Your Voice Matters: Contribute to AAC Research

Hey Tek-ninjas!  I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday if you celebrate. Before the break I blogged about the Augur research results regarding AAC. In this blog post I wanted to share that there is a new US based study being conducted for AAC users and/or their care givers. This is an independent study designed to capture real-life experiences from AAC users, families, and caregivers. The goal is to show how high-tech communication tools make a difference in everyday life. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about stories, impact, and advocacy.

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What’s This Survey About?

Responses should come from:

• AAC users
• Caregivers or assistants to AAC users

No matter what type of AAC tool you use, your experience matters. Responses are completely anonymous and will help explore the value of communication tools for users, caregivers, and society at large. And like the study discussed in the previous post, this one is also commissioned by Dynavox Group—and similarly, participants can use any AAC product. To reiterate, this isn’t just about one manufacturer; it’s about the power of AAC as a whole.

Survey Details:

• AAC users: ~15–20 questions
• Caregivers: ~20–30 questions
• Optional extra questions if you have time
• You can pause and resume later on the same device
  By participating, you consent to the collection and use of socio-economic information, including aspects related to health and well-being.

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Why Participate?

• Your responses help researchers understand the true value of AAC.
• Your responses has the potential to inform policy, funding, and access decisions.
• Your responses can amplify the voices of those who rely on AAC every day.

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Ready to Make a Difference?

Click here to join or share the study
It’s quick, confidential, and your contribution could help others gain better access to communication tools.  

Exploring the Benefits of Augmentative and Alternative: A Game-Changer for AAC Users

 Hey Tek-ninjas! I’m excited to share some fascinating findings from a recent study out of Germany that shines a bright light on the real-world impact of high-tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) solutions. 

This research, conducted by Augur and Prof. Dr. Tom Stargardt at the Hamburg Center of Health Economics, was commissioned by Dynavox Group— it's important to note, the study is agnostic in nature, and users of any AAC SGD are welcome. The researchers were not looking at one manufacturer; it’s about the power of AAC as a whole.

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What Did They Do?

From October 2024 to March 2025, researchers interviewed:

• 12 users and caregivers (physical/digital interviews)
• 6 professionals
  That’s 18 in-depth conversations to start.
  Then they added:
• 188 online surveys with users and caregivers across Germany.

This wasn’t a small sample—it’s a robust look at AAC in action.

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The Big Takeaways

• Quality of Life:
  AAC nearly doubles a user’s quality of life. For someone who struggles to communicate, these tools aren’t just helpful—they’re transformative.

• Return on Investment:
  High-tech AAC solutions pay for themselves about 1.4 times over. That’s not just good for individuals—it’s good economics. Investing in communication pays dividends for society.

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Why Does This Matter?

For years, we’ve known AAC changes lives. This study gives us data to back up what clinicians, caregivers, and users have been saying all along:
AAC isn’t a luxury—it’s an essential investment.

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Want to Dive Deeper?

You can grab:

• The full Germany study
• An executive summary
• A poster with key findings

All free of charge. 

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As someone who’s spent years in the AAC space, I love seeing research that validates what we do. If you’re a therapist, educator, or advocate, share this with your team. Let’s keep pushing for access, because communication is a human right.

Stay sharp, Tek-ninjas, and happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate!

The Case Against Technology: Again

Hey Tek-ninjas! It’s been a while since my last post.

Recently, I had an interesting conversation with someone from a company that creates AI avatars modeled after real people. She posed an intriguing question: if they made an avatar of my CEO, what scenarios could I imagine that avatar taking part in?

Honestly, I was stumped. While an avatar might respond to questions in the voice and manner of my CEO, I pointed out that a big part of what people value in those interactions is the genuine sense of connection with the individual themselves. Even if the AI “feels” authentic, the relationship is fundamentally different—it’s not actually them you’re connecting with.

To be clear, I use AI in many aspects of my work and life. The genie is out of the bottle—AI is here to stay. Instead of resisting, I believe it’s smarter to learn how to leverage these tools than to risk being left behind.

This conversation reminded me of the video above made about 15 years ago by the great folks at Don Johnston, who were a developer of human learning solutions, particularly focusing on tools to support students who struggle to read and write. Evidently, the Don Johnston brand was retired awhile back, and their website has migrated to Texthelp.  

The video's message feels more relevant now than ever. I wanted to share it today—not to suggest you must jump into Ai completely, but to encourage everyone to avoid sticking their head in the sand. Find your own way to understand AI and its possibilities. Many of the assertions made in the video feel more true today than ever before. 

I realize this may be a hot topic for some, especially those in the art space. I'd love to hear how other's are leveraging Ai to improve their occupational performance.