A few months back an email landed in my inbox about an opportunity. I get a lot of pitches through email – mostly sales pitches and things I’m not interested in, but every now and then something interesting comes up, something new – like this email.
The hosts of Accessible Airways, a CJSW Radio show in Calgary Alberta, reached out to ask if we could do an interview for their show.
Accessible Airways is a radio show that is dedicated to the education and exploration of disabled life, giving voice to the life and experience of people with disabilities.
Being in BC, I had never heard of this radio show, but Simon and I were pleased to be invited. The hosts asked us about Simon’s Soapbox and Simon’s experience with paid and unpaid work. We shared how we built Simon’s Soapbox during a time when Simon’s work was limited due to the COVID pandemic and the value of work relationships.
The radio interview aired on February 4, 2025, and you can listen to a podcast of the episode here. Accessible Airwaves – Episode February 4, 2025 – CJSW Radio
Radio or Audio only interviews are a unique channel for telling our story. Because Simon’s speech is difficult for some people to understand, Simon and I worked together to write out answers to the prepared interview questions. In addition, we used Simon’s touchChat app on his AAC device to support verbal communication.
In day-to-day conversation, if a word is difficult for someone to understand, Simon will use the AAC device to show or speak the word. Simon has been using an AAC device for several years and while his preference is to communicate verbally, he values it as a tool. Before learning to use this device, if Simon was misunderstood, he would shrug and say “never mind! But now he will say “touchChat” and find the problem word there. The result, successful communication.
If you are unfamiliar with AAC devices, here are some tips from my experience about how an AAC device can be integrated into conversation:
1. Give time and attention. Verbal conversation can move quickly, but an AAC device requires time. Wait for the individual to find the word or phrase. Your patience communicates respect.
2. Respect the AAC device as a personal tool -- it doesn’t belong to you. Don’t take an AAC device (often an iPad) out of someone’s hands. They may offer it to you, but it is primarily a tool for their communication with you not a novelty item for you to play with.
3. Provide feedback when someone uses an AAC. Nod, make eye contact, ask a follow up question – this is a tool for communication and communication is about two people connecting.