Blogs - AssistiveWare

Overview

2023 AAC terminology professionals families Blog header

What AAC terminology should I use? - insights from a community survey

Words can shape perceptions. So, we asked what words people like, use, dislike, or don’t understand related to AAC. Here we share the survey results and our recommendations on what words to use and what words to avoid.

10 minute read

2023 Collaboration series Dear Teacher Blog header

To my fellow teachers using AAC- building collaborative relationships in your AAC teams

Education Specialist and teacher Shannon Braithwaite shares her experience as a teacher using AAC in the classroom and tips for working with an AAC team. This article is part of AssistiveWare’s team collaboration series, focusing on how all members of the AAC team can work together.

9 minute read

2023 Collaboration series AAC user Blog header

Including AAC users in AAC teams

AAC users Cole Sorensen and Donnie TC Denome share their perspectives on including AAC users in your AAC teams. This article is part of AssistiveWare’s team collaboration series, focusing on how all members of the AAC team can work together.

5 minute read

You are not broken

Even as we have shifted from the idea of autism awareness to focus on autism acceptance, many of the campaigns out there have focused on how those around autistic people can learn to accept their autism.

3 minute read

2023 Ability capability and capacity Blog header

Speaking and AAC use - ability, capability and capacity

This article explores the subtle difference between ability, capability, and capacity. How to distinguish them, and how they act as a foundation for identifying and resolving barriers to communication.

6 minute read

How to talk about AAC and AAC users (according to them)

Words are the building blocks of language, and language is how we tell stories. It’s how we tell each other who we are. Words can shape perceptions—calling AAC a “clinical practice” paints a very different picture from saying AAC is “all the ways we communicate.”

17 minute read

202210 AAC Month More to say Blog header

Nonspeaking people have more to say

For AAC Awareness Month 2022, we’re introducing #MoretoSay, a campaign to challenge assumptions about people who cannot speak. Assumptions that they have no opinions or anything to add to a conversation. Pam Harris, an AAC expert and Josh’s mom found that her son had more to say.

3 minute read

Your child has been diagnosed with nonspeaking autism? Read this first.

Autistic AAC user Darla, provides insight to parents who are starting their journey with nonspeaking autism.

5 minute read

Autistic Pride 2022 Blog header - people over gold infinity symbol

Modeling Autistic Pride

Teaching autistic children Pride is like teaching them to use AAC. You have to model pride for them and put them in the right environment.

3 minute read

Localized English Vocabulary visuals Blog header

Your AAC app, adapted to where you are

Wherever you are in the English-speaking world, Proloquo likely has the words you need. AssistiveWare is a global company, and we designed Proloquo to be relevant to you.

3 minute read

Autism Acceptance Month 2022 - hands supporting the autism infinity symbol

6 ways to become an autism ally

As an autistic person, Autism Acceptance Month can be rocky. It is thirty days of striving to be heard over the voices of non-autistic people. This year, we at AssistiveWare want to focus on how you can be a better ally to autistic people.

4 minute read

Two people using AAC devices sit next to each other . Above them are sketches of different symbols including a book, IUD, condom, film camera, gender symbols, hospital cross, and hugging

AAC users need vocabulary to talk about sex, sexuality, and body parts

At AssistiveWare, we want to make sure that AAC users can say anything, anywhere, at any time. Following this mission, Proloquo2Go 7.7 includes symbols and vocabulary for body parts, sexuality, and intimacy. In this blog post, Donnie TC Denome explains why this vocabulary is essential for all AAC users of all ages to have access to.

5 minute read