AAC speech is not free it costs for hardware, software, access technology, warranty, insurances, servicing plus ongoing people costs.
Beth Moulam on all the extra costs of being an AAC user that people do not see , both money and human support costs.
Funding bodies only seem to be able to look at the present need. AAC users grow up, get older, move on and have changing needs. Personal assistants change and newbies need to be trained as communication and AAC support partners. All technology has a limited life, the hardware continually has updates, the software improves, and devices become obsolete. Things break so the cost of communication is not a one-off, but a cost for life. Sadly, using AAC speech is not free.
What would be really good to have is a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the cost of communication aids versus the difference it makes across a user’s lifetime. Does this exist? The investment in essential resources should be offset against our quality of life. There is plenty of research that when we can access family and community life, education and contribute to society by volunteering and working our physical and mental health is improved.
I never take for granted my ability to speak. I have the freedom with my communication aid to say what I want, where and when I want to say it. But for me, and other AAC users, freedom of speech definitely is not free.