AAC users need have access to words you see as bad or inappropriate or yes, even bigoted.
AAC users need & deserve same amount vocabulary as non-AAC users, n that include these words.
AAC user deserve say bad words n swear. “am angry” and “am fucking angry” communicate different emotions. “oh!” and “shit!” communicate different things. n we deserve have access to full range emotional expression.
so called “inappropriate” “taboo” topics. AAC users deserve access to words about sex (and kink) and STIs and private / reproductive / personal body parts and abuse and boundaries and ability say no. they need be available for AAC users of all ages, age & developmentally appropriate words AND symbols, both scientifically accurate (when their ability allows) and colloquial terms, n one not replace the other.
not all AAC users can read, n some who can still rely on symbols more than spelled words. if you automatically think scientifically accurate symbol = porn, that’s a you problem. (there symbols of these body parts that both scientifically accurate AND appropriate for kids).
disabled people at greater risk of abuse, including sexual abuse. having speech / communication difficulties make it even more challenging. and, not have access to appropriate communication for boundaries (because “it make it harder for caregiver/professionals exert control”) and/or for reporting what happened afterwards, only harm AAC user & help the abuser/perpetrator.
think of a disabled AAC user you least associate with sexual activities. yes, even they (or especially they) at risk of sexual & other type of abuse.
so AAC user should have access to these words. AND should be taught how to use them. just having it there, not enough.
not only that, disabled people have sex. AAC users have sex. we have them AND talk about them. we get STIs. we talk to people n need treatment for it. imagine next time talk to your friends or intimate partner, n only word able use is words that appear in scientific literature.
controversial words n (potentially) problematic words. words like “handicap,” “special needs”, etc (personal feelings about some of them aside because my feeling more complicated & a lil different than loudest disability community people), words & phrases commonly seen as offensive in disabled community. ABA. eugenics. hans asperger. words you disagree with. AAC users deserve access to these too. just like non-AAC users.
we have feelings about them. we use them. we talk about them. we talk about our feelings about them.
you get to talk about your feelings about these words. you get to talk about how some these words personally impact you. you get to educate people why some these words harmful. n to do that, you use these words.
we deserve that opportunity, too.
have these words in our AAC not automatic mean we agree with them. just like how non AAC users mere say these words not mean they agree with it.
all these words need be in AAC. not everyone able to use mouth speech to support words missing in their AAC.
if AAC user use symbol based AAC, these words need be in symbols. not everyone able spell, type, or read.
if you concerned about having access to these words may make AAC user… disruptive disrespectful & curse at everyone, be sexually promiscuous do risky sexual activities, spout bigoted ideas & become bigoted person.
if take away access to language your only way combat these behaviors, then maybe you not as good as educator parent what have you as you thought. maybe what you seek is just compliance & control.
non AAC users have access to these words too. do all them automatically become all this you so sure will happen? n for those who did, how you handle it?
teaching AAC user some words bad, harmful, or should only be used in some context with some people, should not be done by remove access to those words. should be treated same as non-AAC users (of similar abilities)—teach why it harmful, why shouldn’t use, when can and cannot use.
you shouldn’t be taping non-AAC user’s mouth. you cannot magically remove certain word from non-AAC user’s vocabulary.
n shouldn’t do same to AAC users either.
