AAC Awareness Month

A month dedicated to raising awareness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication — the tools, strategies, and technologies that support communication for people who cannot rely on natural speech. AAC includes everything from picture boards to speech-generating devices.

History

AAC Awareness Month has been recognized in October for over two decades. It grew from the work of AAC clinicians, researchers, and — most importantly — AAC users themselves, who advocated for the right to communicate in any way that works for them.

How to Participate

• →Learn about AAC options available to your child or client
• →Practice aided language stimulation — model AAC use yourself before expecting it from others
• →Presume competence: assume communication ability even when speech is absent
• →Advocate for AAC access and funding in your school district or through insurance
• →Follow AAC users and their families on social media — learn from their experiences directly

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