About Heart Speak Journeys

Our Mission & Vision

Heart Speak Journeys was designed to create space for dynamic and playful exploration of AAC; provide interactive activities to use AAC in daily life; offer opportunities for connection, conversation, and collaboration along the AAC journey; and highlight AAC related resources and education in digestible and manageable doses. We believe communication is a human right.

Our mission is twofold:

Heart Speak Journeys helps individuals achieve the right to express their hearts and minds given AAC. We emphasize creative expression and stories in weaving together a tapestry of communication. May the heart speak.
Heart Speak Journeys also supports family members, caregivers, community members, educators, medical providers, and disability allies and advocates in learning about AAC and how to be optimal communication partners. We are committed to raising awareness and acceptance of AAC. May the world listen.

We value playful, digestible, and accessible exploration of AAC. All subscriptions, virtual workshops, in-person immersion experiences, and products are designed and led by Heart Speak Journeys founder, Andryce Andres.

We are committed to life-long learning, humility, and respect in bringing these missions and vision to light. We are dedicated to continued listening, understanding, and integration of feedback to honor and amplify the creative work and expression of individuals who use AAC.

About Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Communication is a human right. AAC helps achieve the right to communicate. AAC supports children and adults to express what’s on their hearts and minds.

Learn more about AAC at the links below:

Check out what AAC looks and sounds like!

AAC includes the body, strategies, tools, and technology.

AAC using the Body:
- Voice, Eye Pointing, Body Movements: Communication Dictionary according to PrAACtical AAC
- Signs: Signing Time Kids, Signing Time Kids Dictionary, Signing Time YouTube signing songs feature a variety of kids signing the words

AAC Strategies:
- The Bridge School describes Partner-Assisted Auditory Scanning (PAAS)
AAC Tools:
- Mid-tech recordable voice-output devices like these by Ablenet or these by Enabling Devices
- Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD) communication books
AAC Technology:
- AAC device = speech-generating device, (SGD) = communication device
- AAC devices and AAC apps include robust language systems using symbol-supported words to make sentences, keyboards with all the letters of the alphabet and word prediction to write words, and genuine voice options that reflect the individual’s age and identity.
- An AAC device might be funded through an individual’s insurance (dedicated device) or paid for out of pocket (AAC app) or loaned by a school district or local lending program.
- Many high-tech AAC software provide bilingual language and voice options
AAC Access to Tools & Technology:
- AAC can be accessed directly with fingers, a stylus, eye gaze, or indirectly using auditory scanning or switches.
- Alternative Access for AAC by PrAACtical AAC

More coming soon!! Let us know what questions you have about AAC!

About Andryce Andres, M.S., CCC-SLP

Andryce received her Bachelors of Arts in Ethnic Studies and Spanish from the University of Oregon in 2004. She then spent several years working in child development centers, women’s health clinics, volunteering for school garden programs, and developing Spanish language skills while living and traveling abroad.

Andryce completed a Master’s Degree as well as the Bilingual Concentration requirements through the Speech and Hearing Program at Portland State University (PSU) in 2013. She received interdisciplinary training as a clinical fellow through the Oregon Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program at the Institute on Development and Disability (IDD) in 2014. During this fellowship she fell in love with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Andryce worked in the Rehabilitation Department of Shriners Children’s in Portland, Oregon for ten years.

She has collaborated with interdisciplinary teams of speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, recreational therapists, music therapists, registered dietitians, educators, medical providers, and, most importantly, the children and teens as well as their families and caregivers, to identify the AAC system to support expressive communication in their lives. Andryce is passionate about multilingualism, literacy, and creative expression. She believes that every human has the right to tell their own story.

Andryce enjoys playing in the trees, looking at the stars, and splashing in rivers and lakes with her family and loved ones. She is currently learning to play the baritone ukulele and harmonium. She has recently returned to singing and continues to find her voice through songwriting. Andryce is excited to share a love of music with you!

Andryce was featured in Making Connections: Speech-Language Pathology, a series of short documentaries by the Oregon Speech-Language & Hearing Association (OSHA) in 2017

Deep thanks to family and loved ones for their support along this journey of life. Immense gratitude to the kids and youth she’s had the honor of working with along their AAC journey, as well as their families and caregivers, over all of these beautiful years. You have been and continue to be her greatest teachers along her AAC journey as a professional and ally.