Gaining the most from AAC's growing years

Abstract

The field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is described from the perspective of an educator involved in the field since the early seventies and with experience as a regular and special education classroom teacher, educational consultant, administrator, Blissymbolics specialist, and first president of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). Following a sharing of the author's recollections of AAC's early years, the limitations and unique opportunities arising from AAC's short but intensive history are discussed. Suggestions are made for examining the areas within AAC developmentally, in order to gain the most from AAC's growing years. The author urges AAC participants to apply the vitality and innovation of youth toward exploring global as well as specific AAC questions and toward increased collaboration between those from different areas of expertise. She challenges the field to a heightened sensitivity to the broad needs of consumers and to an appreciation of the contributions to be made by other disciplines and by AAC specialists outside North America.