Turn-Taking

The process by which participants in a conversation manage who speaks when, including how speakers signal they are finished and how listeners indicate they want to contribute. Turn-taking norms are typically based on spoken communication speeds and can create significant barriers for AAC users, whose response times are much longer. In group conversations, rapid turn-taking can effectively exclude AAC users, as topics change before they can compose and deliver their message. Accessible communication practices require adapting turn-taking conventions to accommodate diverse communication speeds and methods.