Friday Announcements

1. Start the Chat: The AAC Podcast by Smartbox
From Olivia Withington, Smartbox:

Exploring eye gaze in the latest episode of Start the Chat: The AAC Podcast by Smartbox

In the first of our two-part series on eye gaze, we meet Karanveer Singh, an AAC user who began using eye gaze in his later school years, after growing up without a reliable way to communicate. He describes the reality of life before AAC as similar to “being fully awake in a world that couldn’t hear me,” as well as the long journey to becoming fluent with eye gaze, and how technology has helped him build a life around creativity, filmmaking, writing and public speaking.

This episode explores the idea that communication is deeply personal through Karanveer’s experiences of using multiple access methods and other tools, reminding us that the goal is never to fit the person to the technology, but the technology to the person.

Available to listen now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.



2.  CALL Scotland Family Play Consultation Service
From Craig McConnell, CALL Scotland:

We are excited to be launching our new (free) Family Play Consultation Service. We want to help you break down the barriers to play for your child and enable them to join in games with friends and family.

Through a one-to-one online consultation with an Assistive Technology Specialist, you can focus on one of four key areas and receive advice and guidance on making play more accessible for the whole family. This free service is available for families of children and young people with Additional Support Needs across Scotland. 

For more information and to book a consultation, please visit our blog: callscotland.org.uk/blog/family-play-consultation-service/



3.  Celebrate Makaton International Awareness Day 2026 with us!
From Natalie Applewhaite-Morgan, The Makaton Charity:

This year’s Makaton International Awareness Day theme is “Together” celebrating the connections Makaton helps to create every day.

To mark the occasion, we’ve teamed up with Electric Umbrella to create the official Makaton Song music video, and we’d love you to be part of it. Whether you choose to sign along to the song or take part using symbols, you’ll be helping to celebrate everything we can achieve together while sharing the power of Makaton with even more people! 

Everyone is welcome to take part, so please feel free to share this opportunity with your family, friends, colleagues, schools, groups, workplaces and communities! The more people who join in, the more we can celebrate the connections made possible through Makaton.

Together, we can celebrate the connections made possible through Makaton and continue spreading inclusion, communication and understanding across the world.

To find everything you need to take part, plus other ways to participate for Makaton Internation Awareness Day, click here.



4.  RESMAG Conference 2026
From Jane Bache, Compass Service:

We’re really excited to announce that our national conference will take place on 11 November 2026 in Birmingham.

The theme for the conference will be:
Designing, modifying, manufacturing assistive technologies and putting them into use, how?

We will cover practical steps for Rehabilitation Engineers and others who develop assistive technologies and place them on the market or put them into service in the UK.

To find out more, and to buy your ticket, please click here.



5.  Assistive Technology Clinical Specialist Vacancy – Barnsley AT
From Marcus Friday, Barnsley AT:

The Barnsley AT Team are advertising for an Assistive Technology Clinical Specialist and are open to recruiting an Occupational Therapist or Clinical Scientist. This is for 22.5 hours per week.

This is an opportunity to join a dedicated, motivated, exciting and supportive specialised assistive technology team. Our team has an excellent national and international reputation for quality, innovation and research and development. We deliver regional services for communication aids and environmental control across the Yorkshire and Humber region and are commissioned as an NHS specialised service.

We are looking to recruit an OT or Clinical Scientist experienced in assessing for and making recommendations for specialised assistive technology. The role involves working across Yorkshire and the Humber in assessing the needs of children and adults around the use of environmental controls (including computer access equipment) and communication aids.

The closing date is 5 September, and interviews are planned for 22 September 2026.

For more information and to apply for this vacancy, please click here.



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 13 September 2026 ahead of the Communication Matters International AAC Conference.

For more information and to download a nomination form, please click here.

Completed nomination forms must reach us by Friday 7 August.



7.  Mentoring Project Summer Online Sessions

Save the date of the next online meeting, discussing topics to support in-person conversations, advocating for yourself and mentoring others.

Level 1 Award in Mentoring Qualification
Thursday 6 August, 4:00PM – 5:30PM (Microsoft Teams)
Come along to this introduction to the Level 1 Award in Mentoring (NCFE) – our very popular qualification for AAC users. You can see the resources and have a go at an activity. All the support, guidance and resources for the qualification are fully funded by the National Lottery. This session is free to attend for any AAC users, practitioners, parents and carers.

Register your place here.

For any questions or for more information on the Summer Sessions, contact Verity Elliott at [email protected]



8.  Voices Without Limits: In Person Communication Club (Scotland)

Date: Wednesday 5 August 2026
Time: 10:30AM to 12:30PM
Location: Stanmore House School, Lanark

Communication Clubs are designed for AAC users to get together, develop their communication skills and have some fun in a social setting. This is the second Voices Without Limits meeting. Suitable for AAC users aged 14+ up to adult.

Refreshments will be provided. Attendance is free, but booking is essential: you can book your place here.



9.  CM Conference 2026 – Programme Now Live!

Join us in Leeds on 13-15 September 2026 for an exciting event packed full of informative presentations, inspiring stories and insight into the advancing world of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

The programme for this year’s conference is now live, and you can view it by clicking here. It is subject to change as speakers and events are confirmed in the weeks prior to Conference. 

Featuring a keynote speech from Jeff Higginbotham on ‘Looking at AAC Through Time and Interaction’, and a plenary speech from Gavin Clifton, The Disabled Writer: Children’s author, inspirational speaker, disability advocate, lyricist.

The registration deadline for all delegates is Friday 21 August, and all payments must be received by then. No invoices will be issued after 14 August.

Book your place now!



10.  Communication Matters AAC Study Day – Book Your Place

Date: Wednesday 16 September
Time: 9:30AM – 4:00PM
Location: University of Leeds

The AAC Study Day involves two workshops, both two and a half hours long, that complement each other with a focus on research, technology and its use in practical applications.

This full day event encourages deep reflection in relation to collaboration, conversation, and design in the field of AAC. The presentations are:

“Co-production in Research”
Presented by Sarah Hayward and Joanna Holmes.

“Designing AAC for In-Time Conversation”
Presented by Prof Jeff Higginbotham, Director of the Communication and Assistive Device Lab (CADL) at the University at Buffalo.

You can book your place at the Study Day as an add-on to Conference attendance, or as a stand-alone ticket. Conference attendance is not required to join us at the study day.

For further information please see: AAC Study Days – Communication Matters



11.  Relaxed Exhibition 2026

Date: Sunday 13 September
Time: 2:30PM – 5:00PM
Location: The Refectory, University of Leeds

The Relaxed Exhibition is a free, pre-conference event for people interested in learning more about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in a quieter environment. With restricted numbers of exhibition delegates on Sunday 13 September, we aim to provide a more sensory-considerate space. The exhibitors will be the UK’s leading suppliers of communication aids, equipment, software and symbol systems.

This event is free of charge for all attendees and refreshments will be provided. Places are limited, so please book early to ensure you can enjoy learning more about AAC in a quieter, calmer pace.

We would also encourage you to spread the word about this event, as it’s a fantastic opportunity to experience a bit of Communication Matters in a more accessible setting. As well as offering a quieter, less busy environment, it’s a great way to introduce AAC and the exhibition to those who may benefit from a calmer pace.

To learn more, click here.



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).

This newsletter may include links to external websites or third-party content. While these are checked for quality and working links at the time of publication, Communication Matters is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or availability of external sites.