Friday Announcements – 13 June 2025

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1. Survey – Help Us Make Block-Coding More Accessible!
2. Lead Clinical Technologist in Assistive Technology (AT) Vacancy – Barnsley AT Team
3. Mikey’s Wish Foundation Family Fun Day in Nottingham
4. Discover TD Talk
5. AAC Light Touch Assessment Survey Needs You!

News from Communication Matters
6. Call for Nominations for Trustees
7. Research Matters Group Online Meeting
8. CM Peer Support & Mentoring Project – Development Opportunities
9. AAC Awards 2025 – Final Day to Nominate!
10. CM2025 International AAC Conference – Register Now
11. We Need Your Help to Win a Donation in the My Favourite Voucher Codes Poll!
12. About Friday Announcements

 

1. Survey – Help Us Make Block-Coding More Accessible!

From Paul Robinson, Micro:bit Educational Foundation:

There are only a few days left to take part in our survey. Closing date 20th June 2025.

We’re calling on young people who use assistive technology and the educators, parents, and carers who support them to take part in a quick, 10-minute survey, and you don’t need any prior experience.

Who we really need to hear from:

  • Young learners with disabilities that affect how they use a computer
  • Young learners with visual impairments who use screen readers, magnifiers, etc
  • Young learners with dexterity impairments who use keyboards, switches, eye gaze, voice control, etc
  • Educators, teachers, parents and carers who support these learners

Your voice will help us understand barriers, reduce frustration, and help us develop better solutions for accessible coding.

Start the survey.

Thank you. Your input and insights will make a meaningful difference!

 

2. Lead Clinical Technologist in Assistive Technology (AT) Vacancy – Barnsley AT Team

From Zoë Clarke, Barnsley Assistive Technology Team:

This is a great opportunity to join a nationally recognised AT team and, through jointly leading our technical team, to support the team to maintain and improve its excellence in provision of specialised AT.

Barnsley Assistive Technology delivers specialised services for AAC and EC across Yorkshire and the Humber. We are looking to recruit a registered Clinical Technologist/Healthcare Science Practitioner to work as a Lead Technologist as part of our team.  If successful, you will be jointly responsible for leading our technical team of specialist Clinical Technologist Clinical Engineers providing specialised AT across Yorkshire and Humber. We are particularly looking for someone who can have responsibility for the delivery of the mechanical and mounting elements of the technical service, including the management of the engineering workshop.

If you are highly motivated, a great team player and passionate about the use of AT then please look at our website and apply!

This is a permanent post with 29th June as the closing for applications and a provisional interview date of 22nd or 29th July.

See the advertisement and job description for more information: Job Advert

Any questions contact Zoë Clarke ([email protected]).

 

3. Mikey’s Wish Foundation Family Fun Day in Nottingham

From Pam Slater, Mikey’s Wish Foundation:

Mikey’s Wish Foundation Family Fun Day is on Saturday 21st June from 11am-4pm at Dawn House School, Helmsley Road, Nottingham, NG2 0DG.

Come along and meet other Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) superstars and their families. Celebrate your CAS superstar at our medal ceremony!

Featuring: Bouncy castle, inflatable slide, raffle & prizes, inflatable penalty shootout, face painter, meet the experts, football pitch, explore the forest school, and arts & crafts.

Bring a picnic or food available from vendors.

 

4. Discover TD Talk

From Ishita Umanath, Tobii Dynavox Ltd:

TD Talk is an easy-to-learn, speech-generating app designed for literate adults with communication disabilities such as MND, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy.

Packed with smart, user-friendly features like See Through mode, TD Talk enhances communication while preserving your unique voice and style. Built to support individuals with progressive conditions, TD Talk adapts with you – no matter how your device or access needs evolve over time.

Take a moment to learn about the fantastic features of the free text-based communication app TD Talk by watching the video below.

Link: https://youtu.be/DCEk2_bck5Y?si=BtxxUE3eu3AeJjEN

 

5. AAC Light Touch Assessment Survey Needs You!

From Ryan Crowe, Ace Centre:

Does your child use communication apps? Do you struggle with working out what is best for them?

Ace Centre are looking into providing an assessment service to support families and carers who have children with speech, language and communication needs, who are using apps on touch screen devices such as an iPad (often referred to as AAC). In particular, for families who may not currently have access to speech and language therapy support.

This service would help by assessing your child’s needs, including what the most appropriate app to meet their need would be, as well as signposting to support tools and resources to support its use.

As part of putting a service together, we’re looking to gather the experiences of families, carers and others to understand wants and needs and what benefits this could bring to you.

If you are interested in sharing yours, please could you complete the short form found here. All responses will be anonymous and confidential.

 

6. Call for Nominations for Trustees

The time has come again to request nominations for Trustees for the next term in the life of Communication Matters. This is a role which demands stamina, commitment and skill mixing but which can be very stimulating and enlightening!

This year there are five vacant places to be filled and the opportunity of appointing a further three Co-opted Trustees as appropriate. The announcement of Trustees will take place at the virtual Annual Meeting of Associate Members on Sunday 7 September 2025 ahead of the Communication Matters International AAC Conference.

For more information and to download a nomination form, please go to: communicationmatters.org.uk/news/call-for-trustees-2025

Completed nomination forms must reach us by Friday 18 July.

 

7. Research Matters Group Online Meeting

Are you an AAC user interested in research? Do you want to know more about AAC research? Or would like to get more involved with research?

Our Research Matters group meets online to learn about research and to connect people who are interested in research with one another.

Our next meeting is Tuesday 24 June, 4pm – 5pm: This will be a ‘connecting’ session. The meeting will be hosted on Teams.

The agenda is:

If you’d like to join this group and attend this online session, please email Charlie Moran: [email protected]

Please do share this with AAC users in your networks.

 

8. CM Peer Support & Mentoring Project – Development Opportunities

Are you interested in being involved and helping to develop this project? We are looking for 2 – 3 AAC users who have a range of skills and interests to help develop our resources and engage in project development and delivery.

We have a limited number of hours available and activities may include helping to make our resources accessible, developing topics for workshops and/or possibly co-presenting.

If you are an AAC user and feel you have particular skills, please let us know more along with your area of interest. Send a CV and a one-page A4 document or email (no more than 600 words) to [email protected].

You can find out more about the project here.

Communication Matters will review all applications. For those AAC users that are not successful, it is likely that we will keep your details for future reference. Please note that payment is provided on a self-employed basis.

The closing date is Friday 27 June at 12 noon.

For more information, please email: Verity Elliott – [email protected]

 

9. AAC Awards 2025 – Final Day to Nominate!

Nominations for the AAC Awards 2025 are open until midnight on Friday 13th June. Follow the link below to fill in a form to nominate an AAC user, a family member or carer, professional or team, project or product that has supported you or helped to achieve the unachievable! Self-nominations are permitted and encouraged but all must be accompanied by a statement of support for the person, organisation, project or product you are nominating which can be given in a written or alternative format.

The AAC Awards are moving to the CM International AAC Conference! Though they are included in the price of the two-day conference registration or can be added onto one-day or exhibition-only attendee registrations, they are open for all to join. Not coming to conference this year? You will be at conference, but you would like family, friends or colleagues to join in the Awards fun? No problem! Tickets for those who want to attend the Awards only are now on sale.

Submit a nomination by midnight tonight 13 June and buy tickets here: https://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/conference/awards/

 

10. CM2025 International AAC Conference – Register Now – 4 Weeks To Early Bird Deadline

Registration is now open, but we wanted to highlight some exciting changes and additions taking place this year.

One notable change is the conference being shortened to two days. We will open the main conference on Monday 8th September at 9AM and close at 4PM Tuesday the 9th. While this means a slightly shorter conference than previous years, we have worked hard to consolidate the programme to offer better value with events on either side. These include:

  • Pre-Conference Relaxed Exhibition: on the afternoon of 7th September, we will be providing a time for conference delegates and the community who need a quieter and less busy space to meet with suppliers. This is a free optional event for those who wish to add it to their delegate package. Tickets will also be available to people not attending conference.
  • AAC Awards: on the evening of 8th September, we will be hosting our biennial event celebrating all forms of communication, the people who use AAC, the professionals, families and suppliers that support them. Being held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, we are certain the awards, dinner and dancing will prove to be a fun and exciting night for all! This event is included in the full delegate registration price. It can be added to one-day and exhibition-only delegates at an additional price. Tickets will also be available to people not attending conference.
  • Post-Conference Research Study Day: this additional day on 10th September is open to conference delegates and others who are interested in research focused strands delivered by an international cohort of researchers and academics. This event can be added to all delegate packages at an additional price. Tickets will also be available to people not attending conference.

Changes to accommodation
In another effort to offer choice and value, there are now options available for conference delegates to choose accommodation. When going through the registration process you can add on-campus accommodation at Storm Jameson, which will be added to the full conference delegate rate. You can also choose to opt-out and stay elsewhere. We have teamed up with Conference Leeds to offer delegates preferential rates at hotels within Leeds for your convenience.

Registration is now open!
Book early to take advantage of the Early Bird discount which expires on 11 July.
See prices and book online here.

 

11. We Need Your Help to Win a Donation in the My Favourite Voucher Codes Poll!

This June, you can help Communication Matters to receive a donation without spending a penny – all you need to do is cast your free vote in the My Favourite Voucher Codes charity poll!

Every month, My Favourite Voucher Codes donate 20% of their profits to charity. They run a monthly poll where 4 charities are in with the chance of winning the donation.

This month, Communication Matters have been chosen as a nominated charity, and we need your help to win!
It is free to vote in, everyone gets 1 vote (per IP address) and you do not need to enter any details at all to vote.
The poll will remain open until midnight on 30th June.

How Do I Vote?
Voting is super simple; all you need to do is:

  • Visit the My Favourite Voucher Codes website.
  • Scroll down until you see the poll on the right-hand side of the page (or at the bottom of the page on mobile).
  • Vote for Communication Matters!

Thank you to all our amazing supporters and everyone who is able to vote for Communication Matters this June. If we win this donation, we can continue supporting those who have verbal communication difficulties and give everyone a voice.

 

12. 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).