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AAC Awareness Month 2013

Date: 14th July 2014

Posted on: 14-07-2014

International AAC Awareness Month is celebrated around the world each October. The goal is to raise awareness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and to inform the public about the many different ways in which people communicate using communication devices.

 

International AAC Awareness Month was established by the International Society of AAC in October 2007. Thirteen countries participated in the first Awareness Month, and events have been increasing in number and scope ever since.

 

Some upcoming activities are:

  • § A Twitter Chat using the tag #AACaware will take place on October 14th. Check out ISAAC Australia‘s blog for more information, including icebreakers for people who want to participate in the chat.

  • § 24 Hour AAC Chat / Read-a-Thon on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Skype, Anywhere! On October 23rd, starting at 8:00 a.m. ET (USA) through 8:00 a.m. ET (USA) October 24th. Details will be posted at International AAC Month on Facebook. For more information, contact Judy Bailey judybailey(at)aol.com.

  • § Webinars are scheduled for October 16th & 21st — Social Media and People with Disabilities: Building Online Networks to Enhance Community Engagement and Create a Level Playing Field. Click here for more information.

 

Bronwyn Hemsley, ISAAC President-elect, has offered to support anyone interested in learning more about how to use Twitter to raise awareness about AAC. Simply join Twitter and follow Bronwyn in Twitter @bronwynhemsley, follow ISAAC Australia @ISAACaus to get help, or email Bronwyn bronwyn.hemsley(at)newcastle.edu.au. Bronwyn requests that all people from any ISAAC Chapter in Twitter add the tag #AACaware to any tweet relating to AAC (tags are usually #AAC #AugComm).

 

There are many ASLTIP therapists that work with clients who need AAC. AAC can range for using a paper based support for someone through to a high tech device such as an iPad or an eye gaze system.

 

Speech and language therapists play an essential role in helping decide which AAC system might work best for a client. This may change over time as the person’s abilities and circumstances change – for example as a child starts school or as a person’s literacy improves. A speech and language therapist can help with looking at how the language system on a device is programmed and assist in identifying opportunities to use the communication aid.

 

The following ASLTIP therapists list working in the field of AAC as an area of specialism.

 

The views expressed in the blog do not necessarily represent the views of ASLTIP. Publication does not imply endorsement.

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