Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an umbrella term for systems that help nonverbal individuals to communicate. Furthermore, any nonverbal communication system can be considered AAC, even things like writing in a journal, so individuals of all abilities use these types of systems on a daily basis. For students with special needs who may have trouble communicating using traditional methods, there are forms of AAC that have been developed to help these students be able to express themselves and demonstrate their knowledge. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, there are two main types of AAC: unaided systems and aided systems. Unaided systems do not fall under assistive technology, as they are systems that only require your own body, such as gestures, facial expressions, and even sign language. Aided systems, on the other hand, is a tool or device. Even a pen and paper can be considered an aided system, though there are also more complex tools available depending on the needs of an individual. Speech-generating devices (SGDs) can even read aloud sentences built by touching letters or pictures on a computer. In essence, AAC can be very basic or very technologically advanced, but all of these tools are meant to assist with various communication needs.
Special thanks to Liza Zanca, SLP, for her assistance with this section of the site!