AAC Awareness Month: Safeguarding through communication

As we celebrate AAC Awareness Month this October, we take this opportunity to reflect on the critical role that Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) plays in safeguarding the well-being of children and young people at Treloar School and College.

For students who are non-verbal or have complex communication needs, AAC is not just a tool—it is a means of communication with the world, and a basis of their safety, autonomy and dignity.

At Treloar's, around two thirds of students are non-verbal or require AAC to support their communication. This emphasises the significance of AAC tools and skills in our daily practice and makes it a top safeguarding priority.

Why AAC matters for safeguarding

Communication is at the heart of safeguarding. A student’s ability to express discomfort, raise concerns, or simply say “no” is fundamental to protecting their rights and well-being. When a young person cannot rely solely on spoken language, they must be provided with reliable, accessible and consistent communication methods that empower them to be heard—in every situation.

To achieve this, our multi-disciplinary teams have developed and continue to refine systems that ensure every student has a voice. These systems are embedded across all areas of school life, from classroom settings to personal care routines, and are tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs.

Ben Baxter, Treloar's Head of Safeguarding, has also supported the Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership with developing toolkits for professionals working with children and young people with additional needs. You can access them here:

Https://www.hampshirescp.org.uk/professionals/toolkits/neglect-toolkit/increased-vulnerabilities/children-with-additional-needs-including-complex-needs-and-disabilities/children-with-additional-needs-including-complex-needs-and-disabilities/

Https://www.hampshirescp.org.uk/professionals/toolkits/neglect-toolkit/practical-tools/children-with-additional-needs-including-complex-needs-and-disabilities/

Https://www.hampshirescp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Communicating-with-children-with-additional-needs-final_compressed-1.pdf

Developing student voice: Beyond words

As we mark AAC Awareness Month, we celebrate the voices of all our students—spoken, signed, symbol-based, or through high-tech devices. Central to this is the concept of student voice: giving students choice, control and a sense of agency.

Through AAC, we don’t just give our students a way to communicate. We give them power, presence and the right to be heard—every day, in every space, by every person.