7 Things That Every AAC Specialist Should Be Doing

While our focus each October is on building awareness of AAC and promoting acceptance of those who use it, the month also gives us an opportunity to look inward. Today, we propose 7 activities that we believe to be the hallmark of those who specialize in AAC. If you consider yourself an AAC expert or someone who specializes in AAC, we invite you to reflect on these ideas.

1. Those who specialize in AAC should belong to and engage with organizations in their state or region whose mission focuses on support for people with complex communication needs.
2. Those who specialize in AAC should belong to and engage with national and/or international groups that elevate the role of AAC in society.
3. Those who specialize in AAC should be active contributors to those organizations, whether it be through their time, expertise, or financial support.
4. Those who specialize in AAC should critically evaluate new information and integrate it into their current practices.
5. Those who specialize in AAC should regularly engage in high-quality professional development that has been vetted through peer review or other evaluative processes.
6. Those who specialize in AAC should seek out information from people who use AAC and use that to adjust their clinical and educational practices.
7. Those who specialize in AAC should advocate within their professional organizations (state and national), workplaces, and government (local and national) for equitable access to AAC supports and services.

“For of those to whom much is given, much is required.” —John F. Kennedy, 1961