The theme of the 2009 International AAC Awareness Month is "AAC and Communication".  Of course AAC is communication, but there are many different methods of AAC that work for different people.  Also, most people who use AAC methods communicate in a variety of ways.

Spotlight:

In celebration of October's International AAC Month, the TASH Communications Committee and Snoopi Botten and friends have just released on YouTube an advocacy song for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC):  "If I Had a VOCA".  The adapted lyrics for this song were written to teach the world that everyone needs a way to communicate.  People who have little or no speech can communicate with the right technology, training, and support.  Sadly, many people spend months, years, and sometimes a lifetime without effective communication.  We are working to change that. 

Everyone has something to say. 
Our goal is effective communication for all . . . in our lifetime!

The unique musical performance is a remarkable trio of computer-generated singing voices.  These computerized voices are used by people who have little or no effective speech.  It is rare to hear them sing and rarer still to hear them harmonize. 

The tune is an old and familiar one which reminds us about justice, freedom, and love.  The song is paced for an audience sing along. 

We hope you will enjoy the video, sing along with the lyrics as they are displayed on a wide range of VOCAs, and tell others around the world about it so they can join us in song and advocacy. 

The song was adapted from the classic song "If I Had a Hammer", by Hays and Seeger which was also popularized by Peter, Paul, and Mary.  This video is dedicated to the memory of Mary Travers, whose voice for justice and freedom and love still rings in our ears and in our hearts. 

YouTube and to invite you to watch and share it: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJi_Si_jTHk

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first 24 hours read-a-thon

Elizabeth Breen

Here is a link to a story about a young woman named Elizabeth Breen who spells and types to communicate.  It aired.  The website has the transcript and complete video. 

Clearly, Elizabeth has come a long way with very good support for her social, intellectual and spiritual needs.  It is good to see another example of what is possible with a presumption of competence, ongoing personalized support, and access to spelling and typing. Elizabeth

To see what some of the other countries did for International AAC Month Click Here

To make a large poster you can download 300 the International AAC Month logo