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A very original perspective
Get a speech therapist’s thoughts on what makes the cerebral palsy community unique.
April 28, 2026
5 ways to make an AAC assessment person-centred
Advice to speech therapists, from a young woman with cerebral palsy.
Like most young women, Lucy wants to be able to text with her friends, online shop, and dish out the occasional dose of sass. Having cerebral palsy means she uses an AAC device to do it with her eyes.
Lucy was seven years old when she had her first AAC assessment. Back then, her speech therapist focused on basic eye-tracking skills and relied on Lucy’s parents for guidance about how to customise her AAC device to match her interests and needs. Now, as a 20-year-old, her expectations for AAC assessments are much higher.
“The biggest mistake professionals make is walking into the room and immediately speaking to my caregiver or my mum instead of me,” she says. “If you do that, you’ve already failed the assessment. My eyes might take a second to click 'enter,' but my brain is already three steps ahead of you.”
Beyond this reminder about how speech therapists should direct their attention, Lucy gave us five tips speech therapists should keep in mind when working with adult clients.
Be patient
“The best professionals I’ve worked with didn't rush me. They understood that I’m not just “clicking.” I’m thinking, composing, and then navigating. They gave me the space to finish my thoughts without jumping in to guess what I was going to say.”
Presume competence
“A success is when a professional looks at me and sees a 20-year-old with a Level 3 Diploma, not just a ‘patient’ with cerebral palsy. Success is when the goals aren't just “can she ask for a drink?” but “how can she write her next essay?” or “how can she FaceTime her friends?” If you don't aim high, I can't reach high.”
Ask about lifestyle
“Success is when the setup works for my real life. It means having a mounting system that works in the community, software that allows me to online shop and manage my own bank account, and a voice that sounds like 'me.' It’s about ensuring I have autonomy over my care and my social life.”
Remember who the expert is
“The process is successful when the professional realises that I am the expert. I’ve been doing this for 13 years. Success is when the team listens to my feedback about the 'small' things—like the sun glare at Nando's or my need for privacy—and treats those issues like the emergencies they are.
Think of yourself as a consultant helping me build my voice. If you aren't asking me what I want to achieve—whether it's shopping or just being able to tell a joke—then you aren't involving me enough.”
Customise to personality
“Finally, success is when the implementation includes room for my personality. I’m a 20-year-old who likes to text, shop, and occasionally harass people. If the assessment only focuses on “functional” communication, it has failed. A successful process gives me the tools to be a student, a customer, a friend, and a bit of a menace when I want to be!
Success is when the technology becomes invisible because the person's personality is what shines through. I did my GCSEs and my Diploma with my eyes—that’s what happens when an assessment is done right. Don't just give us a voice; give us the world.”
Learn more about AAC for cerebral palsy here.
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