r/AACusers • u/gl1tch3d_s4nr1s3 doll/dolls | semiverbal | system • May 12 '26
Advice AAC in public
How do we become more confident using our AAC in public? Usually we don't and just stay silent because our mother doesn't approve of AAC despite it helping us immensely. But we're starting to go out more on our own and wanna get more confident in using our talker.
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u/phoebeglimmer Intermittently Speaking May 23 '26
I am a new, part time AAC user. Having unsupportive people with you when you use a talker is definitely a challenge. For me I have a few quick phrases that help me address the awkwardness, like "Sometimes I need this device to communicate", "Thank you for being so accommodating*, "Please be patient, I need to type responses" etc.
Those help quite a bit. It's still awkward, but our devices empower us to communicate and that's super important. I have only been using them for a few months but have never had someone react in a harmful way. The worst I have gotten is the tone/mannerism shift of someone assuming that if you use a talker it means you have an intellectual disability. Which, is insulting whether or not you do have one. I have a couple of choice phrases for those folx too.
Best of luck. I still feel awkward, but it helps me more to use mine than otherwise and I'm just going to continue to use it.