Your Voice Matters: Contribute to AAC Research

Hey Tek-ninjas!  I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday if you celebrate. Right before the break I shared the post on the Augur AAC research results. There is a new US based study now open for AAC users and/or their care givers. This is an independent study which aims 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. It's my belief (and other's) that this study isn’t just about numbers, but rather 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

Responses are completely anonymous and will help better understand the value of communication tools for users, caregivers, and society at large. And like the study discussed in the previous post, while this study is commissioned by Dynavox Group, similarly, participants can use any AAC product.

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. I'd want to to point out that the study is agnostic in nature, and users of any AAC SGD are welcome. The researchers were not looking at one manufacturer, and instead hoped to show 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.

With a relatively large 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, but can actually be transformative.

• Return on Investment:
  High-tech AAC solutions pay for themselves about 1.4 times over. I think that anecdotally, clinicians have always thought AAC was good for individuals, but this study suggest that AAC is also good for economics. I'd go so far as to say that investing in AAC 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 or party trick, but rather it is 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!