Communication Partner

A person who regularly interacts with an AAC user and supports their communication, including family members, caregivers, teachers, therapists, and peers. Communication partners play a critical role in AAC success — they model AAC use, create opportunities for communication, configure and personalize AAC devices, and interpret communication attempts. Effective AAC intervention requires training communication partners alongside the AAC user, as their responsiveness, patience, and skill in supporting communication directly affects outcomes. In visual scene display programming, communication partners contribute unique knowledge about the AAC user's interests, relationships, and daily experiences that is essential for personalization.