Speakup Blog

aac strategies resources

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The AAC Peer Support Project: Guidelines for the Prioritization of AAC Users in Group Discussions

June 20, 2025

The AAC Peer Support Project emerged from funding from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, implemented through a contract between the Association…


Celebrate AAC Awareness Month This Year

September 8, 2024

New SpeakUp! blog post on an AAC awareness campaign funded by USSAAC mini grant program.


Physical Prompting & AAC

January 4, 2023

Most clinicians agree that having a system that does not require any prompting by an assistant or family member is the ultimate goal for an AAC system, and providing the most amount of control to the user in selecting the symbols, words, and letters in their system is...


Inclusive Emergency Planning: Supporting the Deaf Community

Image about Inclusive Emergency Planning: Supporting the Deaf CommunityPhoto of island silhouette with hurricane cloud over it. Photo by: El Nuevo Día
March 14, 2021

Most families in Puerto Rico were affected to some degree by the destruction left behind by Hurricane María in September 2017. In January 2020 the Southwestern part of the island was hit with yet another disaster, a 5.4 earthquake with multiple aftershocks and tremors...


Long Description Beyond Face to Face: Teaching Distance Communication as Part of AAC Implementation

October 30, 2019

Are AAC users able to participate in virtual environments? Are we teaching them the skills they need before they transition to adult settings? The digital divide impacts many marginalized groups, including people with disabilities. Access barriers exist in the virtual world....


The AAC Zone In Seoul, South Korea

October 22, 2019

The "AAC Zone" was a small community designed to welcome individuals who use AAC to engage with shop owners, neighbors, and society in a more powerful and interactive way. The AAC Zone consisted of 11 local businesses, services, and facilities that welcomed patrons who have...


Inspiring Communication

Image about Inspiring Communication
October 14, 2019

As the adults who are responsible for teaching children how to communicate, it's our responsibility to INSPIRE.


One size symbols? Not fit for all!

May 30, 2019

Today we are pleased to share a guest post by EA Draffan and David Banes on their work in the area of developing culturally appropriate symbols.


Mobile Apps for Your AAC Implementation Toolbox

Image about Mobile Apps for Your AAC Implementation Toolbox
May 8, 2019

When we are able to shift our focus to modeling and teaching language within highly engaging and interactive activities, we can foster more language growth and build better relationships!


Using Videos to Support Language and Learning Across the Curriculum

Image about Using Videos to Support Language and Learning Across the CurriculumVideo support being used to help transition and teach during gardening task.
May 1, 2019

May is Better Hearing & Speech Month and we’re celebrating by sharing timely and relevant information about AAC. Today we welcome Betsy Caporale, speech-language pathologist and AAC specialist to share her post about video modeling interventions.

Video modeling has...