Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques are being used more frequently to improve high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), but many of these techniques are integrated without the inclusion of the users' perspectives. As many of these tools are created with children in mind, autistic adults are often neglected in the design of AAC tools to begin with. We conducted in-depth interviews with 12 autistic adults to find the pain points of current AAC and determine what general technological advances they would find helpful. We found that in addition to technological issues, there are many societal issues as well. We found 9 different categories of themes from our interviews: input options, output options, selecting or adapting AAC for a good fit, when to start or swap AAC, benefits (of use), access (to AAC), stumbling blocks for continued use, social concerns, and lack of control. In this paper, we go through these nine categories in depth and then suggest possible guidelines for the NLP community, AAC application makers, and policy makers to improve AAC use for autistic adults.

翻译：自然语言处理（NLP）技术正越来越多地被用于改进高科技辅助及替代沟通（AAC）系统，但许多此类技术的集成并未纳入用户视角。由于这些工具大多以儿童为设计对象，自闭症成人群体在AAC工具的设计之初便常被忽视。我们通过对12名自闭症成人进行深度访谈，揭示了当前AAC系统的痛点，并确定了他们认为具有实用价值的通用技术发展方向。研究发现，除技术问题外，还涉及大量社会性议题。我们从访谈中归纳出9个主题类别：输入选项、输出选项、选择或适配AAC以匹配个体需求、何时启用或更换AAC、使用收益、访问（AAC的）途径、持续使用的障碍、社会顾虑以及缺乏自主权。本文深入剖析这九大类别后，分别向NLP学界、AAC应用开发者及政策制定者提出了改进自闭症成人AAC使用体验的指导建议。