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How Does Low Tech Communication Work?

Because a low tech system doesn’t use a computer chip, it will not “talk out loud”.  So how does a person "speak" using a low tech system?

All forms of low tech communication (other than hand writing), require that a communication partner be present.

It takes 2 people to construct a message using low tech:

  1. The AAC User (the person with the speech disability), will point, or in some other way indicate the letter/word/phrase or symbol that they want on their low tech system.

  2. The communication partner (the listener) will read the letter/word/phrase (and if necessary, say it out loud).

Low tech requires that the AAC user and the communication partner work together to help construct the message.  This puts the communication partner into a more active role.