If you were to ask me a couple of years ago to define what AAC is, I would have smiled and said that I have no idea.

Not in a million years would I think that not only would I know what augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is, but that it would become such an intricate part of my life. Being a nurse prior to my brain aneurysm at 28 years old, I never figured that I could go from caregiver to someone who relies on others. I was always very independent and took care of patients with stokes and other disabilities.  But even being a nurse and working in an environment which would be a perfect place to introduce AAC, I had never heard of augmentative and alternative communication. It wasn’t until two years after my incident that I really was able to get my voice back and regain my independence though the use of a device.

Being a man who lost his speech later on in life, the change was difficult for me.  The depravation of oxygen during my aneurysm left me with the inability to speak even though I maintained full cognitive function. All my receptive skills were intact but I had no way to express myself.  I struggled with aphasia (for all of you professionals out there). The first year after my incident was the most difficult.  Before I started working with my device, I had to rely on an alphabet board which was frustrating because if the person that I was talking to wasn’t standing right next to me, they wouldn’t get what I was telling them. Plus if they didn’t get it the first time, I would have to start over again.

My life changed again, this time for the better, when I was introduced to AAC and the DynaVox.  For the first time in about two years I had a voice again. People no longer had to guess at what I was trying to tell them or how I was feeling.  The frustration was gone because once again I can let others know the real me.  Now I don’t go anywhere without my device.  I am so excited that improvements are constantly being made in the field of AAC.  Everywhere I go, I use my device and people are just as excited as I am that I am able to communicate with them.  They want to know all about my device and how it works.

Now, if you were to ask me today to define AAC, I would say that’s easy “it’s freedom.”  It’s freedom to be able to express myself. It’s the freedom to speak my mind and let people know that just because I am unable to speak that I do have something to say. It’s the freedom to be funny, insightful and witty. Most importantly, it gives me the freedom to be me.