Beyond access: the intersecting role of AAC, literacy, and technology

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, access to communication, literacy, and technology have become essential for citizenship, community inclusion, and social and emotional well-being. This paper reflects my personal experience on these topics, exploring the challenges faced by people who lack access to robust language-based expressive augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools. Drawing on my background as an educator, I discuss the implications of failing to provide such access, highlighting its effect on literacy skills and social inclusion. I also argue that many AAC technologies are insufficient and must be re-designed to account for learning. Thus, this paper calls for a more user-centered design approach across the board-where AAC users are not merely participants, but leaders in the design and development process, ensuring this work is reflective of people's needs and serves to meaningfully include in our increasingly digital world.