Friday Announcement

1. 24 Hours of AAC: a Global Virtual Conference

From Amelia Strawson, Smartbox Assistive Technology Ltd:

24 Hours of AAC is a new global virtual event from Smartbox, taking place on 6 – 7th May 2026. Across 24 hours of talks and discussion, the programme will bring the AAC community together to connect, learn and share stories, with the aim to move closer to a world where everyone has the opportunity to communicate, participate, and thrive.
Find out more here. 

2. Measuring Communication in Children with Neurodisability who are Non-Speaking

From Katherine Buckeridge, University of Kent:

Research Opportunity: Online survey of UK parents and speech and language therapists

I am a PhD research student at the University of Kent and a speech and language therapist. I am conducting a project to develop a tool called an outcome measure to measure change in communication of children with neurodisability who are non-speaking. I have already interviewed parents and speech and language therapists about what they think is important to include. I would like to invite you to take part in a study to finalise the items for the outcome measure.

I am seeking participants from across the UK who are parents or speech and language therapists. Participants will be asked to complete a two-part electronic survey to provide their views on a list of items for inclusion in the outcome measure. The project has been granted full ethical approval by the University of Kent (Ethics Committee Ref: 1214).

If you wish to take part, you can access the project information, consent form and survey via this anonymous link. 

Thank you for considering this request. If you have any queries, please email: [email protected].

3. Call for Participants: AAC Champions

From Rachel Thwaite, Ace Centre:

Suzanne Martin is completing a research study for her MSc in Healthcare Leadership at the University of Warwick.

Suzanne is wanting to recruit participants who work with people who either use and/or would benefit from AAC and consider themselves AAC champions and advocates for change in the funding of services and equipment.

This research study aims to explore how informal leaders working with individuals who either use or may benefit from AAC perceive, interpret, and prioritise the factors influencing the commissioning of non-specialist AAC services in England.

If you are interested in participating and you can commit 4-5 hours over the next few months (including a 2.5 hour online focus group), please click this link  and answer a few quick questions to check if you are eligible to be part of this research.

If you would like further information, please contact Research Supervisor, Maria Van Der Merwe [email protected].

4. Irwin Mitchell and SYCANN Festive Family Fun Day

From Miriam Watson-Pratt, Children’s Additional Needs Network:

Sunday 14th December 11am – 2pm, Niagara Centre, Niagara Rd, Sheffield, S6 1LU.

You are invited to a free family fun day hosted by Irwin Mitchell and SYCANN.

Come along and join us! We will have lots of fun activities for you to enjoy, including Santa’s grotto, face painting, sensory activities, Boccia and much more! Food will be provided, and refreshments are available at the Niagara bar.

We are delighted that a number of local charities who support families and children with additional needs will also be joining us on the day. To confirm your place, sign up for free using this link.

5. New Website for Communication Matters

You might have noticed that Communication Matters released its new website this week. It’s been a soft launch for us prior to promoting the new website to our members.

We invite you to explore the new website at www.communicationmatters.org.uk. Our intention has been to create a website that is easier for ALL visitors to navigate. We have worked with AAC users to improve the site’s accessibility. Their feedback was incredibly useful.

Your feedback will be valuable too. Please use the Contact Us form to send us your thoughts on what’s working for you and what we could improve. There is no time limit on sending us your feedback. The website will continue to be updated and developed to better meet the needs of our members.

Next week, we will be emailing all our members with directions for accessing the Members Area of the website. In brief, members need their membership number and the email associated with their membership to register their account and verify their email address.

Send your website feedback to Communication Matters using the Contact Us form.

6. We’re Hiring! Join Communication Matters as an Administrator

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent IT skills and administrative experience to support Communication Matters in achieving the charity’s mission of empowering people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

What you’ll do:
• Organise events and meetings
• Manage memberships and newsletters
• Support social media and website updates
• Help deliver our Annual International Conference

Why join us?
• Permanent, full-time role (35 hrs/week)
• Salary: £23,881 + 6% pension
• 28 days holiday + office closure at Christmas
• Based at University of Leeds (with some remote flexibility)

Joining Communication Matters means being part of something truly meaningful. As a charity, our work directly impacts lives – and so can yours.

Learn more and apply here: https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/job/communication-matters-administrator/

Closing date: 4 December 2025

7. ‘Inspiring New Ways of Thinking About Access to Technology for People with Intellectual Disability’ Study Day – Booking Now Closed

21st November 2025, 9.30am-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. Booking is now closed, and we are looking forward to welcoming delegates and speakers to the event next week.

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.

Learning objectives and full programme can be found here.

8. AAC Peer Mentoring – Scotland: Information Session

Communication Matters is delighted to inform you that we have been successful in receiving some funding from National Lottery, Awards for All, Scotland.

We will be hosting an information session to tell you more about this two-year funded project along with next steps.

Session 1 is a general information session open to everyone, and Session 2 is a planning meeting for AAC users who have already completed the Level 1 Award in Mentoring.

Refreshments (tea & coffee) will be provided and if attending Session 2, please bring your own lunch.

DATE: Tuesday 18th November 2025

Session 1: 10.00am-12.00pm (general information session, open to all)

Session 2: 1.00pm-2.30pm (planning meeting for AAC mentors only)

VENUE: Corseford College West Scotland, India of Inchinnan, Inchinnan PA4 9LH

To confirm your attendance and for more information contact: Verity Elliott [email protected].

9. Adapting the Level 1 Award in Mentoring Resources for AAC Users

Wednesday 19th November – Teams meeting @ 4pm-5pm

Please note – the date in last week’s Friday Announcements was incorrect.

This is an informal meeting to share ideas and approaches in how the mentoring qualification resources have been adapted for example, using Grid and Bookcreator. If you would like to join this meeting to find out more, please email Verity Elliott [email protected].

10. Communication Matters Training and Development Opportunities

• Looking After Myself – The Capacity to be Resilient and Assertive

Online event 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.

• Achieving the Level 1 in Mentoring Qualification

Online event for AAC users and others interested in finding out more.

Tuesday 2nd December 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.

To book onto one or both online sessions, please contact Verity Elliott, email: [email protected].

11. 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).