Celebrating the Different Ways People Communicate

Huntington UFSD recently observed Augmentative and Alternative Communication Awareness Month, celebrating the many different ways people communicate. AAC encompasses tools that include tablets and speech-generating devices that help individuals express themselves and connect with others.

One Huntington fifth grader helped recognize that month by introducing morning announcements at her school by using a TouchChat communication device. She uses it daily to communicate with friends, family, and teachers and to actively participate in classroom learning.

“Her special moment on the announcements was a wonderful reminder that we all communicate in different ways, and every voice deserves to be heard,” said Ashley Williams, a Woodhull Intermediate School teacher. “She’s did a fantastic job and helped us celebrate the power of communication.”

“Communication is more than spoken words,” according to the Autism Inspired Academy. “It is connection, choice, and participation. This month celebrates the many ways students express themselves. Whether through gestures, picture boards, text to speech devices, or a mix of tools, AAC helps unlock meaningful communication at school, at home, and in the community.”

The goal of the special month is to “help the public understand that being unable to speak is not the same as having nothing to say,” states Enabling Devices website. “It’s how people say ‘hello,’ make their wants and needs known, and participate in everyday life. The more people who understand AAC, the more inclusive society becomes.”