Augmentative and alternative communication supports for adults with autism spectrum disorders.
Low-tech AAC is liked but often unused with adults; steady mini-trainings and visual prompts can keep it going.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Giofrè et al. (2014) talked to support workers and families of adults with autism. They asked how low-tech AAC tools like picture boards and choice cards were working.
The team used open interviews. They wanted real stories, not numbers.
What they found
Everyone loved the idea of low-tech AAC. They said it gave adults a voice and cut frustration.
Yet the tools sat on shelves. Staff forgot to use them. No one had time to train. Paperwork ate the day.
How this fits with other research
Alhuzimi (2026) asked 101 teachers the same question about kids. Teachers also said AAC is great when it feels easy. The barrier list matches: time, training, and broken printers.
Maingi et al. (2025) surveyed Indian speech therapists. Therapists praised AAC but blamed scarce funds and short workshops. Same tune, new country.
Mavritsakis (2024) tells a brighter tale. One teen swapped a letter board for an iPad and took off talking. High-tech worked where low-tech had stalled. The gap looks like a tech leap, not a flaw in the adult study.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with autism, low-tech AAC can help, but only if you guard against drift. Build two-minute check-ins into daily routines. Post visual cues near the microwave, the van door, the register. Ask your supervisor for a monthly 15-minute refresher instead of a one-time marathon training. These small locks keep the tool alive.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Many adults with autism spectrum disorders have complex communication needs and may benefit from the use of augmentative and alternative communication. However, there is a lack of research examining the specific communication needs of these adults, let alone the outcomes of interventions aimed at addressing them. The aim of this study was to explore the views and experiences of support workers and family members regarding the outcomes of providing low-technology communication aids to adults with autism spectrum disorders. The participants were six support workers and two family members of six men and women with autism spectrum disorders, who had received low-technology communication aids. Using semi-structured, in-depth interviews and following thematic analysis, the results revealed strong support for, and the potential benefits of, augmentative and alternative communication for both adults with autism spectrum disorders and their communication partners. The results also revealed inconsistencies in the actions taken to support the use of the prescribed augmentative and alternative communication systems, pointing to the clinical need to address common barriers to the provision of augmentative and alternative communication support. These barriers include organisational practices and limitations in the knowledge and skills of key stakeholders, as well as problematic attitudes.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2014 · doi:10.1177/1362361313486204