What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?
In order to understand what augmentative communication is, we must define communication. Communication is essential for interacting with others, and according to the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), “Full interpersonal communication substantially enhances an individual’s potential for education, employment, and independence.” For people with certain types of disabilities, the normal means of communicating, such as speaking or writing, are not adequate enough to meet their communication needs. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) refers to ways (other than speech) that are used to send a message from one person to another. Most people have ways of “augmenting” their daily communication: facial expressions, gestures, and writing help to clarify the messages that they send. For people with severe speech or language problems sometimes use these standard nonverbal means for communicating, but they may also require special augmentative techniques that hav
