by Molly Menzie, MS, SLP (speech-language pathologist); NWACS board member

reading time: 1 minute

The views expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NWACS. No endorsement by NWACS is implied regarding any device, manufacturer, resource, or strategy mentioned.

Let’s dive into a quick overview of a book featuring AAC:

Book Title: A Day With No Words

Author: Tiffany Hammond

Published in 2023

Age Range: 3+

Book Type: picture book

How AAC is Featured: The main character and his mother use a speech-generating device (SGD) during a day out together.

Note: I am not an AAC user, nor am I a parent/guardian or caregiver of an AAC user. I am a speech-language pathologist. So, I am coming at the book from this perspective.

This book is written by a Black, autistic woman. It tells the story of her and her young, Black autistic son spending the day together. Her son uses a tablet as a speech-generating device (SGD) to communicate. The poetic language and colorful pictures help us understand how the boy communicates, what he’s interested in, and how he sees the world. It shows the beauty he notices that others often miss. It also points out the judgments he faces and the wrong ideas people have about him because he doesn’t speak with his voice. His mother uses her own tablet to share her messages with others, too. This shows her goal of breaking the ableist and harmful idea that people who don’t speak with their voices can’t understand or communicate. The pictures in the book show their words flying off from their tablets into the air, showing that communication can happen through devices, not just with a voice.

This book is important for everyone to read, whether they are autistic, use AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), or not. Read it, enjoy it, and help spread the message that all ways of communicating are valid.

Have you read it? What did you think of it?