Image: Illustration highlighting themes of ableism and speech divergence, featuring people discussing and using communication aids.
Isolated and overlooked – users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) call for a say
by Pegi – I use AAC. An assistant and an AI help me to formulate my messages. The content reflects my opinion.
We, the users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), are hardly visible in society. We are often isolated, lacking networks, shared spaces, and public presence. Our issue – our way of communicating – is hardly understood and often completely ignored.
Instead of really listening to us or developing solutions together with us, we are offered “easy language”/„leichte Sprache“ – without asking whether this suits us or whether we have completely different ways of expressing ourselves. There is no one type of communication – many of us use our own individual forms of expression that lie outside what is considered “standard” or officially recognized as accessible and barrier-free.
But without involving us, genuine participation cannot succeed. It is not enough to speak for us – you have to speak with us. And above all: let us respond in our own way.
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I use AAC. An assistant and an AI help me to formulate my messages. The content reflects my opinion.
Note: This text has been written in a Me, My Speech and Writing Assitant and AI – Way
= own thoughts
= human assistant helps with typing or structuring
= AI supports me in formulating