Tips for Communicating During Stress, AAC Book Club, and More (Spoken Roundup #19)

Happy New Year from Spoken! We’re back with another roundup of recent stories. If you’re new here, each month we highlight the most interesting articles about communication challenges like aphasia or nonspeaking autism and the assistive technology to support them.

Speech Spotlight

Communicating in Times of Stress

During moments of extreme stress, even people who usually communicate with ease may lose access to speech. For those already facing communication challenges, stress only increases the severity. That’s why CommunicationFIRST released this new resource exploring practical strategies for individuals experiencing stress-induced speech loss. It’s a thorough guide with tips for both communicators and their allies.

Homeless and With Communication Difficulties: How Services Can Listen Better

For people experiencing homelessness, speech and language challenges create additional hurdles to accessing shelter and essential services. By incorporating augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools, providers are finding ways to meet individual needs, build trust, and offer more effective support for this vulnerable population. Learn more in this recent article from Inside Housing.

Technology and Communication

Can Being Denied AAC Cause Lifelong Trauma?

This article from Autism Spectrum News discusses the mental and physical toll that can be caused when a person with unreliable or insufficient speech is denied access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The article goes into depth on the effects of communication deprivation, highlighting how it exacerbates feelings of isolation and helplessness, and makes people vulnerable to additional abuse. Advocating for trauma-informed approaches and robust AAC access, the author drives home the importance of addressing this often-overlooked aspect of disability rights.

Announcements and Updates

AAC Four Seasons Book Club

ISAAC (the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is launching the AAC Four Seasons Book Club, a space for AAC users to connect and share their love of reading by discussing a new book each season. The book club’s first selection is Out of My Mind, an award-winning novel about a young AAC user, recently adapted into a Disney+ movie. All selections will be available in hard copy, ebook, and audiobook formats. For more details, visit the official announcement or email AACBookClub@isaac-online.org.

Communication for Healthy Relationships Seminar

Join TechOWL’s webinar series to learn how assistive technology, including AAC, can enhance access to employment, social interaction, and everyday life. The upcoming session, Communication for Healthy Relationships, features Donnie Denome, a nonspeaking autistic AAC user who will be sharing insights on relationships, sexuality, and self-advocacy through the lens of AAC. The seminar will be held January 16, 2025 at two different times: 12–1 PM EST and 4–5 PM EST. You can register at the link above. While you’re there, you can also check out previously recorded webinars from the series. Captions, transcripts, and ASL translations are available for each entry.

Thanks for reading! For more stories, be sure to check out last month’s roundup!