“Everyone Deserves AAC”: Preliminary Study of the Experiences of Speaking Autistic Adults Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Donaldson, A. L., corbin, e., & McCoy, J. (2021). “Everyone Deserves AAC”: Preliminary Study of the Experiences of Speaking Autistic Adults Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 6(2), 315-326. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_persp-20-00220

Publication date: 26 Apr 2021 Added to AutiHub: 7 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)
  1. Amy L. Donaldson
  2. endever* corbin *
  3. Jamie McCoy

Abstract

Purpose Autistic adults use a variety of communication methods, including both speech and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); however, there has been limited, if any, academic research in this area. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of speaking autistic adults who use AAC. Method Using a participatory research method, we completed an online survey that included five demographic questions and 29 open-ended questions related to communication choice, communication access, attitudes, and recommendations. Six autistic adults who use AAC participated. The data were analyzed with thematic analysis using an inductive approach at the semantic level. Results Participants reported identifying AAC as a communication choice as adults, after using speech during childhood. They described how forced communication choices have greatly impacted their lives, both historically and today, and reported on the successes they experience when communication autonomy is promoted within a supportive environment. Participants further described what impacts their in-the-moment decision making related to use of different communication methods. Finally, they discussed the importance of normalizing AAC use and disability in general and provided recommendations for other AAC users, families, and professionals. Conclusions Historically, AAC intervention was considered a “last resort” for children who did not develop functional speech. Speaking autistic adults encourage families, professionals, and society to promote and accept all communication as equal—ensuring opportunities for all children to develop full and rich communication without delay and without stigma.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 2 Oct 2026 07:53.

Cited references
37
With a DOI
23
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
13
3 / 37 (8.1%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
7 / 37 (18.9%)
References with detected author names
30 / 37 (81.1%)
Without detected author names
7
Without a structured title
7
Without a stable identifier
11
References with raw author names still to review
7
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
105
From DOI or external metadata
105
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
8
32 / 105 (30.5%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 73 / 105 (69.5%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
6 / 105 (5.7%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 6 / 32 (18.8%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 5 / 99 (5.1%).
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