Talking With Tech AAC Podcast

Britton Payne: Promoting Authentic Autistic Representation in Pop Culture

This episode, Chris & Rachel interview Britton Payne! Britton Payne is an entertainment attorney who has worked with major studios like Nickelodeon and Warner Bros., and he is also the father of an autistic son. He founded The Autism Scene and created the AUSPEC Awards to promote authentic autistic representation—especially non-speaking AAC users—in children’s animation!
 
Key Ideas This Week:
 
Authentic Autistic Representation in Kids’ Media Matters - Britton emphasizes that autistic and non-speaking characters are vastly underrepresented in children’s animation. Because kids’ pop culture reaches every home and classroom, it has huge potential to model empathy, patience, and inclusion—especially for non-speaking autistic people who use AAC. Representation in media can teach children how to interact respectfully with peers long before adulthood.
 
The Autism Scene and AUSPEC Awards Aim to Change the Industry - Britton founded The Autism Scene and created the AUSPEC Awards, a script competition requiring meaningful interaction with an explicitly autistic character. The competition offers resources, tutorials, sample scripts, and feedback from autism consultants, autistic reviewers, and animation industry leaders. The goal is to help writers create characters that are authentic, non-ableist, and industry-ready—and to make studio executives more comfortable greenlighting shows with autistic characters.
 
Inclusion Requires Patience, Understanding, and High Expectations - Through stories about his friend Alfonso and conversations about AAC, Britton highlights how neurotypical people must learn to wait, listen, and presume competence—especially with non-speaking AAC users. He stresses that autistic people belong in every genre and every part of society. Giving them space and tools to express themselves enriches everyone’s storytelling and understanding of the world.
 
Visit talkingwithtech.org for weekly episodes, transcripts, and resources to help speech-language pathologists, caregivers, and communication partners tailor technology for people with complex communication needs!
 
Join the Talking With Tech Patreon to get exclusive benefits like bonus guest‐interview episodes, behind-the-scenes videos, giveaways, and priority answers to your AAC questions to help you sharpen your skills and confidence in AAC!

Quinn Kelly: Connecting AAC and ASL to Support Deaf & Hard of Hearing Communicators

This week, we share Rachel’s interview with Quinn Kelly! Quinn Kelly is a bilingual speech-language pathologist who specializes in working with children who use both AAC and American Sign Language (ASL). She serves on the AAC committee for the New Jersey Speech and Hearing Association and works with Language First, an organization supporting professionals serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students. In this episode, Quinn shares her expertise on the intersection of AAC and ASL, advocating for culturally sensitive, individualized, and collaborative approaches to communication support.
 
Key Ideas this Week:
 
The Intersection of AAC and ASL Requires Cultural and Clinical Sensitivity – Quinn Kelly emphasizes that not all deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals are ideal candidates for AAC, and decisions must consider cognitive, motor, visual, and cultural factors. Professionals should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and ensure AAC supports are culturally and linguistically respectful of Deaf identity and ASL as a full language.
 
Collaboration and Family-Centered Decision Making Are Essential – Effective support requires collaboration among SLPs, teachers of the deaf, audiologists, OTs/PTs, and families. Since most families of deaf or hard-of-hearing children have little prior experience with Deaf culture, professionals play a key role in educating and guiding them through complex communication decisions involving sign language, AAC, and spoken modalities.
 
Research and Practical Strategies Can Bridge AAC and ASL – Quinn shares practical tools (e.g., ASL symbol sets, video-based icons, advocacy buttons like “I need an interpreter”) and highlights new research she co-authored showing how AAC and ASL can complement each other. This underscores the growing recognition—supported by ASHA’s updated stance—that ASL is a language, not a form of AAC, and that multimodal communication approaches can empower deaf and hard-of-hearing communicators.
 
Visit talkingwithtech.org for weekly episodes, transcripts, and resources to help speech-language pathologists, caregivers, and communication partners tailor technology for people with complex communication needs!
 
Join the Talking With Tech Patreon to get exclusive benefits like bonus guest‐interview episodes, behind-the-scenes videos, giveaways, and priority answers to your AAC questions to help you sharpen your skills and confidence in AAC!

Brian Whitmer: Measuring Progress and Purpose in the AAC Community

This week, we share Chris's interview with Brian Whitmer! Brian is the founder of the AAC app CoughDrop and Open AAC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the AAC field through collaboration, transparency, and open data initiatives. Whitmer discusses his goal of fostering innovation, sharing community insights, and helping the AAC industry move toward more equitable and effective practices.
 
Key ideas from This Episode:
 
Open AAC’s mission is to improve the AAC field through collaboration and transparency: Whitmer described how Open AAC takes a “bird’s-eye view” of the AAC industry, collecting data from professionals, users, and families to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for growth — all without being tied to any single product or company .
 
The “State of AAC” survey highlights progress and persistent challenges: The annual Open AAC survey gathers open-ended responses about apps, vocabularies, and practices. Results show that while awareness and resources are growing, issues such as inconsistent education practices, limited partner training, and inequitable funding continue to hinder progress .
 
The new “AAC GPA” aims to measure industry progress and accountability: Open AAC introduced an “AAC GPA” to grade different aspects of the field (education, advocacy, community, openness, etc.). The 2024 average was 1.9 out of 4.0, signaling that while some areas (like family engagement) are improving, education and systemic adoption remain major areas for development.
 
Visit talkingwithtech.org for weekly episodes, transcripts, and resources to help speech-language pathologists, caregivers, and communication partners tailor technology for people with complex communication needs!
 
Join the Talking With Tech Patreon to get exclusive benefits like bonus guest‐interview episodes, behind-the-scenes videos, giveaways, and priority answers to your AAC questions to help you sharpen your skills and confidence in AAC!

Katie Roettele: STEM, AAC, and the Power of "Making" for Inclusion

This week, Chris interviews Katie Roettele! Katie Roettele is an occupational therapist and assistive technology consultant based in Michigan, specializing in AAC and universal design for learning. She is passionate about using STEM and maker tools like Makey Makey and 3D printing to create accessible, hands-on learning experiences and DIY assistive technology!
 
Key Ideas This Week:
 
Early and Consistent AAC Use Matters – Introducing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) early helps children develop both language and confidence. It’s not about “waiting until they’re ready,” but about giving them tools to communicate right away.
 
Partnership Between Families and Professionals – Successful AAC implementation depends on collaboration. Families bring deep knowledge of their child, while therapists and educators provide strategies and system support. When these perspectives merge, AAC use grows naturally.
 
Focus on Real Communication, Not Just Devices – AAC is about building authentic communication opportunities, not just mastering the buttons on a device. Embedding AAC into daily routines, play, and social interactions fosters meaningful language growth.
 
Visit talkingwithtech.org for weekly episodes, transcripts, and resources to help speech-language pathologists, caregivers, and communication partners tailor technology for people with complex communication needs!
 
Join the Talking With Tech Patreon to get exclusive benefits like bonus guest‐interview episodes, behind-the-scenes videos, giveaways, and priority answers to your AAC questions to help you sharpen your skills and confidence in AAC!

Kayla Ireland: Empowering Total Communication

This week, we share Rachel’s interview with Kayla Ireland! Kayla is a podcaster, college student, AAC User, and advocate who lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. She amplifies diverse voices through her shows, shares her personal communication journey, and the value of developing multiple modes of communication!
 
Key Ideas This Week:
 
The power of mindset and belief — Rachel shares how her mother’s cancer journey has shown the importance of optimism, presence, and reframing difficult experiences. She connects this lesson to her professional work, emphasizing that believing in someone’s potential can transform outcomes.
 
Communication is multimodal — Kayla Ireland highlights that AAC is not just about devices. She uses a blend of sign language, fingerspelling, body language, vocalizations, and technology. Her advice is to use total communication and not force a hierarchy of methods.
 
Efficiency and individuality in AAC use — Kayla explains that one or two words can carry the meaning of a full sentence, and sometimes spelling or gestures are faster than devices. She encourages professionals to respect user preferences and contexts rather than strictly focusing on grammar or pre-programmed systems.
 
Visit talkingwithtech.org for weekly episodes, transcripts, and resources to help speech-language pathologists, caregivers, and communication partners tailor technology for people with complex communication needs!
 
Join the Talking With Tech Patreon to get exclusive benefits like bonus guest‐interview episodes, behind-the-scenes videos, giveaways, and priority answers to your AAC questions to help you sharpen your skills and confidence in AAC!

Claire O'Connor: Exploring AI as a Support for AAC Users

This week, we share Chris’s interview with Claire O’Connor! Claire O’Connor is a speech-language pathologist and first-year PhD student at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and AAC, exploring how tools like ChatGPT can support AAC users better.
 
Before the interview, Melissa, surprises him with news that his Assistive Technology team, comprising nine members, won the "Most Inclusive Team" award from their county's Special Education Advisory Committee Council! Chris himself also won the "Most Inclusive Administrator" award!
 
Key Ideas This Week:
 
Exploring AI as a Support for AAC Users: Claire is researching how large language models (like ChatGPT) can support—not replace—AAC communication by reducing delays, easing the cognitive load of message construction, and expanding short inputs into fuller messages .
 
Co-Design with AAC Users: The project uses a participatory design approach, meaning AAC users are directly involved in shaping tools and prototypes. This ensures that their voices guide development rather than having solutions imposed on them .
 
Focus on Empowerment and Trust: The research emphasizes building trust in AI and empowering AAC users. Instead of only testing tools, Claire plans to create a support group to hear AAC users’ experiences and perspectives, fostering comfort and inclusion before running compensated co-design workshops.
 
Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech!
 
Visit talkingwithtech.org for episode transcripts, searchable episode database, links to resources, and more!

Adina Malamut: Collaborating to Support Accessibility Across Disciplines

In this episode of  Talking with Tech, Chris is interviewed by Adina Malamut, a graduate student and Employee Accessibility Specialist at the University of Texas at Dallas. Their conversation explores Adina’s professional background, her passion for accessibility, and her role in facilitating workplace accommodations. Chris shares insights from his extensive experience in assistive technology, discussing best practices for training, assessment, and systemic implementation of tools to support individuals with disabilities.
 
Key Ideas This Week:
 
Creative Versatility and Experimentation: Adina emphasizes the value of trying different styles and formats in her creative process, especially in comedy. She discusses how experimenting with diverse mediums—from writing and directing to performing—has helped her grow and connect more authentically with her audience.
 
The Power of Community and Collaboration: She highlights the importance of working with others in the creative field. Adina shares how collaborating with fellow artists and being part of supportive communities has enriched her projects and offered essential feedback and encouragement.
 
Personal Growth Through Vulnerability: A recurring theme is her willingness to be vulnerable in her work. She talks about how sharing personal stories and embracing imperfections not only deepens her connection with audiences but also contributes to her personal development as an artist.
 
Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech!
 
Visit bit.ly/twtpod for access to previous episodes, resources, and CEU credits that you can earn for listening to TWT episodes!

Christina Schmidt: Empowering Families Through Culturally Competent AAC

In this episode, Christina Schmidt discusses the critical role of cultural competency in AAC, emphasizing the need to honor linguistic and cultural diversity, such as African American English, within communication systems. She highlights the importance of clinicians addressing their own implicit biases and taking a thoughtful, reflective approach when working with families. Christina encourages professionals to build trust gradually, prioritize collaboration, and empower both caregivers and clients to ensure AAC systems truly reflect the user's identity and culture!
 
🔑Cultural Competency and AAC Must Go Hand-in-Hand: Christina emphasizes the importance of recognizing and respecting cultural and dialectal diversity—especially African American English (AAE)—when programming and implementing AAC systems. Ignoring these cultural elements can undermine identity, communication authenticity, and trust between professionals and families.
 
🔑 Clinicians Must Address Their Own Implicit Biases: A foundational step in becoming culturally competent is self-reflection. Christina encourages professionals to examine and challenge their own internalized biases before engaging with families. This self-awareness ensures more respectful, equitable, and effective service delivery.
 
🔑 Building Trust Takes Time and Intention: Establishing a culturally responsive relationship with families—particularly those from marginalized backgrounds—requires patience, ongoing reflection, and intentional rapport-building. Clinicians are urged to create safe spaces, validate cultural expressions, and engage in continuous learning to truly support meaningful communication through AAC.
 
Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech!
 
Visit bit.ly/twtpod for access to previous episodes, resources, and CEU credits that you can earn for listening to TWT episodes!

Rachel Madel & Chris Bugaj: ATIA 2025 Recap

In this episode, Rachel Madel and Chris Bugaj recap their experiences at ATIA 2025, highlighting the value of community-building during the pre-conference and the growing impact of generative AI in AAC and assistive technology. They discuss exciting new tools like Symbol Creator AI and Flex Speak, and reflect on key sessions around policy advocacy, emphasizing the power of personal stories in influencing change. The episode underscores the importance of collaboration, innovation, and using your voice to make a difference in the assistive tech space.
 
Key Ideas This Episode:
 
Collaborative Learning and Connection at Pre-Conference and SessionsChris & Rachel emphasized how the ATIA pre-conference fostered rich conversations and collaboration, particularly for professionals who often feel isolated in the AAC field. Participants valued the chance to share insights, ask questions, and build lasting relationships. The extended format of 1.5 days allowed for deeper dives into topics like coaching and core AAC strategies, enhancing both learning and community-building.
 
Generative AI and Accessibility InnovationsA major theme was the evolving role of generative AI in assistive technology. Presentations explored how AI could enhance AAC use—like suggesting dialogue based on context or location (e.g., at Starbucks)—and improve communication speed and flexibility. Tools like Microsoft’s Accessibility Insights, the Flex Speak app for multilingual AAC, and Symbol Creator AI from Global Symbols were highlighted as promising developments that support more inclusive and customizable communication.
 
Empowerment Through Policy, Advocacy, and StorytellingAmidst concerns over funding and administrative changes, attendees were encouraged to advocate for assistive technology by directly engaging policymakers. A standout session by ATIA’s policy advisor Laura Kaloi underscored the impact of personal stories in influencing legislation. The episode closed with a reminder that every professional’s and user's voice matters in shaping future access and innovation in the field.
 
Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech!
 
Visit bit.ly/twtpod for access to previous episodes, resources, and CEU credits that you can earn for listening to TWT episodes!

Midwestern University Q&A: Interdisciplinary Collaboration, AAC Implementation, & More

This week, we share Chris and Rachel’s Q&A session with Professor Danielle Reed and her students at Midwestern University. They discuss interdisciplinary collaboration, the importance of mindset in AAC implementation, how occupational therapists can work effectively with speech-language pathologists, and more!
 
Before the interview, Chris and Rachel touch on Chris’s experience teaching AAC to pre-service occupational therapy students, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, mindset shifts, and the importance of making communication fun and engaging.
 
Key Ideas This Week:
 
🔑 The Biggest Challenge in AAC Implementation Is Training Communication Partners – The main difficulty in teaching kids to use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) isn't the child’s ability but rather ensuring that parents, teachers, and therapists consistently model and support its use. Overcoming resistance and misconceptions among adults is a crucial part of AAC success.
 
🔑 Collaboration and Buy-In Are Essential for AAC Success – When selecting an AAC system, it’s important to involve the entire team, including parents, therapists, and educators. A collaborative approach ensures better long-term implementation and prevents division in decision-making that could hinder the child’s progress.
 
🔑 Mindset and Education Over Restriction – A common mistake in AAC is limiting vocabulary or access based on assumptions about a child’s capabilities. Instead of restricting words or making assumptions about a child's abilities, the focus should be on providing access to robust language and educating both the child and communication partners to use it effectively.
 
Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech!
 
Visit bit.ly/twtpod for access to previous episodes, resources, and CEU credits that you can earn for listening to TWT episodes!