Are you looking for our AAC and Autism webinar? We are excited to share it with you!

This webinar discusses neurodiversity-affirming practice in AAC, the problems with PECS, long-term goals for our autistic children and how they can be supported to become autonomous communicators, how to get started with AAC, and how to seek further support. Please click here, or on the “Donate” button below, to donate and receive a link to our very first webinar.

At Spectrum Connection CIC, we are specialists in AAC and autism. Amanda Haydock has AAC qualifications from Elklan and Learn Play Thrive, with over 20 contact hours of study.

AAC (alternative and augmentative communication) describes a variety of methods that support communication in non-speaking and minimally-speaking people. We are passionate about providing access to robust AAC for autistic children, as early as possible. All the evidence demonstrates that child-led implementation of AAC can reduce frustration and increase communication. AAC does not reduce the likelihood that a child will speak (in fact, it promotes speech in many cases), and there are no prerequisites to using AAC.

We are now offering 1:1 sessions where we provide support to parents and professionals who want to use AAC with their autistic child. These are fully online, and aim to empower parents and professionals to feel confident in their ability to support autistic children through access to robust AAC. These sessions are on a sliding scale from £60-90 per session. Please contact us to learn more.

AAC resources

Below you will find a collection of resources that may support you on your AAC journey.

Resources about presuming competence:

Ariane Zurcher, Emma’s Hope Book

Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center

Documentaries/videos:

This Is Not About Me (or rent from Apple TV) – a documentary film about Jordyn Zimmerman, a non-speaking autistic woman who uses AAC.

Wretches & Jabberers – a documentary film that chronicles the world travels of disability rights advocates, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette (two non-speaking autistic men), in a bold quest to change attitudes about the intelligence and abilities of autistic people.

Social media:

AAC-user run:

@justkeepstimming

@nigh.functioning.autism

Parent-run

@afriendforlillybug

@we_believe_in_darcy

@tom_tom_aac_adventures_

Advice:

@the.aac.coach

@drawntoaac

@kaitlinmulcaheyslp

Articles:

Top 5 signs you’re modelling wrong (or how to model!)

What is “beginning AAC”? (Hint: there isn’t one)

Why are you using PECS?

Supporting Communication through AAC, from AssistiveWare (creators of Proloquo and Proloquo2Go)