Everyday life and AAC with Tristan and Sullivan
We recently spoke with Faye, the mother of Tristan and Sullivan – two autistic brothers who are non-speaking. Tristan and Sullivan initially trialled Grid for iPad before receiving funding to get Talk Pads. Faye shares how AAC has helped open up communication, build confidence, and support independence for both her boys, at home, in school, and out and about.
Can you tell us a bit about daily life for Tristan, Sullivan and your family?
Tristan is 8 and Sullivan is 6 and they both have autism. We live in Hertfordshire and the boys attend the same
specialist school. They love going to soft play, visiting the zoo, and theme parks – especially Peppa Pig World! At home, we try to keep things fun and active when they’re not at school. One of their favourite things is going for milkshakes in town. Tristan even uses his device to order at the counter, with a little support from us.
When did you first start exploring AAC for Tristan and Sullivan? What led you to Grid?
Tristan started using visuals at his specialist preschool – he had a communication book with symbols. When he moved to his main school, they trialled Grid with a personalised grid set that was similar to what he was used to. Once we got an NHS referral, we introduced Super Core 50.
Sullivan was exposed to AAC really early, just by being around Tristan’s communication tools. We made him a similar book when he was two. Then during the AAC Awareness Month sale last year, we bought an iPad and downloaded Grid for iPad for him – because he was always interested in using Tristan’s! He’s blown us away with how quickly he’s taken to it.Now, both boys have NHS-funded Talk Pads and use Super Core 50.
What was the journey like getting started with AAC?
At first, it was really eye-opening. We’d been holding onto the idea that speaking was the only way. So when we saw Tristan respond to visuals for the first time, it was emotional.
There’ve been challenges, of course, but also huge wins. Watching their communication grow through electronic AAC has been incredible. They now have endless ways to express what they want, need, or are thinking. Both boys have amazing literacy skills; they can spell and read well, and they type a lot using their devices. I really think early AAC exposure has helped with that.
How do they use Grid in everyday life – at home, school or when you’re out?
They use it all the time. At school and home, it’s part of their learning and play. Recently, we were using it to learn about money when they were learning the names of different coins. Sullivan loves using the body part symbols and then pointing to those parts on himself.
When we went to Peppa Pig World, we added custom pages with all the rides and activities. They were choosing what they wanted to do next and navigating the whole day with their devices. In daily life, it’s used for everything: requesting, playing, managing routines. It’s become second nature.
How has using Super Core changed things for Tristan and Sullivan?
It’s changed their lives. They can now tell us what they want to eat or drink. If they’re struggling to find a game or
a video, they can ask for help. Tristan often uses his device to ask to “go ride bike.” They use their devices alongside play and reading: they’re making choices about what they want to do. Tristan even orders his own drink at the coffee shop!
It’s also helped them express emotions and pain, which is a huge step toward independence.
Have you noticed any changes in their confidence or interactions since starting AAC?
Definitely. They’re a lot less frustrated and have more meaningful interactions. It’s not just about making requests. They’re starting conversations, sharing feelings, and expressing themselves in ways we hadn’t seen before.
How do you see their communication evolving in the future?
I think their vocab and literacy skills will just keep growing. I can see them becoming more confident using full sentences and communicating more independently in public. It’s amazing to think how far they’ve come already.
What advice would you give to other parents starting out with AAC, or thinking about trying Grid?
Don’t give up. It can take time, and progress won’t always be quick, but that’s okay. AAC doesn’t need to be perfect. Follow your child’s lead, model language as much as you can, and remember it’s a learning curve for everyone. It really is so worth it.
Most importantly, believe in your child’s ability to communicate.
And if you’re considering Grid or Grid for iPad, just give it a go. We’ve had great success with it. There are lots of grid sets to choose from and it’s really adaptable. We didn’t start with Super Core, we began with personalised grids. It’s a flexible tool that can grow with your child and their needs.
Thank you to Faye, Tristan and Sullivan’s mum, for sharing her story with us. If you’d like to tell us about your own experience with AAC, we’d love to hear from you – please get in touch at [email protected].
We recognise that autistic people have a preference for different terminology to describe themselves and autism. We have used a variety of terms, yet acknowledge that the language used may not reflect everyone’s views or own identity. As always, we are committed to representing our users’ preferences, and welcome feedback.
