In the Spotlight: Pixie, AAC User
In continuation of their interview for AAC Awareness month, Pixie shares about their experience as an AAC user. Pixie is a member of the NWACS Board. They are autistic, nonverbal, and a full time symbol-based AAC user. Per Pixie’s communication preference, Pixie received and responded to the interview questions via email.
Q: What helps you use your AAC successfully?
A: One thing What helps Pixie use AAC successfully is . people being aware of AAC devices *before* meeting Pixie . and . symbol based AAC specifically . So Pixie not be having to teach about what even is AAC at same time as is trying to communicate something .
Q: What’s something that people around you can do that makes communication easier?
A: Something that people can do to make communication easier is . To be patient !!! Also , learn to notice what Pixie look like when actively working on AAC device . ( But . important to remember . each AAC user be different ways of communicating this ! ) .
Q: What are some barriers you encounter when trying to communicate using your AAC system?
A: Patience even more important when communication not face to face . real-time online communication most challenging place for Pixie to communicate in . Since people not can see if Pixie trying to communicate something , getting interrupted by accident much more frequent .
Q: Tell me about some of the obstacles you encountered when trying to get an AAC system. What helped you deal with those obstacles?
A: Most difficult part of getting AAC device was just finding speech therapist . Specifically , that not have only experience with children . and . was able willing work with adults . and . have experience working with health insurance . Pixies Guardians tried as many different places as were willing to at least try to help ( Which was very few ) , for very long time , years , before finding . There are not enough speech therapists , especially not for adults .
Pixie not can afford AAC device with out insurance help . So . When need repairs . or . new device . have to again find speech therapist sign required paperwork before health insurance will do anything .
Q: What do you think people misunderstand about AAC? What should they know?
A: For misunderstandings . So many people seem expect AAC . especially robust high tech ( expensive ) speech generating device . To “ fix “ person’s speech disability completely . when truth is very much not that at all .
AAC device make possible for Pixie communicate some . but . not everything . And only . When Pixie not too stressed to use AAC device . And . When AAC device available . so . not in rainy weather , big problem for where Pixie live . Or . when skiing , rock climbing , swimming , kayaking , hiking … All activities Pixie really like !
AAC not “ Cure “ for being nonverbal . AAC not make Pixie able communicate everything anytime easily to anyone . Is still really hard communicate . even with very best AAC device , Pixie will still struggle . AAC device help ! but , not fix Pixies brain . Pixie still have severe expressive language disorder .
See future blog posts for part 3 of Pixie’s interview! And read An Interview with Pixie: Part 1 for part one of their interview.
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