign, a device, a word.
Clearing up the myths
AAC does not stop speech from developing. Research consistently shows the opposite: having a reliable way to communicate reduces frustration and often supports spoken language.
There is no "too young" or "not ready". Nobody has to earn the right to communicate. We don't wait for babies to prove they're ready before we talk to them, and the same applies to AAC.
Using AAC is not giving up. It's giving someone a voice for right now, whatever the future holds.
The role of the people around you
AAC works when the people around the person use it too. That means modelling: pointing to symbols as you speak, using the device yourself, making it available at dinner, in the car and at the park, not just in therapy sessions.
This is why we coach the people around the person, not just the AAC user. Being a great communication partner matters more than any piece of technology.
Where to start
If speaking is hard, unreliable or exhausting for someone you care about, AAC is worth exploring. There's no downside to having more ways to communicate. Get in touch and we'll help you find what fits. You may also like our guides on understanding Autism and respectful language.