Using AAC Technology to Access the World

This paper describes the monumental shift in the nature of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) access that has occurred over the past three decades. In its earliest days AAC technology was directed at enabling interpersonal face-to-face interactions mainly for persons with physical impairment. Contemporary AAC access attempts to mirror the access needs of a broader population. Accordingly AAC access to today's mainstream technologies expands the focus from interpersonal communication to access of information and services over the expanding World Wide Web. With this expanded view comes a new range of challenges and opportunities. At the same time AAC has expanded its reach to include more people with a wider range of complex communication needs.