What is it?
Part-time AAC use describes using AAC during some situations while relying on speech or other communication methods at other times. Some people who can speak may still benefit from AAC when communication becomes more difficult, such as during periods of fatigue, stress, sensory overload, illness, unfamiliar interactions, or when communicating complex information. AAC can supplement speech without replacing it.
How to use it?
Keep AAC available and accessible even when a learner is speaking. Support the individual in choosing when and how to use speech, AAC, or another communication method rather than requiring them to demonstrate that speech is unavailable before accessing AAC. Make sure communication partners know how to interact with the person's AAC system and respect messages communicated through any modality. Needs may vary across environments and over time, so access should be based on what supports communication in the moment rather than a predetermined expectation about when AAC is “necessary.”
Why use it?
The ability to speak does not always mean speech is the most reliable, efficient, or comfortable way to communicate. Communication abilities can fluctuate, and some ideas may be easier to express through AAC than through speech. Having AAC available as an additional option can reduce communication pressure, support self-advocacy and participation, and provide a reliable way to communicate when speech alone does not meet the person's needs.
