If you have ever heard “they can’t communicate” and felt your stomach drop, this episode is for you.

Because communication is not a performance. It’s a connection. It’s a regulation. It’s being understood. And when we only count spoken words, we miss the ways autistic kids communicate all day long.

In this conversation, we reframe what communication actually is, talk about AAC in plain language, and share how to support non-speaking, minimally speaking, and situationally speaking people with more respect, more curiosity, and way less assumption.

Today on Neurodivergent Conversations, I’m joined by Becky, a Speech and Language Therapist and Clinical AAC Specialist with Smartbox Assistive Technology, and we are going there in the best way.

This episode is packed with the exact kind of clarity parents and educators need, including:

The difference between speech, language, and communication, and why those labels matter in assessments, school meetings, and everyday life
What AAC really means, plus what counts as AAC beyond a high-tech device
Why “non-speaking” does not mean “no thoughts,” “no understanding,” or “no personality”
How to spot communication in regulation, behaviour, body language, eye gaze, and connection
Why “presume competence” is not just a phrase, it’s a starting point that changes how adults respond
a simple way to begin at home, even if you feel stuck: noticing patterns and building a “communication dictionary” so your child feels understood

If you are searching for support with autistic communication, AAC strategies, minimally speaking autism, or neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy approaches, this episode will give you language, hope, and next steps you can actually use.

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Stop Assuming Silence Means “No”. AAC Support: How to Help Non-Speaking Kids Communicate