Augmentative and alternative communication for speaking autistic adults: Overview and recommendations

Added on 06/10/2024

Type de contenu

Journal article of the type Perspective ( ; english)

Alyssa Hillary Zisk * , Elizabeth Dalton
Augmentative and alternative communication for speaking autistic adults: Overview and recommendations published in the journal "Autism in adulthood" n°1, vol.2, 8 pages , doi: 10.1089/aut.2018.0007

*One co-author has publicly identified as autistic. [Learn more about this mention]

=> Unrestricted access and free

Summary/Presentation

In recent years, technologies used for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) have seen increasing development and availability. As a result, more and more autistic people are using AAC. With the increased use of AAC by autistic people, research on autism and AAC has also increased. However, the vast majority of this research focuses on nonspeaking autistic children. AAC use by autistic adults and by speaking autistic people has received limited academic attention. Speaking autistic adults often use AAC and many have publicly shared information about their strategies and experiences. In this article, we provide an overview of the speech differences autistic adults choose to support through AAC, including varying difficulties with speech depending on environment and content. We also discuss the technologies and strategies adopted by autistic adults, including free or low-cost tools that are not specific to AAC, mobile technologies, and signed languages or gestures. We explore barriers to AAC use, including a lack of awareness of relevant options, misconceptions about who AAC supports are for, and the cost of dedicated AAC applications or devices. We then provide suggestions for autistic adults, people supporting autistic adults, and researchers. Overall communication—rather than speech—should be prioritized. Mainstream communication technologies can support communication for autistic adults and a variety of tools can support communication across contexts. Further research into the use and effectiveness of AAC for autistic adults is needed, as is research on barriers to AAC use.

For your information:

(1) References in blue are resources listed on our site.

(2) Authors listed in this bibliography whose names are in color have published other resources referenced on the site. Clicking on the name allows you to see the list of resources they have published and shared on the site.

(3) Authors whose names are followed by an asterisk have publicly disclosed being autistic.

  • B. Allen (2015). "Notes on not speaking." In: Sequenzia A, Grace EJ, eds. Typed Words, Loud Voices. Fort Worth, TX: Autonomous Press.

  • A. Baggs* (2012). "Autism, speech, and assistive technology", In: Bascom J, ed. Loud Hands: Autistic People Speaking. Washington, DC: The Autistic Press.

  • D. Beukelman, P. Mirenda (2013). "Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting Children and Adults with Complex Communication Needs", 4th ed. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

  • N. Brady, S. Bruce, A. Goldman, K. Erickson, B. Mineo, B. Ogletree, D. Paul, M. Ann Romski, R. Sevcik, E. Siegel, J. Schoonover, M. Snell, L. Sylvester, K. Wilkinson (2016). "Communication Services and Supports for Individuals With Severe Disabilities: Guidance for Assessment and Intervention". American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 121(2). doi:10.1352/1944-7558-121.2.121

  • D. Nelson Bryen, Y. Chung, S. Lever (2010). "What You Might Not Find in a Typical Transition Plan! Some Important Lessons From Adults Who Rely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication". Perspect Augment Altern Commun, 19(2). doi:10.1044/aac19.2.32

  • K. Elmore, L. Meloncon, C. James (2014). "Embracing interdependence: Technology developers, autistic users, and technical communicators", In: Meloncon L, ed. Rhetorical Accessability: At the Intersection of Technical Communication and Disability Studies. New York, NY: Routledge

  • J. Farrall (2013). "AAC Apps and ASD: Giving Voice to Good Practice". Perspect Augment Altern Commun, 22(3). doi:10.1044/aac22.3.157

  • E. Hanson (2014). "My Client Talks! Do I Still Need to Consider AAC in my Treatment Planning? Speech Supplementation Strategies: AAC for Clients Who Talk!". Perspect Augment Altern Commun, 23(3). doi:10.1044/aac23.3.124

  • M. Hines, S. Balandin, L. Togher (2011). "Communication and AAC in the Lives of Adults with Autism: The Stories of Their Older Parents". Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 27(4). doi:10.3109/07434618.2011.587830

  • C. Holyfield, K. Drager, J. Kremkow, J. Light (2017). "Systematic review of AAC intervention research for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder". Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 33(4). doi:10.1080/07434618.2017.1370495

  • D. Hughes (2014). "Editorial: The Evolving Profile of AT and AAC Users". Perspect Augment Altern Commun, 23(3). doi:10.1044/aac23.3.115

  • S. Jones* (2015). "The song of life unfolding", In: Sequenzia A, Grace EJ, eds. Typed Words, Loud Voices. Fort Worth, TX: Autonomous Press.

  • C. Kim (2015). "A barrier of sound, not of feeling", In: Sequenzia A, Grace EJ, eds. Typed Words, Loud Voices. Fort Worth, TX: Autonomous Press.

  • A. Kimmel (2015). "Interview", In: Sequenzia A, Grace EJ, eds. Typed Words, Loud Voices. Fort Worth, TX: Autonomous Press

  • L. Foran Lewis (2016). "Exploring the Experience of Self-Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults". Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 30(5). doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.03.009

  • L. Foran Lewis (2016). "Realizing a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder as an adult". Int J Mental Health Nurs, 25(4). doi:10.1111/inm.12200

  • J. Light (1989). "Toward a definition of communicative competence for individuals using augmentative and alternative communication systems". Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 5(2). doi:10.1080/07434618912331275126

  • P. Mirenda (2013). "Autism Spectrum Disorder: Past, Present, and Future". Perspect Augment Altern Commun, 22(3). doi:10.1044/aac22.3.131

  • P. Mirenda, D. Wilk, P. Carson (2000). "A Retrospective Analysis of Technology Use Patterns of Students with Autism over a Five-Year Period". J Spec Educ Technol, 15(3). doi:10.1177/016264340001500301

  • T. Rackensperger, C. Krezman, D. Mcnaughton, M. Williams, K. D'Silva (2005). "'When I First Got It, I Wanted to Throw It Off a Cliff': The Challenges and Benefits of Learning AAC Technologies as Described by Adults who use AAC". Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 21(3). doi:10.1080/07434610500140360

  • S. Michael Robertson (2016). "Neurodiversity, Quality of Life, and Autistic Adults: Shifting Research and Professional Focuses onto Real-Life Challenges". DSQ, 30(1). doi:10.18061/dsq.v30i1.1069

  • M. Sedgewick (2017). "The rugged beauty of creating a neuroqueer space", In Ryskamp D, Harvey S, eds. Spoon Knife 2: Test Chamber. Fort Worth, TX: Neuroqueer Press; 140–15

  • S. Sennott, A. Bowker (2009). "Autism, AAC, and Proloquo2Go". Perspect Augment Altern Commun, 18(4). doi:10.1044/aac18.4.137

  • A. Sequenzia, E. Grace (2015). "Typed Words, Loud Voices", Fort Worth, TX: Autonomous Press.

  • K. Sibley (2015). "My cat comes when my tablet calls him. In: Sequenzia", In: Sequenzia A, Grace EJ, eds. Typed Words, Loud Voices. Fort Worth, TX: Autonomous Press.

  • J. Sigafoos, E. Drasgow (2001). "Conditional Use of Aided and Unaided AAC". Focus Autism Other Dev Disabl, 16(3). doi:10.1177/108835760101600303

  • J. Sinclair (2012). "Autism Network International: The development of a community and its culture", In Bascom J, ed. Loud Hands: Autistic People Speaking. Washington, DC: The Autistic Press; 22–70.

  • A. von Woerkom (2015). "June 16, 2002", In: Sequenzia A, Grace EJ, eds. Typed Words, Loud Voices. Fort Worth, TX: Au- tonomous Press.

  • L. Wayman, C. Rothschild, C. Cummings (2017). "But You Can Talk! Alternative Communication for Verbal Individuals with ASD", Presented at 49th Annual Autism Society National Conference; July 12–15.

  • M. Williams (1995). "The internet and AAC", Alternatively Speaking, 2(3):1–6

  • M. Williams, D. Beukelman, C. Ullman (2012). "AAC Text Messaging". Perspect Augment Altern Commun, 21(2). doi:10.1044/aac21.2.56

This resource is cited in 2 resources referenced on the site:

This resource has not (yet) been cited on Bluesky.


 
Summarize/Comment on/Translate this reference?