What is AAC?
Augmentative and Alternative Communication AAC is a term used to describe a variety of ways to help people who find it difficult to communicate using their natural speech to communicate.
AAC is used to either "augment" (support natural speech) an individual’s communication‚ essentially like giving someone a walking stick so they can walk better. Or‚ giving them an "alternative" (replacement to natural speech) means to communicate other than their natural speech‚ like a wheelchair is a replacement to walking.
AAC systems‚ sometimes referred to as "AAC strategies" use a variety of methods and include Signing‚ gestures‚ symbols‚ pictures‚ communication books and boards‚ Low-tech and High-tech communication devices.
Who can Benefit from AAC?
Anybody of any age who finds it difficult to communicate using their natural speech can benefit from using AAC.
Some people need to use AAC due to a disability they were born with or because of something that happened to them for example stroke‚ Parkinson´s disease or an accident. They may need to use AAC to help them to communicate for a limited period or for their entire life.