Foster Empowerment with AAC through Awareness, Advocacy, and Agency
Advocacy efforts for AAC use in the classroom and community are crucial for ensuring that individuals with communication difficulties have access to the tools and resources they need to communicate effectively and participate fully in society. Here are some common and less obvious ways to advocate and support advocacy efforts for AAC use:
Raise Awareness: Educate others about the importance of AAC interventions and the benefits they offer to individuals with communication difficulties. This can include giving presentations, sharing information on social media, or organizing awareness campaigns.
Host a workshop for educators and parents on the benefits of AAC interventions and how they can be integrated into the classroom and at home.
Share success stories of individuals who have benefitted from AAC interventions on social media and organize an AAC awareness campaign in the community.
Involve Families and Caregivers: Work closely with families and caregivers to help them understand the benefits of AAC interventions and how to support their loved ones in using them.
Work with families and caregivers to provide AAC training sessions on the use of specific AAC interventions, such as communication boards, AAC apps, and speech-generating devices.
Include families and caregivers in the selection of AAC interventions and encourage them to use the same AAC system at home as is used in the classroom or therapy sessions.
Collaborate with Professionals: Work collaboratively with other professionals involved in the care of individuals with communication difficulties, such as speech-language pathologists, educators, and occupational therapists, to ensure that AAC interventions are integrated into their care plans.
Work collaboratively with speech-language pathologists, educators, and occupational therapists to ensure that AAC interventions are integrated into an individual's care plan.
Provide regular updates and progress reports to all professionals involved in an individual's care to ensure that everyone is working together to support the individual's communication needs.
Provide Training and Support: Provide ongoing training and support to individuals with communication difficulties, their families, and caregivers on the use of AAC interventions.
Provide ongoing training and support to individuals with communication difficulties, their families, and caregivers on the use of AAC interventions. This can include individual or group training sessions, check-ins, and support groups
Provide resources such as instructional videos, user manuals, and troubleshooting guides to support AAC users and their families.
Advocate for Funding: Advocate for increased funding for AAC interventions and support services at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that individuals with communication difficulties have access to the resources they need to communicate effectively.
Work with local and national advocacy organizations to lobby for increased funding for AAC interventions and support services.
Attend town hall meetings, write letters to elected officials, and organize AAC advocacy events to raise awareness of the importance of AAC interventions and the need for increased funding.
Foster a Supportive Environment: Create a supportive environment in the classroom and community that promotes the use of AAC interventions and encourages individuals with communication difficulties to use them with confidence.
Create a supportive classroom and community environment that promotes the use of AAC interventions.
Encourage peers to communicate with AAC users, display AAC boards and devices prominently, and celebrate the communication successes of AAC users.
Provide access to communication devices and accessories, such as chargers and mounting systems, to ensure that AAC interventions are always available when needed.
Engage in Research and Innovation: Engage in research and innovation in the field of AAC to develop new and effective interventions and strategies that can help individuals with communication difficulties achieve their communication goals.
Stay up to date on the latest research and innovation in the field of AAC and work to develop new and effective interventions and strategies.
Conduct research studies to evaluate the effectiveness of specific AAC interventions or strategies, and share findings with other professionals in the field.
Collaborate with developers to create new AAC technologies and devices that meet the needs of individuals with communication difficulties.
Promote Communication Agency: Communication agency refers to an individual's ability to make choices about their communication and to have control over their communication environment. Individuals using alternative and/or augmentative communication strategies often face barriers to communication access and may be subject to communication restrictions. To promote communication agency, it is important to set expectations in schools, the workplace, and the community to prioritize the individual's communication needs and preferences.
In schools: Providing opportunities for students to choose their own AAC interventions, encourage peer interactions and modeling of AAC use, and create an environment that fosters communication autonomy.
In the workplace: Establishing policies that promote AAC use, such as allowing for AAC devices and apps in meetings and presentations, and training all employees on the use of AAC interventions.
In the community: Encouraging businesses and public spaces to make accommodations for individuals who use AAC interventions, such as providing accessible communication tools or training employees on how to communicate with individuals who use AAC interventions.
By spreading awareness, maintaining agency, and supporting advocacy efforts for AAC use, we can help create a more inclusive and equitable society that values and supports the communication needs of all individuals.
Resources that can support advocacy efforts for AAC use in the classroom and community:
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides a wealth of information on AAC interventions and advocacy. Their website includes information on AAC assessment and implementation, as well as resources for families and professionals.
The International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) is a global organization that supports the use of AAC interventions and advocates for increased access to these interventions for individuals with communication difficulties.
The AAC Institute provides information and resources on AAC interventions, including device and software recommendations, research updates, and training opportunities.
The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) is a professional organization that supports the development and dissemination of assistive technology, including AAC interventions. Their website includes information on upcoming conferences, webinars, and other professional development opportunities.
The Center for AAC and Autism provides resources and training opportunities specifically focused on AAC interventions for individuals with autism.
The AAC-RERC (Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is a research center that focuses on developing new AAC technologies and interventions. Their website includes information on current research projects, publications, and other resources related to AAC interventions.
The National Center on Disability and Journalism provides resources for journalists on reporting on disability issues, including tips on using inclusive language and covering assistive technology and AAC interventions.
