AAC Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: State of the Science and Future Research Directions

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provides a means of effective communication to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many of whom are unable to use conventional speech effectively. The purposes of this article are (a) to summarize and synthesize the last few decades of research on the use of AAC with people with ASD; (b) to indicate implications of this research for stakeholders such as people with ASD, their family members, and educators with whom they work; and (c) to outline priorities for future research to improve communication and other outcomes for individuals with ASD and their loved ones. People with ASD stand to greatly benefit from AAC, particularly with current AAC technologies, as described in this article.