NWACS History

A Brief History of NWACS

The Northwest Augmentative Communication Society (NWACS) is the oldest and longest-running organization in the Pacific Northwest for the support of persons with complex communication needs. This nonprofit group was originally founded in the mid 1970s under the name “Pacific Northwest Non-Vocal Communication Group.” (The then-emerging field of augmentative and alternative communication referred to AAC as “non-vocal communication”. It was later changed to AAC. The name for NWACS also eventually evolved.) It pre-dates the establishment of ISAAC (the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication) in 1983, as well as its American chapter, USSAAC.

David Beukelman*, one of the foremost authorities in the field of AAC, was a driving force for the creation of what is now known as NWACS. He served as the first president of the Board. He, along with dedicated others working with children and adults with complex communication needs, sought to create a network for professionals and families in the emerging field of AAC. They held their first AAC workshop in the mid 1970s!

From about 1990 to 2015, a small, dedicated group of AAC-enthusiasts kept NWACS going. We owe a debt of gratitude to:

• Kathy Smith
• Georgia Oistad
• Mary Lee Delony
• Paula Furick

and others for volunteering their time to sustain NWACS through the decades. They held annual conferences and monthly evening seminars every year. They leave quite a legacy! In 2015, they were all retired or close to retirement. Thankfully, a few new AAC enthusiasts stepped up to help NWACS evolve and continue. And NWACS has been growing by leaps and bounds since!

Over the years, NWACS has provided annual conferences featuring prominent leaders in the field, such as:

• Janice Light,
• Patricia Dowden,
• Pat Mirenda,
• Gail Van Tatenhove,
• Caroline Musselwhite,
• Pati King-DeBaun,
• and Sarah Blackstone,
• and more (see our list of Past NWACS Conferences).

Additionally, NWACS has provided workshops and evening seminars featuring local specialists. These events helped practitioners and families network and stay current with

• information,
• techniques,
• and equipment.

More recently, NWACS has developed a website and social media presence. Our aim is to provide online information, resources, and opportunities for networking with others. NWACS is committed to meeting the needs of its members and larger AAC community.