Mission, Vision, Values

The Northwest Augmentative Communication Society (NWACS) is a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the communication effectiveness of persons who can benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

The Message From The Board offers reflections and updates from the past year and our vision and intentions for NWACS in the current year.

MISSION

  1. Raise awareness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) locally, nationally, and internationally.

  2. Improve access to necessary assistive technology for individuals with communication challenges locally, nationally, and internationally.

BELIEFS

We believe communication is a basic human right.

VISION

We envision a world in which people’s voices are heard and valued equitably --- a world of true inclusion.

VALUES

Inclusion, Innovation, Integrity, Education, & Equity 

NWACS celebrates diversity and inclusion. We recognize that the fields governing AAC - healthcare and education - have legacies of discrimination and exclusion. Unfortunately, these systemic inequities continue.

We oppose discrimination based on any part of a person's identity, including:

  • disability,

  • neurodivergence,

  • gender identity or expression,

  • sexual orientation,

  • race,

  • ethnicity,

  • socioeconomic status,

  • age,

  • religion, or

  • citizenship.

We know that representation matters. Having perspectives that represent the AAC users, caregivers, and providers of our community will allow our work to be the best it can be. The NWACS Board welcomes feedback from our community on how we can do better.

GOALS

We believe in the goals of the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC), a chapter of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). We are striving to achieve those goals in our local community.