AAC

AAC means Augmentative and Alternative Communication. AAC is anything other than speech that a person uses to help them meet their communication needs. Learn more about Types of AAC.

AAC Abandonment

AAC abandonment is when a person stops using their AAC device even when it is still needed and in working order.

Aided Language Input

Aided language input, or modeling, refers to communication partners using the AAC system to communicate with and around the AAC learner. The goal is to immerse the AAC learner in their AAC language.

AT

AT means Assistive Technology. AT is any product, equipment, or system that enhances learning, working, and daily living for people with disabilities.

Attributing Meaning

Attributing meaning is an important communication partner strategy. It means

1. identifying communication acts, such as

   • body movements (reaching for, pushing away, looking at, turning away, etc.)

   • facial expressions

   • vocalizations

   • activations on an AAC system

2. making a smart guess at what the person may be trying to communicate with that communication act, taking into account the context/situation and what we know about the person

3. responding to the intent being communicated by all communication acts; this can include

   • describing the behavior you are identifying as a communication act (“I see you smiling!”)

   • state what you think it means (“I think you like that!”)

   • model a way to express that meaning using AAC (LIKE)

   • honor their communication or otherwise respond to their communication act

Autonomous Communication

Autonomous communication is being able to communicate your own authentic messages and intentions. Communication autonomy is not related to the person’s ability to independently operate their AAC system. It does mean that the person is able to say whatever they want (to whoever they want, in the time and place of their choosing).

CCN

CCN means complex communication needs. People with complex communication needs are not able to meet their communication needs by using verbal speech (mouth words).

Communication Bill of Rights

The Communication Bill of Rights is a list of 15 basic communication rights of all people. Read more about the Communication Bill of Rights.

Communication Functions

Communication functions are all the different reasons that we communicate. We communicate to get our wants and needs met. We also communicate to inform, persuade, and motivate. For social connectedness. And so much more! Read more about communicative functions.

Communicative Competence

Communicative competence is a group of skills that let a person communicate about anything to anyone. This includes skills in the areas of

• linguistic,

• operational,

• social,

• strategic,

• psychosocial,

• emotional,

• and self-advocacy,

• as well as a supportive environment.

Learn more about communicative competence in our blog series.

Context-Dependent Communicator

A context-dependent communicator is a person of any age who has reliable symbolic communication, but is limited to specific contexts or communication partners. Read more about communication abilities levels.

Conventional methods

Conventional methods of communication are ways of communicating that are commonly used by the larger community. The meaning is obvious and clear to communication partners (receivers). Conventional methods of communication are usually symbolic (can also include common gestures and facial expressions).

Core Words/ Vocabulary

Core words are a set of 300-400 words that make up about 80% of what we say. Core words are mostly verbs, pronouns, adjectives, prepositions, and other words that carry a lot of meaning. Core words are flexible. They can be used across contexts, activities, and environments. Read more about core words.

Dedicated Device

A “dedicated device” is an AAC tool designed and made by a specialized company to give people who need AAC a way to communicate. Non-dedicated devices are electronic devices you can buy “off the shelf” and add software or apps to so they function as AAC systems. Learn more HERE

Dynamic Communication System

Dynamic communication systems are a type of high-tech AAC. The display of the system changes or opens to new pages when buttons are pressed.

Emergent Communicator

An emergent (or emerging) communicator is a person of any age who does not have a reliable means of expressive communication using symbolic communication. Read more about communication abilities levels.

Fringe Words/ Vocabulary

Fringe words are low frequency words that are specific to a person, place, topic, or activity. Fringe words are typically nouns (names of people, places, things) and make up only 20-25% of what we say. These words are restrictive and only useful when we are talking about the particular topic or things.

IDD

IDD means Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. These are disabilities that are usually present at birth, but may start sometime during childhood, and affect the person’s physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development.

Independent Communicator

An independent communicator is a person who can communicate when, where, why, and to whom they want about anything they want. Read more about communication abilities levels.

Modeling

Modeling, or aided language input, refers to communication partners using the AAC system to communicate with and around the AAC learner. The goal is to immerse the AAC learner in their AAC language.

Motor Planning

Motor planning is a skill that helps us remember and do the steps in the right order to make a movement happen. Over time it allows a person to automatically do something without a lot of thinking to figure out how. In AAC it often refers to having words always in the same place so the AAC user can use a consistent motor plan to say those words.

Multimodal Communication

Multimodal communication is when a person can communicate in a variety of different ways. For example, a person communicating by using a combination of:

• body language

• vocalizations and/or speech

• gestures and/or signs

• light-tech AAC

• high-tech AAC

• spelling

Read more about multimodal communication.

Non-symbolic Communication

Communication that does not use symbols (e.g., sign language, spoken/written words, pictures, symbols). Non-symbolic communication includes using: gestures, vocalizations (sounds), intonation, facial expressions, body movements, proximity, eye gaze, and “behaviors”. It can range from unconventional to conventional.

OT

OT means Occupational Therapist or occupational therapy.

One-hit Speech Output Device

One-hit speech output devices are communication tools activated by a single press. They are also called single message communication devices. These are usually battery-operated devices. A message can be voice recorded on it. The recorded message can be played back by activating the device. A BIGmack is an example. Or explore our Light- & Mid-Tech resource for a list of companies offering various "one-hit speech output" devices.

Partner-Assisted Scanning

The communication partner gives options by showing and/or speaking items. The communicator makes selections by indicating “yes” or “no”. For more information, watch this video from Cincinnati Children’s.

Personal Core/ Vocabulary

Personal core are fringe words are that really important to and more frequently used by a person. These might be words important in the person’s culture or family, related to medical and or sensory needs of the person, special interests of the person, names of people in the person’s life, etc.

PT

PT means Physical Therapist or physical therapy.

SGD or Speech Generating Device

SGD means Speech Generating Device. SGDs are specially made devices for helping people communicate by speaking messages out loud.

Single Message Communication Device

Single message communication devices are communication tools activated by a single press. These are usually battery-operated devices. A message can be voice recorded on it. The recorded message can be played back by activating the device. A BIGmack is an example. Or explore our Light- & Mid-Tech resource for a list of companies offering various "one-hit speech output" devices.

SLP

SLP means Speech Language Pathologist.

Smart Partner

Smart communication partners share the responsibility with the AAC user for successful interactions. They use a variety of strategies to support the person to communicate autonomous messages.

SNUG

SNUG means spontaneous novel utterance generation. SNUG means having the ability (and access to words) to combine words in the way you want to say anything you want. Read more HERE

Static Communication System

Static communication systems are a type of AAC with a single page or screen only. The display of the system does not change or open to new pages when buttons are pressed.

Symbolic Communication

Communication using symbols that have a shared meaning between the sender and the receiver. Symbols include: sign language, spoken/written words, pictures, symbols, and objects.

Text-to-speech (TTS)

Text-to-speech is a type of assistive technology that reads the text on a screen out loud.

Unconventional methods

Unconventional methods of communication are ways of communicating not commonly used by the larger community. The meaning is less obvious and is often unique to the communicator (sender). Unconventional methods of communication tend to be non-symbolic.

Verbal Referencing

Verbal referencing is a supportive teaching technique. The communication partner describes what the person is doing. Then they explain what they think that action means. For example, “I see you turning your head away. I think that means you do not want a drink.”

Visual Supports

A visual support is an item, such as

• an object

• a photograph, symbol, or drawing

• a graphic

• something written

that helps a person understand and/or remember. We all use visual supports. Think about your calendar, planner, sticky note reminders, and to-do lists!

VOCA

VOCA means Voice Output Communication Aid. VOCAs are like SGDs. The speech output is either:

• digitized (recorded) speech or

• synthesized (computer generated/artificial)