This is a plain-language summary of a journal article. The article is one of 21 articles in a special issue of the AAC journal (Volume 41, Issue 3, 2025). All the articles are written or co-written by AAC users. The articles are free to read. Plain-language summaries of research are important for accessibility. Providing summaries in plain language helps make complex information easier to read. This helps to better understand and put the research into practice.
Summary of: Embracing change in AAC technology: the keyboard to my success by Jin (2025)
Tim Jin uses a communication device, at the base of his wheelchair, by typing with his toes. Tim has always been an advocate for communication for people with disabilities. Tim’s communication journey has spanned almost four decades. In this paper, he shares how times have really changed and how these changes affect himself and others who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
AAC Changes Throughout Life
Tim’s parents and teachers taught him that social skills were just as important as getting a good education. That is why they insisted that he learn AAC at an early age. Communication was the key to Tim’s success. From preschool throughout Tim’s childhood, he learned to use his natural voice as much as possible in speech therapy. During elementary school he learned how to type on a manual typewriter. Finally, he could let everyone know what he wanted. Shortly after that time, his speech-language pathologists (SLPs) got him started on other forms of AAC. SLPs are therapists who help people find the best ways to communicate for them. Since then, he has had many devices. Some were as big as a chopping board, where he needed to spell out each word letter by letter. He has also had devices as small as a pocket calculator.
Throughout the years, Tim’s parents and therapists knew he needed new devices in order to keep up with technology changes. They never restricted him with core words and with preprogrammed phrases.
Once Tim learned how to use a device and applications, it was time for him to move on to the next device. He could have outgrown the system, or had a change of needs. Tim would look to see if there was something better out there. He wanted to be a more efficient communicator. He wanted to give himself the power to say everything he wanted to say.
Tim has consistently embraced mainstream technology, while mainstream technology did not provide for his specific needs. Throughout his upbringing, he purchased technology from stores or the Internet. He even tried off-the-shelf products like a label maker. Using a keyboard too small for his toes to press well, he printed out his thoughts on labels made on his label maker. Adapting to the equipment he had made Tim a better typer.
Tim did not see these as barriers so much, but rather skill sets on how to adapt. He was trying out different gadgets to be a good communicator. He was also learning how to use different AAC systems. Tim says each AAC system has its unique operating system. An operating system is the program that you use on your device. Each operating system has its own specific task for using its devices. Tim sees this as a barrier to communication. The functionalities are the same. But the process and the keystroke and the commands to speak are different from each other. This is unlike a telephone, where the number pad is consistently there for dialing. Programming an AAC device to fit your needs on different systems can be challenging at times. There is no one design or interface that you can use. For example, different vendors have their own ways of using their devices. This is especially true when you want to program phrases. Users need to be retrained on each new device they get. Tim sees it almost like speaking with a different accent while still using the same language.
Tim has had many AAC devices. The biggest obstacle that he has faced is learning new systems for each device. Tim overcomes this barrier by trying out as many different systems as possible. He also gives feedback to the developers on what they need to improve. He hopes we will one day have a universal interface such as the number pad on a phone or an ATM machine. Tim says this will ensure smooth functionality regardless of the location, like how the number pad operates regardless of the device or language.
The Future of AAC
The future of AAC is exciting to Tim. He says the current word prediction system in AAC devices is very outdated. He would like to see artificial intelligence (AI) make word prediction more effective and faster. For example, an app that knows where he is could predict phrases or words that he has already used there. It would predict differently at home, or work, or when he is at a show seeing his favorite bands. With AI and the Global Positioning System (GPS), the app would know where he is, and it could switch vocabulary to fit that environment – such as, the albums or songs of his favorite bands.
Tim believes AAC should be changing based on the user rather than the user making changes in order to be able to use the device. Of course, there is a consequence that he wants us to be aware of. He doesn’t want AI to be so good that he does not even have to think of what to say because it has predicted all his thoughts. This could make people view our community in a bad light. He feels it would suggest that we are not creating our own thoughts. Skeptics might believe AAC users rely on AI to do all the work for them.
Regarding alternative ways to access AAC devices, Tim points out that as we age, our needs are always changing, and AAC users need to be reevaluated as they age. He believes there is a perception in our community that one assessment is enough. People think it will determine the setup they will use for the rest of their lives. For Tim, it takes longer to type out words because his toes are not as flexible as when he was younger. Tim describes how in his current set up, his device remains distant from his face. He can easily view the screen angled toward his feet. But what if his vision worsens? He compares this need to yearly health checkups. AAC users should also undergo regular checkups to improve their setup based on their changing needs and make sure the setup is still appropriate for them.
Tim reminds us that AAC users know their needs (which change over time). He encourages ongoing conversation and problem solving in the field of AAC. It should empower people with disabilities to communicate effectively and independently. He wants everyone to be given the tools they need to express themselves and fully participate in society. That way, we can strive for more independence and accessibility in every area of life. He wants us to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for all AAC users. This can be done through advocacy. It can happen through open discussion with researchers and manufacturers. Open discussion with therapists, doctors, and other clinicians is also needed.
Citation:
Jin, T. (2025). Embracing change in AAC technology: the keyboard to my success. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 41(3), 295–296.
Access the full article: https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2508484
Portions of this paper were presented at the Future of AAC Research Summit held May 13-14, 2024, in Arlington, VA. A video of the presentation is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZlAYDdKrjE&t=2s.
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