RERC on Augmentative and Alternative Communication

03/24/2026

Update from the AAC Learning Center (Spring, 2026) -

Thank you for your support - over 27,000 learners at more than 125 colleges and universities (in over 14 countries) have completed a Certificate of Completion at the Learning Center since 2020.

02/28/2026

Ableism (Wong, 2025)

"Nonspeaking people belong in public, holding court in conversations, doing our thing, our access needs respected, and being our full selves unapologetically" ...

(Wong, 2025, p.203)

“Nonspeaking people belong in public, holding court in conversations, doing our thing, our access needs respected, and being our full selves unapologetically”

11/16/2025

Alice was a fierce advocate for people who need and use AAC, and presented and wrote with passion on the impact of ableism on basic human rights. She will be deeply missed...
https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2489663
https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/2025/08/07/how-ableism-impacts-people-who-need-and-use-aac-wong-2025/
Communication Is Key AAC ISAAC International USSAAC

Wong (2025) is now freely available at

09/22/2025

Update from the AAC Learning Center (Fall, 2025) -

Blasko, G., Light, J., McNaughton, D., Williams, B., & Zimmerman, J. (2025). Nothing about AAC users without AAC users: a call for meaningful inclusion in research, technology development, and professional training. 

09/19/2025

We’re excited to announce the release of Access Navigator software: a free tool to support decision-making for alternative access!

We’re excited to announce the release of Access Navigator software: a free tool to support decision-making for alternative access!

09/17/2025

Wonderful to see that all articles from the Future of AAC Research Conference are now freely available, see lnk.to/aacfr

The journal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication published papers from our Future of AAC Research Summit! Nearly all of the 21 papers are authored or co-authored by someone who uses AAC. Access these papers & watch many of the authors present here: https://lnk.to/aacfr.

📷: Photo by Steven Sutfin

[Image: AAC users Lateef McLeod (left) and Lance McLemore (right) present on stage at the Future of AAC Research Summit in May 2024. Lateef and Lance type on communication devices. Across from them, the backs of two audience members’ heads are visible. They appear to be listening attentively.]

09/16/2025

Webcasts by AAC users, AAC researchers, and Advocates are available...

Webcasts by AAC users, AAC researchers, and Advocates are available

07/24/2025

Jordyn Zimmerman is a nonspeaking autistic person who was segregated and denied access to effective augmentative communication until she was 18. As a key planner and leader for the Future of AAC Research Summit, she published two papers. In her paper, Beyond Access: the Intersecting Role of AAC, Literacy, and Technology, she 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.”

Now free at the AAC journal at https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2504499
This paper is one in a series from the Future of AAC Research Summit (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/update-from-the-future-of-aac-research-summit/) to be published in the AAC Journal.

Communication First USSAAC ISAAC International National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) NWACS Communication Is Key AAC Thinking Person's Guide to Autism AUTCOM - The Autism National Committee PrAACtical AAC Collectif CAA - Ma voix, Mes droits

07/21/2025

endever* found AAC as an autistic adult, and since that time has been an active AAC advocate and researcher. In "Speech is exhausting", they focus on their “meaningful participation in society as a semispeaking AAC user, the importance of self-determination and interdependence, and the critical role of participatory research.”

Now free at the AAC journal
https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2513907

Communication First USSAAC ISAAC International National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) NWACS Communication Is Key AAC Com'Together - Accessibilité à la communication Collectif CAA - Ma voix, Mes droits

This paper is one in a series from the Future of AAC Research Summit (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/update-from-the-future-of-aac-research-summit/) to be published in the AAC Journal. A video of endever*’s presentation can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/AAC-speech-2024

corbin, endever*. (2025). Speech is exhausting. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2513907

07/17/2025

Grant Blasko is 22 years old, autistic, a full-time user of AAC, and a university student. In Blasko (2025), he “encourages collaboration between AAC users, researchers, and service providers to reevaluate communication support goals with a focus on preventing isolation and enhancing relational support.”
Now FREE at the AAC journal

Blasko, G. (2025). Unveiling underlying systemic isolation challenges for AAC users. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2515279

This paper is one in a series from the Future of AAC Research Summit ( https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/update-from-the-future-of-aac-research-summit/ ) to be published in the AAC Journal. A video of Grant’s presentation can be viewed at https://aac-learning-center.psu.edu/2025/05/16/blasko-2024/

Communication First USSAAC ISAAC International National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) NWACS Communication Is Key AAC Communication Matters

07/14/2025

In this paper, Grant Blasko, Janice Light, David McNaughton , Bob Williams, and Jordyn Zimmerman argue that "people who need or use AAC must be leaders and co-creators in all activities that are about them or impact them"
Free access in AAC journal at
https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2514748

Communication First USSAAC ISAAC International. National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) NWACS Communication Is Key AAC Communication Matters ISAAC Danmark Isaac Francophone Isaac Norge Open AAC

This paper is one in a series from the Future of AAC Research Summit (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/update-from-the-future-of-aac-research-summit/) to be published in the AAC journal.