7th October 2022
October is AAC Awareness Month
What is AAC?
Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) is a set of tools and strategies that can be used to solve every day communicative challenges. It covers a range of techniques which support, or replace, spoken communication, including:
- Gestures
- Signing
- Symbols
- Communication Boards/Books
- Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA)
What can you do?
- If someone under your care is having difficulties communicating:
- Ask if they use any systems to support their communication and encourage them to use them.
- Consider sending them any questions you need to ask them ahead of time, to enable them to prepare their responses.
- Make your working area communication friendly. For example, having a picture chart with all the food and drink options available in the canteen.
- Get curious and familiarise yourself with AAC.
Take a look at this parody video which demonstrates some different forms of AAC: SLT Graduates 2012- Giving Voice- Call Me Maybe Parody - YouTube