Friday Announcements

1. Sign Up For the Live Evo Webinar
From Hannah Craven, Smartbox:

Evo is a new eye tracker created by Smartbox. Its powerful machine learning algorithms have been trained on a range of real-world scenarios to deliver fast, accurate and responsive performance. 

Join our team on 19 January to learn more.


2. Add Your Voice to the SEND Reform Consultation
From Beth Moulam & Saffron Murphy-Mann, Communication Matters Trustees:

The Department for Education has announced an online consultation around the proposed new Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice.

The Government consultation is open until Wednesday 14 January 2026, and they ‘want to hear from everyone – from parents to those working in schools, colleges and early years – to help shape the system our children and young people deserve.’

You can read more and access the consultation here.


3. 1Voice National Residential Weekend in Hampshire
From Jo Cope, 1Voice:

We are excited to announce that the national weekend is returning in 2026, and we are inviting you to run away and join us at the 1Voice Circus! 

The residential is set to take place 21-23 August 2026, at Treloar College in Hampshire. In order to be better able to support families, the weekend will be open to school-aged children only. Registration for the national weekend will open in January, along with role model applications.

You can watch a film made at last year’s national weekend here.


4. Vacancy at Enable Ireland
From John Tiernan, Enable Ireland:

There’s an exciting opportunity to join our progressive multidisciplinary team based in Dublin.

We are currently seeking a highly-motivated Clinical Specialist in Special Seating to join our team in Sandymount. We invite applications from people from Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy backgrounds who are capable of delivering a high-quality service on a daily basis.

This vacancy closes on 22 January. Full details of the role are available here.


5. Research Matters: Roles in Research
The next Research Matters online meeting will be on Wednesday 28 January 2026, 4-5pm.

We’ll be looking at ‘Roles in research’ and will share a video that the Research Matters group recorded. 

AAC users will share their research experiences in different roles, and there will be an open discussion about getting involved and next steps. 

If you’ve been involved in research as a research participant, co-researcher, or part of an engagement/discussion group, please come along and share your experience.

Go to the Research Matters page of the CM website to receive an invitation to the meeting, to sign up for the Research Matters newsletter and to find out more about what we do.


6. CM Conference 2026 – Save The Date!
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).

Our conference offers a diverse programme of events that brings AAC users, their families and carers together with researchers, professionals and suppliers to learn, network, socialise and celebrate.

Submissions for papers for the conference will be opening soon. Further details will be shared once announced. 

In the meantime, visit our website to learn more about plans for this year’s event.


7. 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).