What Happens When a Swimmer Uses an AAC Device?
Walk onto any pool deck and you'll see the usual gear: goggles, kickboards, pull buoys, noodles. Increasingly, you'll also see something else — a laminated communication board taped to a chair, a waterproof tablet propped on a towel, or a speech-generating device sitting just out of splash range. For swimmers who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), that equipment is as essential as a life jacket. But most pool staff have never been trained on what to do when the device can't come in the water with the swimmer.
What "AAC" Actually Covers
AAC is a broad category, not a single product. It includes:
Low-tech options: picture boards, letter boards, and laminated communication cards
Mid-tech options: single-message buttons or simple voice-output devices
High-tech options: tablets running communication apps, or dedicated speech-generating devices (SGDs)
Some swimmers use AAC as their primary way of communicating in all settings. Others use verbal speech most of the time but rely on AAC when they're tired, overstimulated, or in an unfamiliar environment — which a pool deck often is, given the noise and echo.
The Waterproof Problem
Here's the core issue: most AAC devices are not designed to get wet, let alone submerged. A handful of low-tech boards can be laminated or made from waterproof materials, and a few dedicated SGDs have water-resistant cases. But the majority of tablets and voice-output devices used for AAC are ordinary consumer electronics that stop working — sometimes permanently — if they get splashed.
This creates a real gap. The swimmer's communication tool has to stay on deck, but the swimmer is in the water, where instructions, safety information, and social interaction are still happening.
What Happens When the Device Stays on Deck
A few things staff should plan for:
The swimmer may lose access to spontaneous communication in the water. They can't ask a question, say they're cold, report discomfort, or say "I'm done" using their usual method. Staff need a backup plan established before the swimmer gets in — a simple set of hand signals, a wipeable slate near the pool edge, or a plan to pause at the wall periodically so the swimmer can access their device for a moment.
Instructions need to be given differently. If a lesson or program relies heavily on verbal instruction, a swimmer without their AAC device in the water may need instructions modeled physically (demonstrating the stroke, using consistent gestures) rather than relying on them to ask for clarification.
Some swimmers may prefer to keep their device as close as possible. A device propped on a pool chair right at the edge, angled so the swimmer can glance at it or a staff member can hold it up between reps, is often a reasonable and easy accommodation. It doesn't need to be complicated — sometimes it's just about not putting the chair on the far side of the deck.
Waterproof cases and dry bags help, but don't assume they exist. Not every family owns one, and not every device fits one well. If your facility serves AAC users regularly, it's worth having a few clear dry bags or a designated "device station" with a towel and stand available, so families aren't scrambling.
The Real Issue: Who Staff Talk To
The single most common mistake isn't about waterproofing at all — it's about who staff address. When a swimmer uses AAC, especially a low-tech board or a device that takes a few extra seconds to generate speech, it's easy for a well-meaning instructor or lifeguard to default to asking the caregiver, parent, or aide standing nearby: "Is she doing okay?" "Does he want to try the deep end?"
This is a habit worth actively unlearning. AAC is a communication method, not a sign that someone can't communicate. Swimmers using AAC — including nonspeaking swimmers — should be spoken to directly, given time to respond, and included in decisions about their own lesson or session. If a response takes a little longer because it's being typed, selected, or pointed to, that pause is part of the conversation, not a signal to move on and ask someone else. A caregiver may be present to help with transfers, device positioning, or safety monitoring. That doesn't make them the swimmer's spokesperson.
Staff should:
Greet and ask questions directly to the swimmer, using the swimmer's name
Wait for the response, even if it takes longer than a typical verbal exchange
Learn a handful of the swimmer's core communication methods (a "yes/no" gesture, a specific board icon, a device shortcut) rather than relying on the caregiver to translate every time
Ask the swimmer (not just the caregiver) what backup communication plan they'd prefer when the device can't go in the water
Building This Into Practice
Facilities that do this well tend to have a short, simple intake conversation before the swimmer's first session: What does this swimmer use to communicate? Does their device come poolside? What's the plan if they need to communicate something urgent while in the water? Who should staff address directly?
None of this requires special equipment or a big program overhaul. It requires treating the swimmer as the person in charge of their own communication — and building a small, reliable backup plan for the minutes their primary tool can't join them in the pool.
Photos from Mary Katherine Dally https://www.instagram.com/aacforall
