AAC Awards

Calling all Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, their families and friends, teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, clinical scientists, suppliers of AAC products and anyone interested in supporting the world of AAC… Come and join us for an evening of celebration and recognition at our AAC Awards evening.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the prestigious Royal Armouries Leeds for the 2025 AAC Awards on Monday 8th September. This year we are excited that this special night will coincide with the Communication Matters International AAC Conference.  This special evening features awards, dinner, entertainment, and dancing!

AAC Awards 2025 – Tickets Sales

AAC Awards tickets are included in the price of the 2 Day Registration and Subsidised Places categories for the Communication Matters International AAC Conference. Those attending conference on another rate can add the awards during the conference registration process found here.

Tickets sales for the general public (those not attending conference) will be on sale soon! 

AAC Awards 2025 – Categories Announced!

• Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Jamie Munro
  Awarded by the Communication Matters Board of Trustees to an inspiring individual, whose work has had an impact across the entire field of AAC. This award is dedicated to the memory of Jamie Munro, who inspired all he worked with during his career as an AAC supplier and developer.
• Arts Award in memory of Alan Martin
  An award presented to a person, project or organisation who uses AAC (or supports people who do) and who have made a significant contribution to the arts. This award is dedicated to the memory of Alan Martin, who championed the arts and creative inclusion through his work as a dancer, musician and comedian.
• AAC Innovation Award in memory of Harchie Sagoo
  An award given to a particular product, resource or supplier that has demonstrated “outside the box” thinking. This award is dedicated to the memory of Harchie Sagoo, an exceptional young man with a big smile and passion for innovation and pushing boundaries.
• Research Award
  An award given to a researcher, a published paper or project which has furthered the evidence base around AAC.
• Rising Star Award
  A newcomer (AAC user, student, professional, academic, personal assistant, family member) to the world of AAC who has made an impact over the past two years.
• Setting of the Year Award
  An award for a setting, school, team or organisation, that has promoted AAC in a particularly creative or inclusive way. This award will be decided by a popular vote.
• Access Award in memory of Samantha Hunnisett
  An award for an individual or team, whose innovative work has broken down barriers to access assessment or the use of AAC or Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT). This award is in memory of Samantha Hunnisett, who was passionate about ensuring an equity of opportunity in accessing EAT.
• Make a Difference Award in memory of Anthony Hewson
  Awarded to someone who has made a difference – a parent, carer, teacher, teaching/learning assistant or therapist who has supported an AAC user; a Trustee who has made a difference at CM… the possibilities are endless. This award is dedicated to the memory Anthony Hewson, a supporter who made a difference in so many ways and showed exceptional awareness of the needs of disabled people.

Call for nominations will open 23rd of April.

So have a think about anyone who has demonstrated excellence in the AAC community that you might like to nominate. It could be an AAC user, a family member or carer, a professional or team who have supported you or helped to achieve the unachievable! We can’t wait to celebrate all the successes!