CommunicationFIRST receives many requests from researchers to help find augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users and/or their families for their studies. We want to help ensure that future research about AAC and those who need and use AAC prioritizes issues that most impact our community, and that AAC users lead these efforts. We are an organization that firmly believes AAC research must involve actual AAC users—and not just as study participants.
As such, CommunicationFIRST has agreed to help facilitate more participatory research in the field by helping to connect researchers (whether or not they use AAC) and people who need and use AAC.
When we receive requests to help recruit AAC-using participants and/or their families or support people (as either study participants, or in a more significant way), we will prioritize sharing requests that are aligned with our mission, vision, and values. Specific criteria are listed below.
If you are a researcher, an AAC user interested in research opportunities, or a person supporting an AAC user interested in these opportunities, please read on about how we can best connect you!
For AAC Users and THEIR SupportERS
CommunicationFIRST has set up an email distribution list to share the research opportunities we receive. Before doing so, we will try to make sure the opportunities we share meet the criteria listed below. If you are interested in receiving occasional emails about opportunities to collaborate or otherwise participate in AAC-related research studies, please fill out this form or email research@communicationfirst.org with “RESEARCH” in the subject line. For any time-sensitive questions, contact us at info@communicationfirst.org. To learn more about research and why it is important, review our plain language guide to research.
For Researchers
To ask for CommunicationFIRST’s assistance in recruiting AAC users, researchers should email their request and materials to research@communicationfirst.org. We will use the following criteria to decide which opportunities to share with our constituents. It will help us if you address the following questions in your email:
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- To what extent have AAC users been involved in this study from its conception? For example, have AAC users led in formulating the research question and design of the study?
- We have agreed to assist in the recruitment of AAC users because it is important to CommunicationFIRST that our community is leading efforts to create better and more relevant research. Are the goals of your study aligned with our mission, vision, and values?
- Is the language used in your recruitment and study materials respectful of people with disabilities? The Words We Use resource includes recommended terminology. (Ideally, review this guide before submitting your materials to your IRB.)
- Are the recruitment and study materials accessible? For example, ensure any graphics are either captioned and/or have alt-text embedded. We ask that you avoid flyers in PDF format if possible because they require more clicks and motor movements to access, which creates barriers for many in our community. Make clear the criteria for participants (e.g., age, disability type, etc.). Design your recruitment materials to minimize the questions that someone might have about participating in the study. Provide multiple means for potential participants to express interest, e.g., email, texting, online form. For additional tips, see pages 27-33 of Tips for Online Meetings with AAC Users, by AAC Users.
- Will participants be fairly compensated? Not all participants will want to be compensated due to public benefit income and asset restrictions, but it is important to recognize that the time and input of AAC users is valuable. Please indicate in your materials what compensation, if any, will be offered to participants.
On behalf of CommunicationFIRST, thank you to everyone who is helping to improve the body of research about AAC and people who need and use AAC, especially by involving AAC users in such research as leading collaborators!