The Right to be Addressed Directly and Not be Spoken For or Talked About as if Not There (Right #3)

This page is an exploration of Right #3 of the NJC Communication Bill of Rights.

Speak to, not for or about.

While this may seem straightforward, speaking for and talking about an AAC user in the third person happens all too often. Even with the best of intentions. This can happen while discussing the care, education plan, or personal information of a person during a/an:

• medical appointment
• care conference
• IEP meeting
• conversation with family or friends

As we work to teach AAC users how to advocate for themselves and use their AAC systems to relay their own ideas, speaking for the user can stifle that progress. It could make the AAC user feel as if their ideas and communication do not matter. Talking about an AAC user in the third person can also portray to the person that they don’t matter. That their presence and ideas aren’t valid. This also does not provide the AAC user with agency and autonomy over the information that they would like to share with others. Speaking for or about an AAC user can put them in a situation in which their life is an “open book” by no choice of their own.

Equal Communication Partners

We can foster an environment where an AAC user is an equal communication partner by:

• Speaking directly to the AAC user, even though it is quicker to talk with their communication partner. Give time in the conversation for the AAC user to communicate in their way.
• Asking the AAC user for input.
• Responding to the AAC user’s communication directly.
• Addressing the AAC user when talking about information pertaining to them.
• Pausing when the AAC user activates their communication device. And not interrupting.
• Asking one question at a time. Wait for the AAC user’s response before asking the next question.
• Being prepared to communicate with the AAC user in multiple modalities. It is common for communication to be different from day-to-day and hour-to-hour. Honor the communication method that is working for the AAC user. Every AAC user is at a different point in their journey of learning their AAC system. They likely are using multiple methods to communicate.
• Asking the AAC user how they communicate yes, no, and other non-verbal communication (e.g., smiles for enjoyment/excitement/like, head down means listening and processing information, sigh means disagreement, etc.)
• Facing the AAC user when talking to them. Be sure their body is also included in the conversation. Move to their level.
• Allowing the AAC user to finish what they are saying. Do not finish their sentences for them.
• Asking for clarification as needed. State what you understood.
• Redirecting others to the AAC user when they have not been addressed directly.

Below are some examples of what direct communication to the AAC user should and shouldn’t look like.