Last Updated on September 11, 2025 by Lisa Whaley
Celebrating everyday “small AAC wins” such as a child making a request, refusing, or commenting spontaneously, provides the fuel for long-term confidence in AAC users. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and parents can use seven specific milestones as building blocks toward lifelong communication success. This guide explores each of these wins, why they matter, and how to nurture and celebrate them. Whether you are an SLP or a parent, empowering children through these tiny victories will create a snowball effect of progress and joy.
What Is a “Small AAC Win”? Defining Everyday Success in Communication
Small wins in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) refer to those moments where communication, even at its simplest, becomes easier, more frequent, or more meaningful for the child. These moments are not about mastering dozens of new words overnight or holding long conversations. Instead, they’re the everyday signs that a child, their environment, and their AAC system are starting to click. Each instance of progress no matter how tiny, matters deeply.
- Increased initiation of communication (even a single word or symbol)
- Spontaneous use of AAC without prompts
- Using AAC in new settings or with new partners
- Expressing preference, refusal, or humor
- Attempting to repair communication breakdowns independently
- Requesting help or support
- Feeling proud or playful while communicating
- Making Comments
- Answering questions
Building these wins into daily routines leads to a powerful “confidence loop.” As confidence grows, so does communication, leading to even bolder attempts and richer connection.
Tiny, consistent AAC wins are the foundation for long-term confidence, participation, and authentic self-expression.
1. The First “Ask”: Making a Meaningful Request
The first time a child uses their AAC system, be it a picture, symbol, switch, or speech generating device to request something they want is an unforgettable moment. This may be pressing “cookie” and getting a cookie or asking for a favorite toy with a symbol.
This active “asking” shifts the child from being a passive recipient to an empowered communicator. It also delivers powerful feedback: “My words have an impact.” With this empowerment, an individual begins to understand that this impact of using words gives them some amount of control over their lives and their immediate world.
Requesting is typically the first communicative function that AAC users master because it’s direct, motivating, and naturally rewarding. Each new independent request, whether for play, food, music, or attention, reinforces the message that using AAC is functional and powerful.
Ways to Celebrate this Win:
- Give immediate positive emotion (“You did it! You got what you wanted!”)
- Involve family members and peers in celebrating and make it social
- Use fun rituals like a “dance party” for each first-time request
- Encourage everyone to honor requests as quickly as possible for fastest feedback
Why This Win Builds Confidence
The child quickly learns their AAC system is a bridge, not a barrier, to getting their needs met. This boosts willingness to try and reduces frustration or negative behaviors.
Keep requests simple at first and focus on what’s meaningful to the child (like a favorite snack or activity music).
2. Using AAC with a New Communication Partner
When a child uses their AAC device to communicate with someone outside their usual “circle” such as a teacher, sibling, peer, or even a community helper, it is a massive step. This is more than language; it is a clear signal that communication is universal and not just tied to therapy time or a parental presence.
- Generalization: Understanding that AAC can be used everywhere
- Social confidence: Building the courage to engage new people and situations
Example: A child greets the librarian by selecting the “hello” button or symbol on their AAC device during the class visit. The librarian reciprocates the greeting, and the child beams. This spark of connection is proof that AAC “works” in the real world.
How to Nurture This Win:
- Set up social opportunities for greetings, sharing, or asking for help in various settings
- Prepare new partners with simple scripts so they can recognize and respond supportively
- Celebrate every attempt, even if imperfect, with joy and positivity
3. Communicating Discomfort or Refusal: “No,” “Don’t Want,” or “Stop”
For many children, especially those with autism or complex needs, expressing a refusal or discomfort (“No,” “Stop,” “Don’t like”) is a huge milestone. This ability demonstrates agency, self-advocacy, and a sense that their preferences matter. When children can communicate refusal, they are less likely to need to show distress through behaviors or meltdowns.
Why This Win Matters:
- Shows trust that others will honor communication attempts
- Leads to more regulated emotions and fewer outbursts
- Builds the foundation for later self-advocacy
Celebration Strategy:
4. Repairing Communication Breakdowns Independently
From time to time, we ALL face communication misunderstandings. When a child spontaneously tries to fix a communication breakdown by repeating a message, choosing a new word, or asking for help, it points to profound confidence and system ownership. This resilience encourages them not to give up, even if the message doesn’t land the first time.
Encouragement Tactics:
- Model and narrate clarifying phrases: “Let’s say it again in another way.”
- Praise the effort to repair, not just the “right answer.”
- Stay patient and normalize the process of having more than one try
Key Insight: The ability to persist in communication, even through mistakes, is one of the most significant markers of AAC confidence.
5. Spontaneously Commenting, Joking, or Sharing Joy
The heart of real communication goes beyond requests or answers, it is the free, spontaneous sharing of thoughts, jokes, or excitement. When a child uses AAC to say, “That’s silly!” or shares something delightful, it shows genuine ownership of their voice. These unscripted moments build peer connections and deep confidence.
How to Savor This Win:
- Respond with authentic emotion; laugh and share the moment
- Add new vocabulary to support repeatable wins (jokes, comments, favorite expressions)
- Encourage sharing with more than one person. This amplifies joy and social success
Example: During circle time, a child uses AAC to say, “That’s silly!” after the teacher makes a funny face, sparking giggles from classmates.
6. Using AAC in Challenging or Unfamiliar Environments
Communication often feels easiest at home or in therapy, but children experience the most growth when they use AAC in new or potentially overwhelming places: playgrounds, stores, restaurants, social gatherings, or public transportation. Each successful message communicated in a “real world” setting is a signal that their voice is valid everywhere and not just in safe spaces.
Strategies for Expanding Comfort Zones:
- Preload the AAC system with helpful phrases for each new context
- Discuss and preview new places, people, or activities together
- Celebrate even the smallest success, a single request or greeting, outside the usual routine
Real-World Payoff: Every win in a challenging setting reduces stigma, empowers the child, and fosters generalization of skills.
7. Introducing AAC-Related Routines: Building Independence
Routines related to AAC, like bringing the device to the table, charging it at night, or helping with cleaning, provide small but mighty opportunities for ownership and autonomy. These habits show that AAC is not just a therapy tool, but an everyday part of life.
Examples of Routine Wins:
- Child reminds an adult to bring their device
- Transports device between rooms independently
- Turns device on/off or selects symbol sets without prompting
- Participates in device care (charging, cleaning, etc.)
Long-Term Impact: When AAC becomes a personal tool through these routines, children are more likely to use it consistently, everywhere they go.
How to Spot and Celebrate Every Small AAC Win
The biggest mistake adults make is waiting for “big” progress. Children notice every response and celebration, so let them see you light up for every step forward. Here are some creative ways to embed and celebrate small AAC wins:
- Immediate praise: Use enthusiastic, specific acknowledgment, “You told me exactly what you wanted. Amazing!”
- Share with supporters: Send messages or updates to the child’s wider team, making every win a community triumph.
- Visual trackers: Sticker charts, logs, or “win walls” at school or home help keep small successes visible and exciting.
Summary Box: Quick Takeaways for SLPs & Parents
- Spot and cheer for every kind of progress, not just big leaps.
- Celebrate use with new people, in new places, and for new reasons. Imperfection is simply a part of growth.
- Reinforce effort, not just accuracy, especially during communication breakdowns.
- Involve siblings, classmates, and support staff in recognizing and celebrating wins.
- Make celebrations frequent, authentic, and child-focused for lasting impact.
Bonus: 10 Tiny AAC Wins Worth Noticing
- Looking at the AAC device when needing help
- Bringing the device to a new setting
- Trying a new symbol, even if it is not “correct”
- Handing the device to someone for attention
- Greeting a new friend
- Requesting a break or help
- Repeating a message after a miscommunication
- Blending gestures or speech with the AAC for the first time
- Commenting on something funny or interesting
- Taking part in device routines like charging or cleaning independently
Frequently Asked Questions About Small AAC Wins & Building Confidence
How do I encourage more spontaneous AAC use?
Model, model, model! Use the AAC system for a variety of real-life reasons, without pressure for performance. Reward every attempt and build communication based around the child’s interests, such as their favorite TV shows or toys.
What if my student or child only uses AAC at home or with certain people?
Encourage practice with new partners using fun, low-pressure activities such as games, shared reading, or pretend play work well. Prepare those partners ahead of time and celebrate every win, even if it is partial.
Should I correct mistakes when a child uses AAC?
Only correct if the mistake blocks communication. Instead of drawing attention to errors, model the appropriate word and move on, prioritizing the effort and intent of the communication.
Is non-verbal communication still considered a “win” with AAC?
Absolutely! Gestures, eye gaze, or vocalizations alongside AAC show flexibility and adaptability, which is a huge win in itself.
How can I help family, teachers, and friends notice small AAC wins?
Share short stories, quick updates, or photos of progress. Encourage a culture of “win spotting” where all supporters are tuned in to progress of any size, fueling collective encouragement and celebration.
Final Thoughts: Every “Small” Win is a Giant Leap for Communication
AAC confidence grows not through rare, dramatic milestones, but by showering daily attention on every small, joyful moment of progress. When we see, name, and cheer these tiny wins, children find that every attempt is a triumph and every spoken desire moves them closer to full participation and self-advocacy. Keep celebrating. Keep noticing. And watch those tiny victories compound into lifelong communication success!
