International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Name	International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Abbreviation	ISAAC
Formation	1983
Type	Nonprofit organization
Purpose	Advocacy and support for augmentative and alternative communication
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Region served	International

International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication is a nonprofit professional association established in 1983 that promotes research, clinical practice, and policy related to augmentative and alternative communication for people with complex communication needs. The society engages with clinicians from Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, researchers from University College London, educators from Harvard University, and policymakers from institutions such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations to advance technology, inclusion, and rights for communication-disabled individuals. Through collaborations with organizations like Speech-Language-Hearing Association-type entities, disability rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and technology partners such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple Inc., the society influences assistive communication development and public policy.

History

The society was founded in 1983 following international meetings involving clinicians from Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, researchers from University of Toronto, advocates from The Arc (organization), and technologists from Haskins Laboratories. Early formative conferences featured speakers from University of California, Los Angeles, University of Michigan, University of Sydney, and La Trobe University. Over decades ISAAC-affiliated members collaborated with laboratories at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, and McGill University to develop symbol systems, eye-tracking interfaces, and speech-generating devices, while engaging policymakers at the World Bank and disability advocates from National Disability Rights Network. Milestones include the establishment of regional chapters in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and partnerships with publishers like Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, and Routledge.

Mission and Objectives

The society’s mission is to promote research, clinical practice, education, and public awareness regarding augmentative and alternative communication through international collaboration among practitioners from American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, researchers from Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and service providers such as Easterseals. Objectives include improving access to assistive technologies developed by firms like Tobii AB, PRC-Saltillo, and Dynavox Technologies, influencing standards from bodies like International Organization for Standardization and IEEE, and advocating at international fora such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and the World Health Assembly for communication rights.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises clinicians from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, researchers from institutions including Johns Hopkins University and University of British Columbia, family members and self-advocates associated with organizations such as Special Olympics and Down Syndrome International, and industry representatives from Intel Corporation and Samsung Electronics. Governance is overseen by an elected board resembling structures at Royal Society and American Medical Association, with committees on research, ethics, and clinical practice similar to committees at National Institutes of Health, European Commission advisory groups, and professional councils at Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Regional chapters maintain liaison with national associations like Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and British Association of Speech and Language Therapists.

Conferences and Events

The society organizes biennial international congresses drawing delegates from universities such as Yale University, University of Edinburgh, Peking University, and University of Cape Town alongside exhibitors from companies including Logitech International and Amazon. Regional meetings and workshops partner with conference hosts like European Society for Developmental Psychology, Asian-Pacific Society for Speech, Language and Hearing, and nonprofit venues such as Gallaudet University. Past plenary sessions have featured keynote presenters affiliated with Oxford University, Columbia University, University of Washington, and University of Melbourne.

Publications and Resources

The society publishes peer-reviewed journals and practice resources in collaboration with publishers like SAGE Publications and Cambridge University Press, and curates guidelines akin to those from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and training modules parallel to offerings at Coursera and edX. Members contribute to book series edited with partners such as Springer Science+Business Media and produce clinical position statements modeled after documents from American Academy of Pediatrics and policy briefs similar to those from World Health Organization. Online resources connect with repositories hosted at institutions like MIT OpenCourseWare and archives maintained by Library of Congress-style organizations.

Research and Advocacy

Research priorities align with laboratories and centers at MIT Media Lab, Queen's University Belfast, University of Oxford, and Karolinska Institutet focusing on user-centered design, AAC interventions, and outcome measurement. Advocacy campaigns coordinate with rights organizations such as European Disability Forum, International Labour Organization, and UNICEF to promote inclusive communication policies, accessibility standards advocated by W3C, and funding models informed by analyses from OECD. Collaborative grants have been awarded in partnership with funders like Wellcome Trust, National Science Foundation, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research to study assistive technologies and implementation science.

Awards and Recognition

The society confers awards recognizing lifetime achievement, research excellence, and innovation in assistive communication, with honorees often affiliated with institutions like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Vanderbilt University, McMaster University, and Karolinska Institutet. Awards ceremonies are presented at congresses and sometimes feature endorsements or citations from bodies such as Royal Society of Canada, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and professional societies including American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and International Council on Rehabilitation.

Category:Assistive technology organizations Category:Medical and health organizations established in 1983