AAC Awareness Month - October Communication Event
Author: International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC)
Published: 2018/09/27 - Updated: 2026/02/21
Publication Type: Awareness, Appreciation
Category Topic: Awareness - Related Publications
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This information covers AAC Awareness Month, an annual October initiative launched in 2007 by the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), the leading global organization in the AAC field. The announcement details how the month raises public awareness of augmentative and alternative communication technologies and strategies that help people with little or no speech communicate in everyday life. It outlines the "Dare to Lead" theme, ISAAC's worldwide chapter activities, and the role of both high-tech and low-tech communication aids in supporting independence. The content is particularly relevant for people with complex communication needs, their families, therapists, educators, and researchers seeking to understand how AAC devices and methods can remove barriers to participation in community life - Disabled World (DW).
- Topic Definition: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Augmentative and alternative communication, commonly known as AAC, refers to the methods, tools, and strategies used to supplement or replace spoken language for individuals who have limited or no functional speech. AAC encompasses a broad spectrum of approaches, from low-tech options such as picture boards, symbol charts, and manual sign systems to high-tech solutions including tablet-based apps and dedicated speech-generating devices that produce synthesized voice output. These systems are used by people with a wide range of conditions, including cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, aphasia, ALS, and other neurological or developmental disabilities that affect speech production. The goal of AAC is not to replace natural speech where it exists but to give individuals a reliable means of expressing needs, ideas, and opinions so they can participate more fully in education, employment, and social life.
Introduction
ISAAC International Augmentative and Alternative Communication Awareness Month
ISAAC, the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, is pleased to announce that October is designated as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month. This ISAAC initiative began in 2007.
ISAAC's goal is to create worldwide awareness about how AAC can help individuals with little or no speech, communicate using assistive technology tools and strategies to solve everyday communicative challenges.
Main Content
AAC Awareness Month, themed Dare to Lead, is dedicated to raising awareness of AAC and to inform the public about the many different ways in which people communicate using high-tech or low-tech communication aids and innovative communication strategies. The month of celebration is also designed to sing the praises of people who use AAC and their leadership within their communities.
"AAC enables users to master their unique challenges and equips them with tools to live without limitations, restoring their ability to communicate with the world around them," said Lateef McLeod, ISAAC Chair for the Lead Committee.
"ISAAC is dedicated to integrating alternative methods of communication into society so we can focus on celebrating the gifts, heart and brilliance of people who use AAC devices. Dare to Lead is intended to inspire ISAAC members, people who use AAC aids, their families, and support teams to become community leaders, paving the way for understanding, acceptance, and awareness."
Notably, renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking was able to bring attention to the technology and people who use AAC devices. Hawking once said:
"We have a moral duty to remove the barriers to participation, and to invest sufficient funding and expertise to unlock the vast potential of people with disabilities."
Support and devices have continued to evolve over the years, making it possible for him and others to communicate, both in spoken and written form.
Earlier this year, ISAAC hosted a Short-Film Festival to feature stories from the AAC community to see community members who Dare to Lead, demonstrating their unique gifts and watch Cristian Rosas' film "My Grito" as he celebrates his love for mariachis.
One of the video entries called Aphasia shares that iPad technology:
"Helps us connect in different ways with each other, because we all have different ways of connecting, but as a whole group were helping each other express what we feel inside as a person with aphasia."
During this month, ISAAC engages its 15 Chapters around the world to plan and/or attend AAC awareness events in their communities, or participate in online events. Chapters are encouraged to shine a light on the visions and leadership capabilities people who use AAC toward future leadership opportunities - locally, nationally or internationally.
ISAAC members include people who use AAC, their families, therapists, teachers, students, doctors, researchers, organizations and companies that make communication aids.
Special thank you to this year's initiative sponsor Attainment Company, an independent, family-owned business based in Verona, Wisconsin, dedicated to helping people with disabilities succeed at school, work, and life.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Communication is so fundamental to daily life that its absence can isolate a person more thoroughly than almost any physical barrier. AAC Awareness Month serves a straightforward but essential purpose - it reminds the broader public that speech is only one of many ways people express themselves, and that a growing range of tools exists to support those who communicate differently. From low-tech picture boards to sophisticated speech-generating devices, these technologies have already changed countless lives, and wider awareness stands to accelerate both adoption and acceptance. The fact that ISAAC coordinates this effort across 15 chapters worldwide speaks to the scale of need and the strength of a community that continues to advocate for itself on the global stage - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) and published on 2018/09/27, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.