In the Spotlight: Stephanie “Steph” Fassov, MA
Joy, Gratitude, and the Conversations We Need to Have
One of my favorite parts of working in AAC is that I’m constantly learning. Research, professional learning, and clinical experience are all essential. However, some of my greatest growth has come from listening to people who use AAC share their own experiences. Their perspectives have
- challenged my assumptions,
- expanded my thinking, and
- continually shaped the way I support students, families, educators, and future clinicians.
That’s one of the reasons I’m especially excited about this year’s NWACS conference theme, Joy and Connection. Ahead of the conference, we invited each featured AAC communicator to reflect on their AAC journey, the people who have influenced them, and what joy and connection mean in their lives. Their responses are thoughtful, personal, and each offers a different perspective on this year’s theme.
For Stephanie Fassov, joy begins with gratitude.
When asked who had been most influential in her AAC journey, Stephanie’s answer wasn’t one person, it was an entire community. She credits
- AAC specialists from her childhood,
- friends,
- family,
- personal care support staff,
- mental health professionals,
- her wife,
- her energetic toddler daughter, and
- even the AAC mentees she now supports.
Together, they have helped shape her journey as an AAC communicator.
Stephanie also shared something that really stayed with me: she doesn’t take communication for granted. She remembers what it was like to be unable to communicate independently from kindergarten through fourth grade. Today, she finds joy in using her AAC systems every day. She appreciates each of the ways they allow her to connect with others.
Stephanie will be presenting: Exploring AAC Communicators’ Mental Health Challenges
That combination of gratitude, lived experience, and reflection makes Stephanie uniquely positioned to lead this conversation.
In her session, Stephanie draws on both personal experience and evidence-based frameworks to examine the unique mental health challenges AAC communicators may face. She offers thoughtful, practical ideas for moving forward.
Stephanie recorded a short video to tell us a little more about herself and the session she will be presenting.
Watch Stephanie’s video (2 1/2 minutes)
Joy and connection are powerful. So is creating space for honest conversations about the challenges that can stand in the way. Stephanie’s session reminds us that both can exist together. And that listening to AAC communicators is one of the best ways to build a more inclusive future.
I hope you’ll join us for this meaningful conversation.
Visit the conference page to learn more about this year’s NWACS conference!
Connected Posts
- Speaker Spotlight: Tracy Rackensperger, PhD
- Speaker Spotlight: Lance McLemore, BA (coming soon)
- Speaker Spotlight: Chris Klein, M.DIV. (coming soon)
Share your comments or questions.