AAC IN MUSIC

He sang the whole song, with his device 💛

Liam is autistic and nonspeaking, and he made it through “If You’re Happy and You Know It” by pressing the buttons on his AAC device, then did every motion. It was the “shout hooray” that got everyone.

When no one’s watching, that inner voice is still singing.

Presume competence 💛

Try it yourself

Sing the song, button by button.

This is how a child sings with AAC. Tap each line of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” in order, the device says the words, and the child does the motion.

Tap a line to sing it on the device.

Do the motion that goes with the words.

Sing it together, music makes AAC joyful.

Now singing

Tap a line to start the song →

Presume competence

AAC & music: myth or fact?

A lot gets assumed about a nonspeaking child and a device. Sort the myths from the facts.

Read the statement at the top of the card.

Pick myth or fact, the right one lights up.

Hit next for the following statement.

Statement 1 of 6

Myth, or fact?

More than a sing-along

Why music makes AAC click.

Songs are one of the best ways in for a new communicator. Tap a reason music and AAC belong together.

Pick a reason songs help a child communicate.

See what it sounds like, real words to model.

Try it at home, press play and sing along.

Motivation

What it sounds like

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A voice belongs everywhere, even in a song.

When Liam pressed those buttons on his own, it showed something important: there’s a whole inner world in there, navigating life, even when no one is watching. Music just gave it a stage.

To our fellow autism parents, always presume competence. Give a child the tools, the songs, and the space, and they’ll show you exactly how much they have to say.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIAM

There is so much more to his story

Liam has been breezing through his AAC journey, and his family shares the wins along the way. Watch more of him finding his voice, one press at a time.