Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Friendships: Considerations for Speech-Language Pathologists

Abstract

Purpose: Friendships are enjoyable and desirable relationships with personal and developmental benefits for all people. However, individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) experience barriers to developing and maintaining friendships. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), with expertise in communication, social pragmatics, and AAC, are uniquely qualified to support friendship for individuals who use AAC. This clinical focus article provides a background on friendship and friendship development generally, then outlines considerations for SLPs to support individuals who use AAC to develop and maintain authentic friendships with peers across the lifespan. Conclusions: Communication with peers is an essential component of friendship development and maintenance. SLPs should recognize that they have clients on their caseloads who desire friendship and who likely experience barriers to developing or maintaining friendships. When SLPs have a friendship mindset, they identify authentic, motivating opportunities for social interaction; provide the needed tools, including AAC, to support communication within those opportunities; and target communicative competence as part of treatment.