Friday Announcements – 24 October 2025
1. Last Chance to Get 50% Off Grid for iPad!
2. Scene & Heard Pro Support Video Library!
3. Clinical Scientist Vacancy – Chailey Communication Aid Service
4. ICRA Call for Volunteers/Students: Data Analysis
5. Ace Centre Autumn Training Courses
6. Sensory and Immersive Rooms – Online Survey
7. Relaxed Cinema Screenings, Newcastle Upon Tyne
News from Communication Matters
8. Communication Matters Training and Development Opportunities
9. ‘Inspiring New Ways of Thinking About Access to Technology for People with Intellectual Disability’ Study Day – Register Now!
10. About Friday Announcements
1. Last Chance to Get 50% Off Grid for iPad!
From Hannah Craven, Smartbox Assistive Technology Ltd:
Today is the last day of our Grid for iPad promotion in celebration of AAC Awareness Month. We’re on a mission to help as many people as possible succeed with AAC and hope this discounted price will make Grid for iPad accessible to more families, individuals and schools. Eligible educational institutions and organisations can combine this discount with their volume purchase programme.
Learn more here.
2. Scene & Heard Pro Support Video Library!
From Annie Galvin, Therapy Box Ltd:
Exciting news! Our Scene & Heard Pro Support Video Library is here to help!
Find easy step-by-step videos to help you get the most from your AAC app. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for tips, we’ve got you covered.
Find it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqecXfk92Dbbx7lA-h3T5OZGtiAN404FA
3. Clinical Scientist Vacancy – Chailey Communication Aid Service
From Samantha Micklewright, CCAS:
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Chailey Communication Aid Service (CCAS) for an experienced Clinical Scientist. We are looking for someone to join us with a passion for clinical work and a commitment to facilitate communicative independence for our highly specialist and complex caseload. We work with children, young people and adults across all of Sussex (including Brighton and Hove) and Surrey, who have been referred to us due to complex communication and access challenges.
For further details and job advert, click here Job Advert. Closing date: 2nd November 2025.
4. ICRA Call for Volunteers/Students: Data Analysis
From Meredith Prain, International Communication Rights Alliance:
The International Communication Rights Alliance (ICRA) is a group of organisations and individuals committed to upholding the communication rights of people with communication disabilities and operationalising the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities for this group.
We are seeking a volunteer (possibly as a student project) to assist us with a project analysing data collected from concluding statements of reports from the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities committee to reporting countries. The concluding statements have been reviewed for any recommendations relating to communication rights or Augmentative and Alternative Communication, but further thematic analysis is required. The aim of the project is to better understand what is currently being recommended and if any gaps are evident.
This role would be supported by experienced researchers who are members of the ICRA committee.
It would suit anyone with:
- An interest in disability and communication rights
- Experience in qualitative research
- Experience in project work – working collaboratively with clearly defined deliverables and time frames
If you are interested in this role or would like further information, please contact [email protected].
5. Ace Centre Autumn Training Courses
From Ace Centre:
Check out the range of live online training courses available from Ace Centre this Autumn. These short courses include ‘AAC in the Classroom’, ‘How to use and develop a Communication Book’, and ‘Using AAC to Play’. You can find the full range of training options here.
6. Sensory and Immersive Rooms – Online Survey
From Ted Wilkinson, University of Dundee:
I am a postgraduate student at the University of Dundee, currently undertaking my MSc dissertation research. My project explores how sensory rooms and immersive rooms are used in practice, with the aim of understanding their applications, benefits, and potential challenges.
I would like to invite you to take part in an online survey designed for individuals who work with, manage, or have experience using sensory or immersive rooms.
Please email me at [email protected] to receive a Participant Information sheet. Once you have read this, if you would then like to take part, please follow the link below to the survey. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
Your participation is entirely voluntary, and all responses will be anonymous and treated in strict confidence. No personal or identifying information will be collected, and data will only be used for academic purposes.
If you are happy to participate, please follow the link below. This will take you to a copy of the Informed Consent form to read through and complete prior to beginning the survey.
If you have any questions about the research, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
7. Relaxed Cinema Screenings, Newcastle Upon Tyne
From Midnight Memphis, Daydream Cinema:
Daydream Cinema returns to Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, on Tuesday 28th October for a day of great relaxed screenings organised by autistic people.
Daydream Cinema creates and supports accessible opportunities for neurodivergent and disabled people to enjoy films in their communities and in cinema venues.
We’ll be hosting Relaxed Screenings of The Gruffalo, Cat Video Fest and Treat, Trick or Terror: a trio of short film programmes with films created by neurodivergent and disabled filmmakers. The screenings are designed to be accessible and welcoming to Neurodivergent audiences. Everyone is welcome to attend.
You can find out more about the event and each film screening, and book tickets through our website here.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected] and let us know how many tickets you want for each screening.
Our Pay What You Can On The Day option means you pay nothing when you book and then you can make a donation on the day if you are able to. We do not want cost to be a barrier for audiences to attend screenings, so please don’t worry if you are not able to pay at this time.
8. Communication Matters Training and Development Opportunities
- Achieving the Level 1 in Mentoring Qualification
Zoom Session for AAC users and others interested in finding out more.
Tuesday 18th November 2025, 2.00pm-3.30pm
Becky Tyler (AAC user) and Verity Elliott (CM Mentoring Project Co-ordinator)
This is an opportunity to find out more about this fully accredited and fully funded opportunity. Verity will present how this qualification can be delivered and completed in a flexible and adaptable way, the benefits and next steps. Becky will tell you more about her recent experience of completing the qualification.
The qualification can be completed in small groups or individually.
- Looking After Myself – The Capacity to be Resilient and Assertive
Zoom Session for AAC users and others interested in finding out more.
Tuesday 25th November 2025, 2.00pm-3.30pm
Gregor Gilmour (AAC user) and Verity Elliott (CM Mentoring Project Co-ordinator)
This workshop will include gaining an understanding of some of the underlying issues that impact on our mental health and wellbeing, alongside a range of positive strategies and tools that we can use in our daily lives to help our capacity to be resilient.
To book onto one or both Zoom Sessions, please contact Verity Elliott, email: [email protected].
9. ‘Inspiring New Ways of Thinking About Access to Technology for People with Intellectual Disability’ Study Day – Register Now!
21st November 2025, 9.30-4pm, Irwin Mitchell Offices, Temple, London, EC4Y 0AY
Communication Matters are delighted to partner with a range of leading academic and clinical experts in intellectual disability to host this exciting event.
- Professor Annalu Waller and Dr Tom Griffiths – University of Dundee
- Dr Ben Simmons – University of Bath
- Zoë Clarke and Sally Darley – Barnsley Assistive Technology Team
- Ruth Williams – Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Adult with Learning Disabilities Team
- Dr Katherine Broomfield – Cardiff Metropolitan University & North Bristol NHS Trust & Communication Matters
- Professor Jill Bradshaw – University of Birmingham
Following on from our previous Study Day in November 2019 (‘Where Next for People with Cognitive Disabilities & Electronic Assistive Technology?), we will offer delegates a range of plenaries and workshops to explore the state of play around existing technology for people with intellectual disability as well as the opportunity to (re)consider how to activate current and future technologies in creative and innovative ways. This is a standalone event and, although drawing on learning from the 2019 event, there is no need for delegates to have attended the previous Study Day to benefit from this one.
Attendance: £100 for non-members, £90 for members and £75 for AAC users/PAs/family members. Lunch and refreshments included.
Learning objectives, full programme and booking details can be found here. Registration closes on 13th November!
10. About Friday Announcements
These ‘Friday Announcements’ comprise weekly product updates, upcoming courses, and supplier news. Please email [email protected] with the item you want to be included by Thursday at 5pm – no more than 200 words (one entry per organisation per week) – and include contact email and/or link so readers can find out further information (no file attachments please).
