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The International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) established International AAC Awareness Month in October 2007. It is celebrated around the world each October. The goal is to:

• raise awareness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and

• to inform the public about the many different ways in which people communicate.

ISAAC has chosen “Vibes of AAC: Check it Out!” as this year’s theme for International AAC Awareness Month. ISAAC also asks that we use the hashtag #AACaware24 on social media.

As emotional beings, all parties come away from communicative interactions with a vibe. A vibe of the person/people they interacted with. A vibe of the encounter. 

When we interact with AAC users, what vibe do we give off? Patient and friendly? Genuinely curious about their thoughts and opinions? Comfortable and engaging? Interested in what they have to say? Or something else? 

When we interact with AAC users, what vibe do we sense about them?

If we haven’t had many opportunities to interact with a variety of AAC users, we may feel nervous or awkward. We may not know how to best interact with them. We may feel confused. We may be dismissive and overlook them. 

This AAC Awareness Month is a good opportunity to learn how we can be better communication partners!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

LEARN MORE ABOUT BEING A GOOD COMMUNICATION PARTNER

• 7 Ways to include AAC users in conversation by Amanda Hartmann

• AAC Etiquette Essentials: Chatting with Someone Using Tech to Talk by Scott Thomas

• AAC in a Group Setting by Lance McLemore

• Becoming an AAC ally by Beth Moulam

• Dos and Don’ts for speaking with AAC users by Chloe Rothschild and Lydia Wayman

• Let’s Talk AAC: More About The Right to Make Comments and Share Opinions on the NWACS blog

• Let’s Talk AAC: The Right to Access Environments and Interactions as Full Communication Partners (Communication Right #12) on the NWACS blog

• Let’s Talk AAC: The Right to be Addressed Directly and Not be Spoken for or Talked about in the Third Person (Communication Right #14) on the NWACS blog

• Top Tips for Speaking to an AAC User, From an AAC User video from PATINSProject

• Check out this collection of resources for free online communication partner training

• Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Allies: Strategies for Effective Communication Partnerships, a 10-part series from Children’s Hospital Colorado - In recognition of International AAC Awareness Month, complimentary registration will be provided to all individuals (professionals, parents, and students) throughout the month of October.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AAC

• Join us for the 2024 NWACS Virtual Fall Conference (happening October 5, 2024)

• Register for one or more of the Centre for AAC Awareness Month webinars (free; note: registration closes October 1st!; these are international, so also note the time diffrerence)

• Register for one or more of the Avaz Insights with Avaz webinar series throughout October 2024 (free; these are international, so note the time difference)

• Register for one or more of the TechOWL “lunch and learn” webinar series throughout October 2024 (free)

• Register for the ISAAC Virtual Event 2024 (October 29-30, 2024)

• Join the Ask Me, I’m an AAC User! (24-Hour Rule) group on Facebook

• Explore the NWACS website

OTHER

• Check out sales happening for AAC Awareness Month (graphic from Lauren Enders Gonzales, MA, CCC-SLP)

• Nominate an AAC User for an OpenAAC Spotlight (spotlights by OpenAAC are for AAC users of any age and level of proficiency)

• Support NWACS

• Volunteer with NWACS! Send us an email to let us know your interest.

• Buy something in the NWACS Shop

• Make a donation to NWACS

Check back throughout the month to see if we’ve found more ideas!

You may also find inspiration from ideas we shared in previous years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Stay connected with NWACS for more throughout the month and beyond!

• through our email newsletter (subscribe to our email list),

• through out blog and website,

• on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

How are you celebrating and promoting AAC this AAC Awareness Month? Tell us on social media or below in the comments!