{"title":"Crossing the communication chasm.","authors":"Melissa Crisp-Cooper","doi":"10.1080/07434618.2025.2499681","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper focuses on reducing social isolation for people who cannot rely on spoken words to communicate. It is based on my experiences and perspectives. Technology has made social inclusion easier and harder. Sending emails or texts has opened doors. Technology has also sped up communication. It can be hard to find space in conversations. I use different communication methods depending on the situation, my message, or the listener. Using my voice with patient, familiar communication partners is the best way to express myself. Talking to others can be a frustrating experience. Sometimes I ask others to revoice my words. Paid communication supporters are difficult to find, train, and retain. For messages to new communication partners, I pre-type my thoughts into my AAC. The robotic voice is not my voice. It is another piece of technology that highlights how differently we interact with the world. We can advocate for a world where all AAC users are valued and included by: designing technology that adapts to the needs of each user; funding qualified communication supporters; implementing stronger employment policies; creating access to AAC that goes beyond functional needs; building community; and educating communication partners to assume competence and be patient listeners.</p>","PeriodicalId":49234,"journal":{"name":"Augmentative and Alternative Communication","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Augmentative and Alternative Communication","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2025.2499681","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This paper focuses on reducing social isolation for people who cannot rely on spoken words to communicate. It is based on my experiences and perspectives. Technology has made social inclusion easier and harder. Sending emails or texts has opened doors. Technology has also sped up communication. It can be hard to find space in conversations. I use different communication methods depending on the situation, my message, or the listener. Using my voice with patient, familiar communication partners is the best way to express myself. Talking to others can be a frustrating experience. Sometimes I ask others to revoice my words. Paid communication supporters are difficult to find, train, and retain. For messages to new communication partners, I pre-type my thoughts into my AAC. The robotic voice is not my voice. It is another piece of technology that highlights how differently we interact with the world. We can advocate for a world where all AAC users are valued and included by: designing technology that adapts to the needs of each user; funding qualified communication supporters; implementing stronger employment policies; creating access to AAC that goes beyond functional needs; building community; and educating communication partners to assume competence and be patient listeners.
期刊介绍:
As the official journal of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) publishes scientific articles related to the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that report research concerning assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and education of people who use or have the potential to use AAC systems; or that discuss theory, technology, and systems development relevant to AAC. The broad range of topic included in the Journal reflects the development of this field internationally. Manuscripts submitted to AAC should fall within one of the following categories, AND MUST COMPLY with associated page maximums listed on page 3 of the Manuscript Preparation Guide.
Research articles (full peer review), These manuscripts report the results of original empirical research, including studies using qualitative and quantitative methodologies, with both group and single-case experimental research designs (e.g, Binger et al., 2008; Petroi et al., 2014).
Technical, research, and intervention notes (full peer review): These are brief manuscripts that address methodological, statistical, technical, or clinical issues or innovations that are of relevance to the AAC community and are designed to bring the research community’s attention to areas that have been minimally or poorly researched in the past (e.g., research note: Thunberg et al., 2016; intervention notes: Laubscher et al., 2019).