Embodied Communication

Communication that involves the whole body as a resource for meaning-making, including gestures, posture, facial expressions, gaze, touch, and physical movement through space. Embodied communication recognizes that meaning is not solely transmitted through words but is co-constructed through bodily presence and interaction. In AAC contexts, rethinking embodiment means moving beyond treating the body as merely an input mechanism for a device and instead recognizing body-based signals as primary communication channels. AAC users' eyebrow raises, chair movements, and vocalizations are not compensatory substitutes for device output—they are integral parts of their communicative repertoire.