What Is AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to any method of communication that supports or replaces spoken words. AAC can include low-tech tools (like gestures, picture symbols, or communication boards) and high-tech systems such as speech-generating devices (SGDs) that produce spoken messages.

AAC doesn’t replace speech — it adds another way to communicate, giving individuals a reliable voice to connect, learn, and express themselves.

AAC gives individuals the tools to:

• Express wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings 
• Participate in social interactions and routines 
• Build receptive and expressive language 
• Develop literacy and cognitive skills through visual-verbal pairing 
• Experience success and reduce frustration in daily communication 

When communication becomes possible — and predictable — connection flourishes.

A speech-generating device (SGD) is a type of AAC system that allows a person to select words, symbols, or letters on a screen, which are then “spoken” aloud through a digital voice.
SGDs can be dedicated communication devices or tablet-based apps like TouchChat, Proloquo2Go, or LAMP Words for Life. Each system is customized to the user’s vocabulary, motor skills, and communication goals, making it possible to express anything from simple choices to complex thoughts.

AAC supports children and adults who have lost or never developed vocal speech for a variety of reasons — including autism, apraxia, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, brain injury, or other developmental or neurological conditions.

It can also help:

• Children who are over the age of three and have minimal words or who do not yet combine two or more words together 
• Individuals who are robust vocal communicators but are difficult to understand 
• People whose speech is limited to a few consistent sounds or approximations 
• Anyone who benefits from visual or technological supports to communicate clearly and effectively 

In short, AAC gives access to communication for anyone whose speech is not yet enough to meet their daily needs

Many challenging behaviors happen when a person cannot express what they want, need, or feel. AAC provides a functional alternative — a way to say “I need help,” “I’m all done,” or “I don’t like that” instead of using aggression, self-injury, or avoidance.
When individuals can successfully communicate, behavior becomes communication, and problem behaviors often decrease naturally.

AAC doesn’t prevent speech — it often encourages it. By pairing visual symbols with spoken words, AAC:

• Reinforces sound and word meaning 
• Encourages vocal attempts through modeling 
• Builds confidence by reducing pressure to “get it right” verbally 
• Supports consistent practice and repetition 

When communication is successful, motivation to use both AAC and speech grows. Over time, AAC and vocal speech work together, each supporting the other.