Claire O'Connor: Exploring AI as a Support for AAC Users

This week, we share Chris’s interview with Claire O’Connor! Claire O’Connor is a speech-language pathologist and first-year PhD student at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and AAC, exploring how tools like ChatGPT can support AAC users better. Before the interview, Melissa, surprises him with news that his Assistive Technology team, comprising nine members, won the "Most Inclusive Team" award from their county's Special Education Advisory Committee Council! Chris himself also won the "Most Inclusive Administrator" award! Key Ideas This Week: Exploring AI as a Support for AAC Users: Claire is researching how large language models (like ChatGPT) can support—not replace—AAC communication by reducing delays, easing the cognitive load of message construction, and expanding short inputs into fuller messages . Co-Design with AAC Users: The project uses a participatory design approach, meaning AAC users are directly involved in shaping tools and prototypes. This ensures that their voices guide development rather than having solutions imposed on them . Focus on Empowerment and Trust: The research emphasizes building trust in AI and empowering AAC users. Instead of only testing tools, Claire plans to create a support group to hear AAC users’ experiences and perspectives, fostering comfort and inclusion before running compensated co-design workshops. Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech ! Visit talkingwithtech.org for episode transcripts, searchable episode database, links to resources, and more!

You can listen to Claire O'Connor: Exploring AI as a Support for AAC Users online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Claire O'Connor: Exploring AI as a Support for AAC Users is an episode from Talking With Tech AAC Podcast by Rachel Madel and Chris Bugaj.

This episode is 49:22 long.

This episode was published on Sep 18, 2025.

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