Non Verbal Communication - Introducing AAC

Non Verbal Communication 

For many autistic people, verbal speech is not achieved.  This could be for a number of reasons, such as severe dyspraxia or other sensori-motor disruption.  

However we would like to point out here that there have been incidents where a child has grown up being non-verbal, thought to be due to their autism, when in fact it was due to unaddressed medical issues, unrelated to autism.    We therefore recommend establishing why a child is non-verbal.

Giving a person a suitable means to communicate is essential, however the communication method looks.  It is only with an effective means to communicate can someone demonstrate their intellect, make choices, find autonomy and have their basic human rights met.

A few famous Autistics like Carly Fleishman have shared their stories of how once they were given an AAC, they were able to truly have their needs met and opportunities to show their true intelligence and abilities . 

The main, wide one you may of heard of is AAC, (abbreviated  from Augmentive Alternative Communication) 

Some therapists, (as we often see with ABA) believe that the only valued method is verbal speech and spend considerable time using communication methods as a means to that end.  However this can be at the detriment of enabling a person to have an appropriate means of communication.   Also the Science community in some ways is still discovering some of these methods as AAC is a very under-addressed and under-researched area. However communicating with non-verbal autistic people, the benefits are clear and there is increasing evidence that AACs actually, almost incidentally, enhance and increase the likelihood of verbal speech.

The following articles introduce you to AAC


This app is tremendous and free:
Snap Scene pathways


For more information or questions please join our facebook group 'Autistic Allies' and we can redirect you to some excellent guidance
Autistic Allies facebook group
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