Voices Beyond Silence: A Comparative Study of Two Professors as Pioneers of Academic Inclusion Through AAC Technologies

Abstract

Voices Beyond Silence presents a comparative biographical analysis of Professor Sara Ahlin Doljak (Slovenia) and Professor Matthew Wangeman (United States), two pioneering academics who transform the role of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies in higher education. Drawing on the medical and social models of disability, posthumanist theory and the concept of technological embodiment, the study examines how eye-gaze systems, speech-generating devices and predictive text software enable full academic participation, authority and professional identity. Using a qualitative comparative case study based exclusively on triangulated secondary sources, the article demonstrates that AAC functions not merely as an assistive aid but as a “technological voice” that reshapes epistemic inclusion by legitimizing diverse communication modalities within academic environments. The findings show that Doljak and Wangeman challenge the long-standing association between vocal speech and intellectual credibility, revealing AAC as a tool of empowerment, dignity and pedagogical innovation. The article concludes by highlighting institutional implications for universities and outlining future research needs regarding digital voice ethics and cross-cultural implementation of AAC in higher education. Ultimately, the study argues that the future of academic communication will be judged by the content of one’s voice, not by its physical carrier.