AAC comes up constantly in conversations about nonverbal or minimally verbal autism, but the term itself can be confusing. Here's a clear breakdown of what it actually means and what your options look like.
What AAC Stands For and Means
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to any tool or method that supplements ("augments") or replaces ("alternative to") spoken language. AAC isn't a single system — it's a broad category that includes everything from simple, low-tech picture boards to sophisticated speech-generating devices.
Unaided vs. Aided AAC
AAC is generally divided into two categories: unaided AAC, which uses only the body — gestures, facial expressions, and sign language — with no external tool required, and aided AAC, which uses an external tool, ranging from low-tech (picture cards, communication boards) to high-tech (tablets and dedicated speech-generating devices with text-to-speech output).
Common AAC Systems
Some of the most widely used AAC approaches include: the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), a structured picture-based system we cover in detail in PECS: A Parent's Guide; speech-generating devices (SGDs), dedicated devices or tablet apps that produce spoken output when a child selects symbols, words, or types text; sign language or simplified signing systems, used either as a primary communication method or alongside other systems; and communication boards or books, low-tech visual displays of symbols or words a child can point to or exchange.
Choosing the Right AAC System
There's no single "correct" AAC system for every child — the right choice depends on a child's motor skills, cognitive profile, visual processing, and specific needs, which is why AAC selection should generally involve a speech-language pathologist's assessment, sometimes in coordination with your child's BCBA. Some children benefit from combining multiple systems rather than relying on just one.
The Persistent Myth That AAC Prevents Speech Development
This is one of the most damaging misconceptions about AAC, worth addressing directly: research consistently shows that AAC does not prevent or delay spoken language development, and in many cases actually supports it by reducing communication frustration and building the foundational skills that speech itself depends on. Withholding AAC "to force talking" is not supported by evidence and can leave a child without any effective communication method for longer than necessary.
How AAC Fits Into ABA Therapy
A good ABA program doesn't compete with AAC use — it actively incorporates it, teaching functional communication using whatever system works best for your child, including AAC when appropriate. Communication is often one of the very first and most important goal areas in a treatment plan, starting with teaching a child to request what they want using their AAC system, which we cover in Teaching Your Child to Request ("Manding") in ABA Therapy.
Getting Started With AAC
If you think your child might benefit from AAC, a speech-language evaluation is the right starting point, and your child's BCBA can help coordinate implementation across therapy and home settings once a system is chosen.
For Holland-Area Families
Our BCBA, Kimberly Blazer, actively incorporates AAC into treatment plans for children who use it, rather than treating it as separate from ABA therapy. If you're in the Holland area, Our Individual ABA Therapy service is designed around exactly this kind of goal. our in-home ABA therapy in Holland page has more information, or Get Started Today to get started.
This article is part of our complete guide, Nonverbal Autism: Communication Strategies That Work. Clinically reviewed by Kimberly Blazer, BCBA.