Giving Every Child a Voice: Celebrating AAC Awareness Month
At Cheshire Fitness Zone, we believe every child deserves a voice, and AAC helps make that possible.
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, which includes all the ways children can communicate beyond spoken words. This might include gestures, sign language, picture boards, or speech-generating devices. For many children, AAC opens the door to connection and helps them share their ideas, feelings, and needs in meaningful ways.
Why AAC Matters
Communication is how we connect, learn, and build relationships. For children who are developing speech or communicate in other ways, AAC supports expression, understanding, and participation. It often supports speech development by giving children a reliable way to express themselves as their verbal skills continue to grow.
How AAC Works at Cheshire Fitness Zone
Every child’s communication journey is unique. Our therapists identify each child’s preferences, abilities, and goals, then explore tools that best support how they express themselves through pictures, gestures, or technology.
AAC is integrated into play-based therapy to help children feel confident using their systems. Families are included every step of the way, with strategies to make AAC part of everyday routines at home, school, and in the community.
Types of AAC Systems
AAC systems can range from low-tech to high-tech, depending on a child’s communication style and needs.
- Low-tech AAC includes picture cards, communication books, and core word boards.
- Mid-tech AAC includes devices with simple voice outputs or buttons that play recorded messages.
- High-tech AAC includes speech-generating devices and tablet-based apps that allow children to create sentences and express complex ideas.
Each system is customized to support a child’s skills and grow with them over time.
Who May Use AAC
AAC can support children who communicate in a variety of ways, including those with:
- Autism
- Down syndrome
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental language delays
- Apraxia of speech
- Traumatic brain injury
AAC empowers children to share their thoughts, build relationships, and take part in everyday experiences. It gives every child a way to be heard.
How to Celebrate and Talk About AAC This Month
October is AAC Awareness Month, a time to learn and celebrate communication in all forms. Here are a few ways families, therapists, and community members can get involved:
- Start conversations: Talk about what AAC is and how it helps people communicate.
- Model communication: Use your child’s AAC system during activities like playtime or mealtime.
- Share resources: Recommend books, podcasts, or videos that show AAC users and inclusive communication.
- Encourage inclusion: Teach peers and classmates how to communicate respectfully with AAC users.
- Celebrate progress: Acknowledge every new word, symbol, or message your child uses.
Keep learning: Ask your child’s therapist for ideas to expand AAC use across routines.
Happy AAC Month!
At Cheshire Fitness Zone, we are proud to support children of all abilities on their communication journeys. This AAC Awareness Month, let’s celebrate every child’s unique voice and the many ways they share it with the world.
