What terms should we use for AAC and the people who use it? Results from a terminology survey

This study aimed to elicit and analyze the views and preferences of a variety of AAC stakeholders regarding terminology related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and the people who use or could benefit from it. We used an anonymous online survey to ask nonspeaking AAC users, speaking AAC users, relatives of AAC users, and AAC professionals their preferences on 119 English terms related to AAC, AAC users, and communication disability. The survey also collected demographic information, including age, country, connection to AAC, and disability identity. A total of 556 participants completed the survey. We aimed to determine broad terminology preferences across stakeholder groups and identify areas of disagreement between stakeholders. By making comparisons between related terms and between stakeholder groups, we were able to achieve this aim. There were statistically significant preferences between terms within all groups of related terms. Stakeholder groups also frequently disagreed with each other about AAC terminology: between-group differences in the frequency with which respondents supported, disliked, and/or were unfamiliar with terms were present for 81 of the 119 terms. The preferences uncovered in this study can support respectful language guidance around AAC. Further work should ideally address terminology preferences among stakeholder samples that are less focused on the United States, more focused on marginalized cultural groups, include stakeholders with more limited language skills, and/or address terminology in languages other than English.

本研究旨在征集并分析各类辅助与替代沟通（augmentative and alternative communication, AAC）利益相关者的观点与偏好，相关主题涉及辅助与替代沟通术语，以及使用或可从该技术中获益的人群。本研究采用匿名在线问卷的方式，向非言语型AAC使用者、言语型AAC使用者、AAC使用者家属以及AAC专业人士调研了119个与AAC、AAC使用者及沟通障碍相关的英语术语偏好。本次问卷同时收集了受访者的人口统计学信息，包括年龄、所在国家、与AAC的关联情况以及残疾身份认同，最终共有556名受访者完成全部问卷。本研究旨在明确不同利益相关者群体在术语选择上的整体偏好，并识别群体间存在分歧的领域。通过对比相关术语以及不同利益相关者群体的反馈，我们达成了这一研究目标。在所有相关术语组内，不同术语间均存在具有统计学显著性的偏好差异。同时，各利益相关者群体在AAC术语使用上也时常存在分歧：在119个术语中，有81个术语在受访者对其的支持、反感或陌生程度上存在组间差异。本研究揭示的术语偏好可为AAC相关的得体语言指南提供支撑。未来的研究应优先关注以下方向：调研未以美国为核心的利益相关者样本的术语偏好、聚焦边缘文化群体、纳入语言能力有限的利益相关者，以及针对非英语语言的术语偏好展开研究。