Women have always played a vital role in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) — as researchers, clinicians, educators, engineers, family members, and AAC communicators themselves. Their work has expanded what communication can look like, who it includes, and how people are supported to express themselves in ways that feel meaningful and authentic.
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating 8 unique women whose work continues to influence AAC vocabulary development and practice globally.
Cindy Halloran, an occupational therapist, is the Director of The Center for AAC & Autism. With extensive experience treating autistic children, she co-developed the Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP)™ approach and the LAMP Words for Life® vocabulary.
"Cindy Halloran is truly a wonder woman! Cindy has always been so generous in sharing her knowledge, wisdom, and clinical expertise. Because of her, the way we understand and support AAC here in Australia has been deeply shaped and strengthened. Quite simply, LAMP would not be here without her. On a personal level, I feel incredibly grateful for Cindy’s ongoing support. She continues to share her wisdom, thoughtful clinical insights, and steady leadership as we all keep learning more about multimodal communication. Working alongside and learning from her is truly a privilege." - Leanna Fox, Speech Pathologist and Australian Clinical Consultant for The Center for AAC & Autism
"Gail Van Tatenhove has been a guiding voice in my AAC career. Being a speech pathologist and teacher, I’ve always felt especially connected to her work. The impact of Minspeak on people’s lives is incredible, giving individuals independent, autonomous access to communication.
Gail’s training materials, resources, and genuine dedication to people who use AAC, particularly Unity® vocabulary, have shaped my practice and supported countless colleagues. I go back to her work all the time, and I share it with others just as often. Her work turns big AAC ideas into practical strategies you can use right away.”
“Nancy’s compassion and dedication to her clients shows in each version of WordPower. She brings a humble energy to her craft as she continuously improves this innovative vocabulary system to make it the best version for a variety of communicators.
It has been an honour to work with someone as passionate and intelligent as Nancy, as she brilliantly blends the skills of a speech-language pathologist, a linguist, and a software engineer to create WordPower.”
“Ružica has profoundly impacted the AAC community in Croatia. The vocabulary files she has created for clients using the VersaChat™ are widely regarded as the most robust and comprehensive files for Croatian speaking-individuals with complex communication needs.
Ružica puts her heart and soul into her work, leveraging her clinical experience and expertise to enhance the vocabulary files she has created. Without her advocacy, passion, and leadership, there would be many in Croatia without a voice.”
“Lisa brings a unique blend of expertise, advocacy, and empathy to her role. I’m constantly impressed by her ability to connect with people while expertly training and educating them about AAC. Her mentorship, both to me and to countless others, has been invaluable.
Through her guidance, she has helped build a far-reaching AAC community, fostering a group that deeply understands the significance of their role, both individually and collectively.”
“Lois, Anne, and Sarah’s passion and dedication to help those with aphasia, and other adult acquired language disorders, is displayed throughout their thoughtful vocabulary. “They recognise the person is at the heart of communication. Providing a high-tech communication solution assists those to reengage in daily life activities. Their clinical insight and creativity to base the file’s roots in research, while finding a balance to allow for flexible customisation, is at the centre of Communication Journey: Aphasia. Ordering at your favourite restaurant or informing your health care provider how you are feeling are important communication opportunities. Now all have an opportunity to do so because of their contribution to the field of AAC.”
At Liberator Australia, we see how thoughtful AAC design supports people to communicate on their own terms. The work of these women reminds us that progress in AAC happens through collaboration, advocacy, and lived experience.
We are proud to share this piece with our Australian community and to continue learning from the voices that strengthen AAC worldwide.
Whether you want to discover our devices, find a training workshop, or book a free 1:1 consult, we’re here to help!
Call 9124 9945 or email support@liberator.net.au to connect with our team.
Note: this article is adapted from ‘Nine Women Who Made Waves in AAC’, originally published by PRC-Saltillo. It is shared here with permission and has been edited for clarity and context.
