hi gwydion, how can non-aac users help to include aac users in conversation better? i’ve seen multiple aac users say they often feel left out because of how much time it takes to find the right words and the conversation moves too quickly.
give time figure out answer , in general .
do not get annoy if answer something late after topic change .
if in group , please try not let people split and start different conversation . patience key to not make AAC user feel like burden for others .
understand if AAC say something in wrong way , AAC user do not have way to change this . not have tone of voice , can not control emphasis or speed , and pronunciation can be hard work with . if suddenly get frustrate , that might be why . some people can sign , draw , or gesture to clarify , but not all can , and this depend on situation . so please be nice and try ask questions that easy yes or no answer if sudden frustrate . do not look at screen unless have permission .
long messages can be very frustrate if need repeat . this maybe different in other AAC , but in proloquo2go can not go back and change message after type , and that also means can not cut out start just to say end again . with proloquo2go technically possible to copy message text , erase extra part , then speak that , but again : not always thing everyone can do , and maybe different in other AAC .
please do not start talk as soon as hear pause . this frustrate so much because people hear pause for one second and start talk again , when gwydion not actually done yet , voice is just slow . then talk over AAC and whine that gwydion need say again , which , back to above . ( if even realise at all … )
do not assume something wrong if AAC user choose not use device , because , can be very hard and sometimes really not need spend time and energy on make people hear device say " yes i like that " when could just nod . but at same time , try listen and make sure have place in conversation , with time to answer and feel safe answer , if that make sense .