Beyond Communication: Rethinking Participation, Identity and Everyday Life Through AAC

Abstract

AAC is often discussed in terms of communication access, language development, and successful message transmission. While these outcomes remain essential, they represent only part of what AAC makes possible. For many individuals, AAC is equally a tool for developing relationships, expressing identity, participating in communities, pursuing hobbies, managing everyday life, and making meaningful choices.

This interactive session invites participants to reconsider what successful AAC intervention looks like across everyday life. Using a participation-focused framework informed by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), attendees will explore how communication supports can extend beyond conversation to facilitate belonging, autonomy and quality of life.

Rather than presenting a single model of intervention, this session combines brief presentations with facilitated discussion, audience polling, case-based problem solving and collaborative reflection. Participants will examine real-world scenarios across the lifespan and discuss practical ways clinicians can expand intervention goals beyond communication accuracy alone.

Discussion topics include supporting participation in hobbies and recreation, community engagement, employment, relationships, digital communication, self-advocacy, daily routines and identity development. Participants will also explore barriers that continue to limit meaningful participation despite successful AAC implementation.

Attendees will leave with practical strategies, new perspectives, and ideas from colleagues around the world for supporting AAC use in everyday life- today, tomorrow and beyond.