AACpunk is a movement that challenges ableism and promotes the acceptance and inclusion of all forms of communication. It stands for the inclusion of individuals who rely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), including nonverbal individuals, neurodivergent people, and those with various communication challenges, whether temporary or permanent. It works to break down barriers such as prohibitive costs, restrictive protocols, and social stigma, ensuring that all individuals have equal access to AAC tools.
The top blue is representing communication in all its forms
The red is for breaking of barriers, stereotypes and ableism
The light tan-brown for neurodivergence
The gray for self-determination
And the cobalt for free access
Person with AAC symbol by @blackholemojis
• Communication is a right, not a privilege. No one should be denied access to AAC tools of any kind.
• All communication is valid. Whether someone uses text-to-speech devices, symbol boards, writing, gestures, or any other form of AAC, their voice matters.
• Rejecting ableism in communication. Society often devalues nonverbal and AAC users, treating them as lesser. AACpunk stands against this by demanding equal treatment and respect.
• Breaking barriers to AAC access. Many AAC users struggle to get the tools they need due to cost, medical gatekeeping, or stigma. AACpunk fights for free and open access to communication tools.
• Neurodivergent and disability pride. AACpunk is inherently tied to neurodivergent and disabled liberation, embracing identity without the need for “fixing” or forced conformity to verbal speech norms.
AACpunk is inherently supportive of:
• All individuals with verbal communication challenges, no matter how they express themselves.
• No-tech, low-tech, and high-tech AAC users.
• Individuals who are neurodivergent, disabled, and who choose AAC as their primary means of communication.
• Self-determination in communication choices, without societal pressure to conform to verbal norms.
• Accessible education, workplaces, and social spaces for all individuals, regardless of communication style.
• The ability to communicate anything, even content deemed controversial or inappropriate, including through symbol-based AAC.
• Free access to AAC tools, ensuring that economic barriers do not prevent communication.
AACpunk is inherently against:
• Speech supremacy and verbalism, the belief that spoken language is superior.
• Medical and educational systems that gatekeep access to AAC, preventing people from receiving the tools they need.
• Forced speech therapies and practices that demand conformity to verbal communication norms.
• The infantilization of AAC users, treating them as less than or incapable of making their own choices.
• The exclusion of AAC users from conversations about accessibility, rights, and inclusion.
• Dehumanizing attitudes toward nonverbal individuals and those who use AAC.
