AAC Month - Student Responses

AAC encompasses all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking. People of all ages can use AAC if they struggle with speech or language skills. Augmentative means to add to someone's speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. 

"So am I augmentative or alternative?" - Anton

That was a great question that we had not even considered so we incorporated it into our lessons and discussions. This is a benefit of RPM - we can go with the student to have an unplanned discussion or tangent, but still have structure to return to as needed. We often learn as much as we teach.

The student then answered their own question:"Augmentative because I can speak, but my communication is so much more." - Anton

Many of our students also said augmentative including Declan, "Augmentative because I do have speech I just need to work on it more." He mainly needs his letterboard for more in depth discussion like this or when he gets stuck meaning, in his words,"I just can not get the words out. It is like my mouth gets stuck, but my brain knows what it wants to say." He described it as "I get stuck and need the prompt (of the letterboard) to help me."

Anton has a similar use of AAC, yet described it differently. "So I can speak to navigate the speech-centered world, but that is surface level and impulse driven by my emotions and surroundings. To really think and express myself, I need to type with support for attention and regulation. Even physically independent, I need that support." - Anton

We generally will ask students to imagine others that might have a similar experience to build perspective and here it works to help others have better perspective as well.

Anton responded,"maybe an intermediate language user where they can converse in familiar contexts, but are constantly aware and thinking. The effort and anxiety are exhausting."

Declan was more direct, stating "a stutter" and that his speech is impacted similarly to a stutter. "I get anxious when there is an expectation of me (to speak)."

These answers allow us to better understand how external goals for these individuals can actually hinder their progress. The more we stress the skill, the more we might actually prevent it. We have learned from our mistakes when trying to move to independent communication too fast or without student emotional readiness and actually lost progress. We now value autonomy over independence.

The anxiety response is not the case for all of our students, though. Another student reflected on their desire to have multimodal communication in general. They prefer speech, but when they struggle or the are not understood, they have the ability and autonomy to switch to another mode of communication like handwriting, a letterboard (held themselves or by someone else), or a fixed keyboard.

"Oftentimes it is hard to retrieve speech so options are helpful. It helps to have different modalities to retrieve as all serve different purposes at different times. It also helps to keep the fatigue down and is very empowering." - Ian

Fatigue is a huge issue for most of the individuals we support since they need to put in considerable effort to coordinate their muscles, attention, and regulation. A common criticism of AAC, including AAC devices, sign language, and even RPM, is that it will limit speech. We, however, believe that options only strengthen overall communication and can be used to build other skills like speech.

"Some think it is limiting speech. I am a good counterexample. It augments my speech and supports my communicative ability. My speech is limited, unclear, and tiring. Spelling is difficult too, but gives me autonomy and opportunity." - Darren

Another adult gave only one comment on the topic and elected to then do something else.

"The real question is why it is such a big deal. Seems silly to care so much about how other people communicate. The effort should go into making communication possible. I love that about here because I am a person first and allowed to communicate any way." - Ben

So, the next time you see someone using a device, signing, texting, writing, or using any form of communication, remember that AAC is for everyone whenever they need it. Listen to the AAC users for what they need. It makes their communication easier, but is often still much more difficult than how most can just talk.

Final thoughts to share from Declan:

"Don’t judge me because sometimes I can’t get the words out and need a prompt. I do have speech, but sometimes my mouth does not work."