Communication Access and Agency for Autistic People
Presented by Amy L. Donaldson and endever* corbin
This course explores the critical intersection of communication access and agency for autistic people, moving beyond traditional speech-focused interventions toward a neurodiversity-affirming, multimodal approach. While clinical practice has historically prioritized speech, many autistic people experience internal challenges—such as intermittent, unreliable, or “expensive” speech—that hinder effective communication and autonomy. By reframing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as a primary tool for agency rather than a last resort, this course provides healthcare professionals with the framework to dismantle systemic barriers and promote self-determination. Participants will examine various models of disability and learn to apply the participation model to identify opportunity and access barriers within a student’s or client’s environment. Designed for speech-language pathologists, educators, and other healthcare providers in school-based or clinical settings, this course offers evidence-based strategies to create inclusive, multimodal environments that honor all forms of communication.
Learning Outcomes
- Implement neurodiversity-affirming strategies to facilitate cross-community communication and social interaction
- Construct strengths-based intervention goals that prioritize self-advocacy and quality of life over normalization
- Integrate strategies for authentically partnering with the autistic community
Meet your instructors
Amy L. Donaldson
Amy L. Donaldson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at Portland State University. Using a participatory research framework, she is interested in examining communication choice, access, and agency, as well as social interaction and relationship development in partnership with the…
endever* corbin
endever* corbin (name is lowercase; the star is silent; pronouns are they/them/theirs or xe/xem/xyrs) is a multiply disabled, mostly-nonspeaking Autistic self-advocate. Their multimodal communication methods include a symbol-based AAC device, typing, ASL, letterboards, some mouthwords, and more. As a community research…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Reframing Communication: From Speech to Agency
This chapter introduces the shift from a medical model of disability to the biopsychosocial and social models, emphasizing that communication success should be measured by agency rather than the supremacy of speech. It is essential for clinicians to understand internal autistic speech experiences, such as “expensive” speech, to move past the “last resort” myth of AAC and embrace a universal access approach.
2. Deconstructing Barriers and Assessment Frameworks
Participants will examine the limitations of traditional speech assessments and learn to apply the participation model to identify external opportunity and internal access barriers. This chapter is vital for shifting clinical focus from a “candidacy” model to a person-centered, first-person-informed approach that empowers the user’s right to full participation.
3. Strategies and Recommendations for Universal Access
This chapter provides actionable strategies for creating a multimodal communication culture, including modeling various AAC tools and implementing universal design principles in schools and clinics. Establishing these supports and learning directly from autistic community creators is crucial for fostering an environment where every individual has the time, attention, and tools to express themselves autonomously.
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