Research is a staple in every clinical field, and that holds true in the world of AAC. AAC has revolutionized the speech pathology industry and given a voice to approximately 2 million people in the United States.¹ However, it’s estimated that up to 5 million people could benefit from it.² Speech therapists are working every day to close this gap and connect AAC with the people who need it. While SLPs are on the front lines, doctors are prescribing, insurance companies are approving, and everyone in an AAC user’s life is supporting them through this process. If we have so many amazing people working toward the same goal, why does this gap still exist?

A big part of the answer is research. Continued AAC research provides the evidence needed to drive access for users, and that’s exactly what this site is built for. We’re publishing research and data that reveal real insights across the AAC field. But we don’t want this to be one-sided. We want to hear from you as much as you hear from us. You’ll get research delivered right to your inbox, along with an open door to share what you’re seeing in the field. Together, we can make AAC easier to access and understand.

AbleNet, along with our Manager of Research and Insights, Carlee DeYoung, PhD, set out to bring transparency to AAC research so it’s accessible to anyone who needs it. Our goal isn’t just to put devices in people’s hands. It’s to be stewards of the AAC industry as a whole, helping remove the barriers that keep people from getting the support they need.

Carlee has her PhD in experimental psychology and brings deep expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methods. She has led research initiatives across a range of industries and audiences, and she’s passionate about democratizing AAC and uncovering new findings in the field. She works closely with speech-language pathologists, parents, AAC users, and other stakeholders to dive deeper into their real-world experiences with AAC.

Sources

  1. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities: https://www.asha.org/njc/aac/
  2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Practice Portal: Augmentative and Alternative Communication: https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/augmentative-and-alternative-communication/

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