To mark Autism Acceptance Month, AAC Experience Adviser Kristianne Marshall shares what this month means to her and offers four practical ways we can move beyond awareness towards genuine autistic allyship — not just in April, but all year round.
Read her blog below, encouraging us to help create a world where autistic people, including those who communicate using AAC, are heard, respected and included.
by Kristianne Marshall
To me, as a person with lived experience of Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 3 alongside genetic, neurological, developmental, intellectual, psychological and medical conditions, and as someone who is minimally verbal, Autism Acceptance Month means being acknowledged, respected, understood and valued as a person with an equal right to participation, dignity and the opportunity to live life fully.
It means having my limitations understood and supported with the right accommodations while also having my strengths valued and encouraged.
It also means recognising that I primarily communicate using my NovaChat AAC device. Using AAC does not mean I have nothing to say or that I am incapable of socialising, it simply means I communicate differently, just as I mobilise differently using my walker or wheelchair.
Although I require support worker assistance and assistive technology in many parts of my daily life in order to participate, I still want, and deserve, to participate in everyday life just like anyone else. It may look a little different, just like every person in the world is different.
As an AAC Experience Adviser with Liberator, Autism Acceptance Month also means demonstrating that regardless of disability or ability, everyone has something valuable to contribute.
There has also been a lot of discussion around Autism Awareness Month versus Autism Acceptance Month. At times, instead of bringing awareness or acceptance, these conversations have unintentionally created division within our communities. Both perspectives have strengths and limitations.
However, where they align is this: without awareness there can be no acceptance, and without acceptance awareness has little meaning.
Ultimately, it is about finding common ground and supporting individuals in the most respectful and humane way so they can be their authentic selves with dignity and opportunity.
So this Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, I invite you to consider another “A”: Autism Allyship Month.
Once you begin to understand the autistic person, awareness naturally grows, not only of the individual but also of the environments around them.
Their environments may include:
By understanding their strengths, needs, interests, sensory preferences and communication methods, you may begin to recognise where certain environments or situations create barriers—or opportunities, for participation.
With greater awareness, it becomes easier to identify where adjustments, accommodations or communication supports may help someone participate more fully.
This awareness often leads to advocacy.
Advocating for the needs and strengths of autistic people, whether through supporting communication access, encouraging inclusive environments or recognising their abilities, is an important part of being a supportive autistic ally.
Understanding, awareness and advocacy naturally lead to greater autism acceptance.
Acceptance means recognising and valuing the autistic person as a whole, their communication style, preferences, strengths, support needs and the adjustments that help them participate.
When autistic people feel accepted as they are, trust begins to grow.
Trust forms with the people who take the time to understand, listen, support communication access and advocate for environments where autistic individuals can participate meaningfully.
When autistic people cannot be their authentic selves due to communication, environmental or social barriers, building trust becomes much harder.
But when acceptance is present, it creates the foundation for genuine allyship.
Four Ways to Show Autism Allyship:
To be an autistic ally, the first step is understanding the autistic person.
Taking the time to understand the individual is the most important step in being a supportive ally. Even people with the best intentions can sometimes unintentionally cause harm instead of help, which is why understanding the person always comes first.
What should I think about when getting to know an autistic person?
As the saying goes, when you know one person with autism, you know one person with autism!
Communication does not always look the same. Some autistic people communicate using speech, while others use AAC, writing or gestures. Respecting and supporting these communication methods is an important part of allyship.
How Can I Show Respect and Understanding to an Autistic Person?
You can show better understanding to an autistic person by:
When we respect communication differences and take the time to understand the person, even small efforts can make a big difference.
Awareness often leads to advocacy. Supporting sensory-considerate environments, communication access and practical accommodations helps autistic people participate more fully in everyday life.
How to Advocate for an Autistic Person’s Needs and Strengths
You can advocate for autistic people by:
Advocacy helps create environments where autistic people can communicate, participate and be recognised for who they are.
True allyship means including autistic people in conversations, activities and community life with kindness, encouragement and respect. Small actions, like giving time for communication, being mindful of sensory needs and celebrating strengths, can make a meaningful difference.
Ways to Be Inclusive with Kindness
You can be inclusive with kindness by:
Small actions like these help create inclusive spaces where autistic people feel respected, supported and able to participate fully.
Autism allyship begins with understanding the person, respecting different ways of communicating, including AAC, and creating environments where autistic people can participate, belong and contribute.
When we move from awareness to allyship through understanding, advocacy and kindness, we create a world where autistic people, including those who communicate using AAC, are truly heard, respected and valued.
– Kristianne
This Autism Acceptance Month – and beyond – consider how small, thoughtful actions can make a meaningful difference. Whether it’s allowing extra time for communication, supporting communication access, or advocating for inclusive environments, allyship is built through everyday choices.
If you’d like to learn more about supporting autistic people, including AAC communicators, explore our resources or get in touch with the Liberator team. We’re here to support communication, participation and inclusion — every day of the year!
Your AAC device is an important part of everyday life, supporting conversations, learning, and connection with others. And, just like any piece of technology you rely on, it performs best when it’s well looked after! In this blog, we’ll share our top AAC device maintenance tips – including practical care, maintenance, and tech advice to help ensure your device stays reliable, responsive, and ready when you need it!
Let’s face it – devices get dirty. Whether you’re at school, work, or just having dinner, your device comes along for the ride. Give it some cleaning attention regularly to keep it working well.
For light cleaning, use a soft, lint-free cloth on the touchscreen. For deeper cleaning, use a slightly damp, lint-free cloth, then dry the screen with another soft cloth. You can find more detailed cleaning tips in your device manual.
Good to know: Keyguards can go in the dishwasher!
Your device comes with a specific charger – always use that one. Try to charge your battery before it drops to 0%. Charging when your battery is above 10% can extend its life significantly. For best results, charge your device upright at room temperature on a hard surface.
Tip: Turn off your device for faster charging.
We encourage keeping your device with you and ready to use for conversations throughout the day. However, there are smart times to use sleep mode or shut down completely.
Set your auto-sleep to five minutes or less. Use sleep mode when you won’t be using your device for short periods, like during swimming.
Remember that sleep mode uses about 2% of battery per hour. Consider turning off your device completely during longer breaks, like overnight.
Like most technology, your device works best when it’s not too hot. Take breaks from heat and avoid charging if your device feels warm. Move to shade or air conditioning rather than trying to cool it with water.
Tip: Keep a low-tech communication board handy for water activities.
Software updates bring new features and vocabulary to improve your communication experience. Connect to WiFi and follow the prompts in your settings menu to get these improvements. Updates also help your device run more smoothly overall.
Tip: Plug in your device during updates to protect your battery.
Your screen is essential for accessing all your communication options. Protect it from scratches, moisture, and spills with a screen protector. This also reduces glare and reflections, making it easier to see your buttons.
Visit our online store to see screen protector options for your device.
Your device is built to be durable and handle daily life. (If you haven’t already), you might try an extra protective case designed specifically for your device model. These cases provide additional security for active use at home and out in the community.
People change, and your needs change too. It might be time to check that you’re still accessing your device in the most comfortable and efficient way possible.
Connect with your support team (or ours!) to consider adjustments like:
Our local consultants are happy to discuss access questions to help you communicate at your best.
If you’re experiencing glitches, try restarting your device first – this solves most technical problems.
If you’re still having trouble after a restart, our support team is here to help. Contact us by phone, email, or through our website, and we’ll work together to get your AAC device maintenance issue resolved – and your device running smoothly again.
Need a little support with your AAC device maintenance?
Our team is here to help you make the most of your communication device. Whether you need help with AAC device maintenance or want to explore new ways to optimise your AAC setup, we’re just a call or click away.
Contact us:
