Welcome to
Engaging AAC!

Connection Changes
Everything.

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At Engaging AAC, our goal is to provide:

  • practical, proven guidance
  • flexible learning options
  • easy-to-use tools and resources
  • a place to connect with the community

At Engaging AAC, we believe

EVERYONE

has the right to have access
to real, self-directed communication

and...

the safety of informed communication partners
they can trust.

Lauren Enders Gonzales, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Learning, supporting, and COMMUNICATING 
WITH aAC is Hard!

What Kind of Help Do You Need?

EVERY SINGLE PERSON has a fundamental right to communicate
their own messages in EVERY aspect of their life.

That's ALL people, including those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. The words "augmentative" and "alternative" describe the various methods, tools, and systems used to supplement (augmentative) or replace (alternative) spoken or written speech for people with severe expressive communication impairments. https://www.asha.org/njc/aac

 
What tends to get overlooked is that different people need different types and levels of support. Help can only be effective if the assistance provided matches the learning style and learning needs of the learner... in that moment.

Ever get SO frustrated or overwhelmed that you are not even
sure of what you need or how to start?

This section was created to help you identify
your learning needs and goals and match those needs to our resources and courses.

Choose the box below that best matches YOUR learning needs by
clicking on the button at the bottom of the box.

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Illustration of a diverse group of stylized figures in purple and blue tones communicating together, including a person in a wheelchair. Speech bubbles above them suggest conversation, set within a rounded frame with decorative accents.
We are ALL communication partners!

How are you connected with an AAC user?

Choose the role that best describes you.

Purple icon of a person holding an AAC device with a grid of communication symbols, with a
I use
or need
AAC
That's me →
I'm a family member,
a partner, a friend, or
a caregiver
That's me →
I'm am educator
or work in a school
That's me →
I'm a speech therapist
or other professional
That's me →
I work in law enforcement
or the court system
That's me →
I'm a physician or
medical professional
That's me →
I'm an administrator
or policy
maker
That's me →
I play another role
That's me →

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is HARD!

We're here to help.

Most of us expect people to say the "right" thing, the "right" way, right on time.

But... everyone has something to say

  • in their own words
  • in their own way
  • in their own time.
Our job is not to wait for, prompt, or guide anyone to the answer we want.

Our job is to help ALL people feel truly heard, without judgment, and with respect.

See it for yourself

Sometimes you have to see the power of connection before you can imagine it's possible.
Watch what happens when someone is truly heard.

One training is NOT enough!

You've probably been to a training. You learned something real there. But when you went back on Monday, it was harder than it looked... and that's not your fault.

Learning takes time, and it takes other people who believe you will learn. We learn:

  • By watching someone else do it.
  • By trying it ourselves.
  • By experiencing what worked and what didn't work.
  • By hearing feedback from a trusted communication partner about what went well or need change
  • By trying again...with encouragement, validation, and feedback
  • By practicing over and over, with different communication partners

When no one is judging us, we get curious. We begin to wonder and develop a love for learning.
That's true for ALL people.

A better way to learn

Many resources overwhelm before they help. We understand that overwhelm, because we have experienced the same struggle. Countless others who support AAC users report the same frustration. The problem is the design, not you.
We're using a different approach.

  • One clear step at a time: no overwhelm, no guessing about the next step
  • Direct instruction: we show you exactly how, not just where to look
  • Calm, simple design: built for the way real brains focus
  • Your own pace, no judgment: you decide the speed

Sound familiar?

"I've tried everything."
"They're just not interested in the device."
"They're lazy."
"They have no interest in communicating."
"The more I try to help, the more upset they get."
"I just make things worse."

If any of this sounds familiar, there's a good reason. Most of us learned strategies that seemed helpful but don't always nurture or support autonomous and meaningful communication.

Let's work together to build communication that feels more natural, meaningful, and joyful.

Start Here