Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month begins next week and our Awareness Committee has been busy at work planning activities and events to help spread the word.
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Approximately, four million Americans cannot consistently meet their day-to-day communication requirements by means of natural speech (Beukelman and Mirenda, 2013). Families report there are huge needs to increase knowledge and awareness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) (Angelo et al, 1995).
AAC Allows Access to the World
USSAAC’s participation in International AAC Awareness Month this October is one way to get the word out about AAC. The USSAAC AAC Awareness Committee is conducting the following activities:
- Posting users of AAC and/or their families’ videos on YouTube addressing one or all of the following: life experiences, importance of AAC, and/or the role of USSAAC in the lives of people who use AAC. Please send any 30 second to a minute videos you make to awareness@ussaac.org by October 15th.
- Arranging Todd Hutchinson to speak about how AAC change his life. This webinar will be Wednesday, October 16th, 2019 at 7:00pm. For more information, visit USSAAC’s webinar page.
- Passing out flyers and cards to promote AAC awareness in community places, such as parks, stores, community centers, libraries, post offices, hospitals, fire stations police stations, courthouses, and banks.
- Hosting local events, such as a “Game Day” where college students interact with AAC and the people who use it.
- Offering AAC information to school-related personnel via display at an event in New York City.
- Encouraging USSAAC members to post AAC information on their personal social media
USSAAC wants to know…how are YOU celebrating this month!
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Jill E Senner, PhD, CCC-SLP
Editor-in-Chief
SpeakUP