Communication Partner

A person who communicates with an AAC user, whether through speech, sign, or other means. Communication partners play a critical role in the success of AAC interactions — their willingness to wait, their ability to interpret messages, and their understanding of AAC devices significantly affect conversation quality. Research has shown that training communication partners in strategies such as allowing extra response time, confirming understanding, and avoiding premature topic changes can substantially improve communication outcomes for AAC users. Effective communication is a shared responsibility between AAC users and their partners.