Help Me Support Kids Who Use AAC at Summer Camp!

Did you know the average person speaks about 16,000 words a day?

Now imagine what life would be like if you couldn’t rely on speech to communicate those words—your needs, your ideas, your emotions. How would you express yourself?

This is the reality for over 2 million individuals in the U.S. who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). AAC includes any system, device, or method that helps someone communicate when speech alone isn’t enough—ranging from speech-generating devices to picture boards, sign language, and more.

As many of you know, I recently completed my PhD studying mental health supports for AAC users—a population that is often overlooked, yet full of vibrant voices waiting to be heard.

This summer, I’ve been accepted as a volunteer at a weeklong camp for children who use AAC, hosted by the AAC Institute in Pennsylvania. The AAC Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering AAC users through research, training, and community-based initiatives. This year’s camp theme is "Night at the Museum", and we’ll be taking campers out into the community—including visits to local museums—to promote communication in real-world settings.

While I’m honored to serve as a volunteer, I’m also responsible for covering my own expenses, including travel from California to Pennsylvania and lodging. I’ll also be taking an unpaid week off from my full-time job as a-language pathologist at a hospital.

I’m raising funds to help offset the cost of volunteering so I can give my time and energy to this incredible group of kids—many of whom are experiencing the joy of connection and self-expression in a supportive camp setting for the first time.

If you’re able to contribute, your support will go directly toward helping me participate in this meaningful experience. Every donation—large or small—truly makes a difference.

Thank you for helping me lift up the voices of AAC users.

With gratitude,

Anna