You are failing Autistics when you don’t prioritize AAC

this is going to be short to get me into the swing of blogging again,
lately I have noticed a very upsetting pattern parents of autistic, in many cases non speaking autistic children don’t know what AAC is,
This is not ok!

This concerns me greatly!  I suspect more often than not it is because “specialists,” hold off on mentioning it and or introducing it in hopes of pushing for mouth words, all to often we know that specialists will tell families to wait on aac, even though studies have shown aac help build languages and communication skills!

Here is the thing I’m going to lay it out short and sweet,  


AAC need to be the first step!

Communication is a basic human right!

Your first step must be Providing Access to communication

If it's not then you are failing Autistics!


Right after diagnosis a child should immediately start the process of finding communication supports that help them and work for them as well as at least 2back ups! This needs to be the primary goal of any or all autism based services, to provide access to communication, also sensory supports,

I really can’t stress enough how critical aac services are!

If your goal is to teach the autistic to stop stimming you are failing autistics!

If your goal of to teach them to be indistinguishable from peers your failing autistics!

If your first and primary goal is not providing the autistic client with access to as much communication as possible  then you are failing your Autistics! If you are a service provider you are failing your Autistic clients!

these services need to also include teaching presumption of competence to family and all other support staff working with the autistic individual as well, and lessons on the importance of respecting their disabled child’s rights and dignity!

Yes you are failing Autistics when you do not prioritize AAC and access to communication!