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 & AutismLeanna Fox, Speech Pathologist and Australian Clinical Consultant for The Center for AAC & Autism
Gail also authored Power ‘N Play, an 8-location Minspeak® Application Program (MAP) for young children with significant disabilities.
“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.”
Sarah Stewart, Speech Pathologist and Specialist Teacher, Senior AAC Consultant at Liberator Australia.
“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.”
Melissa Hoy, CScD, CCC-SLP, Product Owner, iOS Apps – PRC-Saltillo
“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.”
Brittany Toney, M.A., CCC-SLP, Product Owner, Chat Software/ChatEditor – PRC-Saltillo
“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.”
Meghan Conover, B.Sc., CDA, Product Owner, Language and Vocabulary Systems – PRC-Saltillo
“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.”Michelle Retzlaff, M.A., CCC-SLP, Regional Manager of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
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.
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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.
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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.
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