Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a field of research and practice that works with people who have a communication disability. One form AAC can take is a high-tech tool, such as a software-based communication system. Like all user interfaces, these systems must be designed and it is critical to include AAC users in the design process for their systems. A participatory design approach can include AAC users in the design process, but modifications may be necessary to make these methods more accessible. We present a two-part design process we are investigating for improving the participatory design for high-tech AAC systems. We discuss our plans to refine the accessibility of this process based on participant feedback.
@article{arxiv.2506.19995,
title = {Refining Participatory Design for AAC Users},
author = {Blade Frisch and Keith Vertanen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.19995},
year = {2025}
}