What terms should we use for AAC and the people who use it? Results from a terminology survey

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Zisk, A. H., Konyn, L., & Niemeijer, D. (2025). What terms should we use for AAC and the people who use it? Results from a terminology survey. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2588563

Publication date: 27 Nov 2025 Added to AutiHub: 9 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 3 (66.7%)
  1. Alyssa Hillary Zisk *
  2. Lily Konyn *
  3. David Niemeijer

Abstract

This study aimed to elicit and analyze the views and preferences of a variety of AAC stakeholders regarding terminology related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and the people who use or could benefit from it. We used an anonymous online survey to ask nonspeaking AAC users, speaking AAC users, relatives of AAC users, and AAC professionals their preferences on 119 English terms related to AAC, AAC users, and communication disability. The survey also collected demographic information, including age, country, connection to AAC, and disability identity. A total of 556 participants completed the survey. We aimed to determine broad terminology preferences across stakeholder groups and identify areas of disagreement between stakeholders. By making comparisons between related terms and between stakeholder groups, we were able to achieve this aim. There were statistically significant preferences between terms within all groups of related terms. Stakeholder groups also frequently disagreed with each other about AAC terminology: between-group differences in the frequency with which respondents supported, disliked, and/or were unfamiliar with terms were present for 81 of the 119 terms. The preferences uncovered in this study can support respectful language guidance around AAC. Further work should ideally address terminology preferences among stakeholder samples that are less focused on the United States, more focused on marginalized cultural groups, include stakeholders with more limited language skills, and/or address terminology in languages other than English.

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Cited references
49
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
6 / 49 (12.2%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
10 / 102 (9.8%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 10 / 28 (35.7%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 8 / 96 (8.3%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
28 / 102 (27.5%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 25 / 96 (26.0%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
18 / 28 (64.3%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 18 / 102 (17.6%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 17 / 25 (68.0%).
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