Augmentative and Alternative Communication Month

October is an important month for everyone to become more aware of people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication.(AAC) Augmentative and Alternative Communication is a long phrase for different means of communicating besides speech. It can be the use of:
- formal sign and gesture;
- a personalised and individual gesture system;
- a communication board using pictures to point to the message;
- a communication board using word phrases;
- a text- based mobile phone system to exchange information;
- a high tech communication system, often with a voice output system.

Email, twitter and other social media are also great ways for people who have difficult to use speech, to communicate also.

Speech Pathologists are specialists in assessing and developing functional and useful communication systems for people who have little or no speech.

The use of an AAC system will not stop a person from using speech if they are able to.

Cathy is registered with DisabilityCare, now called the National Disability Insurance Agency. Contact Cathy for an assessment or ideas for implementing your Augmentative and Alternative Communication system. Cathy can also provide training to staff working with someone who uses an AAC system.

Cathy
cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au
0466 579 855