Alice was a fierce advocate for people who need and use AAC, and presented and wrote with passion on the impact of ableism on basic human rights. She will be deeply missed..
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
rerc-aac.psu.edu/2025/08/07/h...
Image of Alice Wong & journal abstract
#AliceWong #AAC #disability
Critically important information, wonderful to see the complete special issue is now freely available! See link in original post
Picture of Jordyn Zimmerman presenting at the Future of AAC Research Summit, and text that reads “There must be deep understanding around our needs, desires, and pain points—with the goal of designing and developing in ways that efficiently address them." Beyond access: the intersecting role of AAC, literacy, and technology Zimmerman (2025)
Jordyn Zimmerman calls for “a more user-centered design approach across the board—where AAC users are not merely participants, but leaders…”
Free at doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
Picture of endever* corbin. Screenshot of text that reads “I want everyone who struggles with speech – no, every disabled person period – no, every single human – to have an opportunity to explore multiple robust, culturally and linguistically appropriate, queer-friendly AAC options.” (corbin, 2025) corbin, endever*. (2025). Speech is exhausting. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2513907
endever* describes their “meaningful participation in society as a semispeaking AAC user, the importance of self-determination and interdependence, and the critical role of participatory research.”
Free at AAC journal doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social
RP+
"I have so many wishes regarding decreasing social isolation for myself, our participants, and the wider community of AAC users. I wish for investment in technology that fully adapts to the needs and preferences of each user, and funding for well-paid, highly qualified communication supporters."
Picture of (left to right) Tracy Rackensperger, Cynthia Blasko, Grant Blasko, and Kevin Williams. Screenshot of text that reads “Establishing a shared understanding of the strategies, techniques, and skills of successful AAC users could challenge ableist expectations while fostering group solidarity.”
Grant Blasko is 22 years old, autistic, a full-time user of AAC, and a university student. His paper, “Unveiling underlying systemic isolation challenges for AAC users”, is free at
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social
Picture of Janice Light and Jordyn Zimmerman, screenshot of text that reads “There is a long history of communities, marginalized by race, ethnicity, disability, gender, etc., that have called for leadership roles and full participation in all activities undertaken about them. Now is the time for the AAC field to fully embrace this challenge.” Blasko et al. (2025) Citation that reads Blasko, G., Light, J., McNaughton, D., Williams, B., & Zimmerman, J. (2025). Nothing about AAC users without AAC users: a call for meaningful inclusion in research, technology development, and professional training. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2514748
Blasko, Light, McNaughton, Williams & Zimmerman: "people who need or use AAC must be leaders and co-creators in all activities that are about them or impact them"
Free at AAC journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social
Thanks to the @ussaac.bsky.social Research Committee and all of the co-authors for their work on this #EPB open source paper now online @aacjournal.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Picture of Ren Koloni, screenshot of text that reads “To be denied expression of the self should be unimaginable, but it is not. It is happening. It is our responsibility as researchers, as advocates, and as people to not only imagine it, but to find out why, how, where, when, and in what ways it happens—and to make it right” abstract, and link to article at Koloni, R. (2025). To include us in our own worlds: AAC is not optional. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2515283
Ren Koloni (2025): "...the vast majority of people who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood still lack meaningful access to effective communication...”
Free at AAC Journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
text that reads "innovation in AAC will only result in AAC that is ideal for its users when it is built with the people it is built for" Williams & Holyfield, 2025 Williams, K., & Holyfield, C. (2025). Future of AAC technologies: priorities for inclusive innovation. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-4. https:/.oi.tl/23 https://doi.org/10.108 /10.1080/074346', picture of Kevin Williams and Christine Holyfield
Kevin Williams and Christine Holyfield (2025) describe new directions for innovation in AAC innovation, free at AAC journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social
As Jordyn writes, "When students are meaningfully included in their school community and have access to the tools and support they need to thrive, their learning opportunities (i.e., their access to literacy, academic vocabulary, and conceptual knowledge) expand in unimaginable ways. "
Picture of Bob Williams and text that says People who need AAC should be afforded access to communication and literacy support at every stage of life – from the youngest young to the oldest old. Also, citation to the paper “Williams, B. (2025). Reading, writing, and AAC are fundamental. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2508492”
Bob Williams (2025) describes how “Access to language-based communication and literacy tools is essential to safeguarding and securing human and civil rights”
Free at AAC journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social
This paper is part of the series from The Future of AAC Research Summit held in May, 2024. You can see a video of Patrick's presentation at the Summit at aac-learning-center.psu.edu/2024/11/16/r...
Picture of Patrick Regan, screenshot of abstract, and link to article at Regan, P. (2025). The first word in accessibility is “access.” Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2513912
Patrick Regan, president-elect for @ussaac.bsky.social, describes “access challenges that I have experienced as someone who uses AAC, how my team and I have resolved them, and what challenges I face now.”
Free
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
Screenshot of David, Tracy and Lance, and Text quote that reads " To support communication & participation, AAC research and development must: strengthen the expression of personal identity; •support integrated use of multimodal communication; & •reduce the demands of communicative interaction (while supporting language and literacy development). •McNaughton, McLemore, & Rackensperger (2025)
McNaughton, McLemore & Rackensperger (2025) describe how new approaches to AAC can support societal participation
Free at AAC journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
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Picture of Pancho and excerpt of text from his article in the AAC journal
Pancho Ramirez (2025) describes his evolving use of AAC, and the importance of supporting communication with family members (in multiple languages!)
Now free at the AAC journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
Screenshot of Jamie Preece and Text quote that reads "“Everyone wanted me to start off with wants and needs. But I felt like I was communicating that pretty well without the device. I wanted to talk about more interesting stuff with AAC. I was boring. I couldn’t say the things I wanted to say. It’s not all about schoolwork or what you would like to get or do. I wanted to make a joke. I wanted to talk about my feelings. AAC is for life, not just for school. It’s not just wants and needs – it’s dreams and your actual life.”
Holyfield, Light, Nieder & Preece (2025) describe external challenges to learning language for those who need or use AAC
Free at @aacjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social
...This is a troubling practice that contradicts the Position Statement on Access to Communication Services and Supports by the NJC"
"...respondents using a single system were statistically less likely to involve other stakeholders in the decision-making process, specifically other professionals, family members, and the individuals using AAC themselves... ."
@glendalwh.bsky.social
Button that reads "Attitudes are the real disability" Text that reads Light, J., Fager, S. K., Gormley, J., Hyatt, G. W., & Jakobs, E. (2025). Dismantling societal barriers that limit people who need or use AAC: lived experiences, key research findings, and future directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2508490
“For far too long... research has ignored the greatest problem – the pervasive societal barriers that limit access to AAC and to meaningful opportunities to communicate and participate in society.” doi.org/10.1080/0743... @communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
@endeverstar.bsky.social @yesthattoo.bsky.social
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social
Alice Wong and a screenshot of the Abstract of her article in the AAC journal, free at https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2489663
Alice Wong (2025) describes her use of AAC to combat ableism:"Nonspeaking people belong in public, holding court in conversations, doing our thing, our access needs respected, and being our full selves unapologetically"
Free @aacjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@sfdirewolf.bsky.social
Parent and child read book, and cite for " Light, J., Holyfield, C., McNaughton, D., Nieder, D., & Preece, J. (2025). Overcoming barriers to literacy for individuals who need or use AAC: lived experiences, key research findings, and future directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2502032 "
For people who need or use AAC, what are the external barriers to literacy learning? and how can future R&D better support literacy learning?
Free at the AAC journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
Godfrey Nazareth and a picture of the text from his article
Godfrey Nazareth (2025) describes living with motor neuron disease and his creation of AAC technology that has helped him live life to the fullest.
Free at AAC journal
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
One (of many) favorite quotes
"self-determination does not, or at least should not, imply or necessitate independence... every person is interdependent. We are all part of a human ecosystem, a vast network of give and take, and need and support, just as much as we are part of our local biome."
Bob Williams and abstract of article
Bob Williams (2025) describes the need to “work together to bring about communication equity, not for the privileged few, but for all.”
Now free at the AAC journal #OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
@communicationfirst.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social @isaacinternational.bsky.social
“The right to community and communication are symbiotic... Communication equity boils down to the societal and legal obligation to ensure that all people have fair and universal, lifelong access to all means of communication.”
Bob Williams (2025)
This paper addresses two questions: "How well do existing alternative access methods meet users’ needs? And what is the best way to choose the “right” access method(s) for an individual?"
doi.org/10.1080/0743...
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@isaacinternational.bsky.social @ussaac.bsky.social