Having communication gives us power to be ourselves, to learn and make sense of the world around us. Both the right and need to communicate runs as a golden thread throughout all our lives.

Being an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) user means that communication is no longer a given. It becomes a journey, a challenge, a specialism and a source of strength. AAC users come from all walks of life and have very different needs - whether they are autistic, living after a stroke or brain injury, or have a lifelong condition such as cerebral palsy. What unites them is that AAC provides a way to connect with the people around them.

Written by Paralympian and disability advocate Beth Moulam, this book is the go-to guide to everything AAC. From the first uncertain days with a device, through the challenges of school, teenage years and the leap to independent living, the chapters offer tools and frameworks to build partnerships. You'll find the confidence to advocate for yourself as an AAC user and lead with authenticity and audAACity.

It also includes sections for communication partners, with advice for what to look out for when communicating with AAC users, active listening and how to support at home, school and in the wider world.