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119-hr-10333119th CongressWALLET

AACCENT Act

Sponsored By: Representative Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a federally funded nationwide network of National Resource Centers to expand access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and strengthen supports for people with significant expressive communication disabilities. This bill would set up regional hubs to boost training, resources, and rights to effective communication across education, health care, employment, and community life.

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  • Individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities: Three geographically diverse centers would focus on increasing access to AAC, reducing isolation, and promoting equal opportunity across ages and settings.
  • Families, educators, and service providers: The centers would deliver evidence-based resources, training, and technical assistance to improve communication supports in early intervention, K–12, postsecondary education, health care, employers, and long-term services.
  • Disability-led organizations and grant applicants: Grants require partnerships led by nonprofits that include people with significant expressive communication disabilities in governance and operations, plus an 11-member advisory council of AAC users to guide the centers.

*Authorizes $9.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 to fund the network and related activities.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Annual report from lead AAC center

If enacted, the lead administrative center would prepare an annual report, coordinated with the other centers, and send it to HHS, the Department of Education, specified congressional committees, and appropriations subcommittees. The report would describe center activities and collaborations, barriers to equitable AAC access (including for racial, ethnic, and linguistic minority communities), data gaps, unmet needs, and policy recommendations.

Centers must work with many partners

If enacted, each center would be required to collaborate with a wide list of stakeholders, including disability organizations, State assistive technology and alternative financing programs, vocational rehabilitation, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, protection and advocacy systems, older adult programs, and local workforce boards. Centers would be required to make AAC information and resources available, as appropriate, to individuals and families, schools and higher education, employers, courts and law enforcement, Medicaid and home- and community-based services, and other agencies. The goal would be improved coordination and wider access to AAC supports across education, employment, health care, and community living.

Rules for applicant groups and councils

If enacted, eligible applicants would be partnerships led by a U.S. nonprofit that vests authority in people with significant expressive communication disabilities. Partnerships must include at least one institution of higher education or an association of AAC service providers and meet experience rules for training, technical assistance, and direct AAC work. Applicants must identify an 11-person advisory council made up only of individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities; council members would serve five-year terms and the council would select its Chair and Vice Chair. The Secretary would give award priority to partnerships with at least three years of AAC training/technical assistance experience and demonstrated disability-led governance and accessibility expertise.

Three national AAC centers and funding

If enacted, the bill would fund three national Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) resource centers through competitive grants. Grants would be for five-year periods, located in three geographically diverse areas, and one center would be the lead administrative center. The Act would authorize $9,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 and directs the Secretary to, to the extent practicable, award the three grants in aggregate amounts not more than $9,000,000 per year. Each center would carry out six required priority activities and could spend no more than 15% of its yearly grant on administrative costs.

Who counts as an AAC user

If enacted, the bill would define augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to include tools, devices, strategies, services, training, and supports that supplement or replace speech. It would define an "individual with significant expressive communication disabilities" as someone of any age who needs or benefits from AAC and whose disability substantially limits being understood using spoken words. These definitions would guide which people and services the centers focus on.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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