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Who Benefits from Augmentative and Alternative Communication?

Any child having difficulty communicating or being understood may benefit in some way from AAC strategies. Children with cerebral palsy, autism, developmental disabilities, or rare genetic syndromes can be supported in their communication and learning through AAC.

It is your right as a parent to ask your child's teachers for an evaluation or if and how your child can benefit from AAC. Through your local school district, a team of professionals will work closely with you to help determine if your child is a good candidate for AAC services, and they will provide guidance about using AAC at home, school, and the community.

Real Life Story: Learn how one child with cerebral palsy uses AAC to communicate with his family.

When to Begin Augmentative and Alternative Communication

It is important to begin AAC as early as possible. Even if your child is already receiving speech and language therapy, he can still benefit from AAC services. Remember the goal of AAC is to help your child begin communicating with you. It is important to know that even though a child may begin to use pictures to tell you what he wants or a computer that can produce speech, it does not stop him from learning to speak. In fact, research has found that when a child begins learning to tell someone what he needs or want, it is easier to work on his speech sounds and to expand his ability to communicate.

NEXT: Getting an AAC Evaluation