The Autism Society Inland Empire believes everyone has the right to communicate.

According to a 2018 Boston University study, about 30% of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder fail to develop speech skills sufficient for daily communication functions. In our local area – that is over 4200 individuals.

The inability to communicate has a significant impact on quality of life, educational and community access, and development of social skills and relationships. The frustration of not being able to communicate can lead to negative behavior challenges. Augmentative alternative communication (AAC) is one of the strategies used to strengthen the communication skills of students with limited communication skills. AAC strategies can provide this population with an opportunity to express themselves and have a voice.

AAC refers to “a set of tools and strategies that an individual use to solve every day communicative challenges. AAC encompasses various methods that can replace or expand a person’s communication skills. These methods are either unaided, usually in the form of manual signs, or aided, with systems including graphic symbols displayed on communication boards and in books, or devices relying on technology, such as speech generating devices (SGD), including mobile technologies.