Friday Announcements

1. Our Voices, Our Way: A Makaton Users’ Webinar
From Natalie Applewhaite-Morgan, Makaton:

Date: Wednesday 15 July 2026
Time: 6:00PM – 7:00PM
Online: Zoom Webinar

Join members Kirsty, Taylor, Cassie and Liddy as they each share their personal experiences of using Makaton in everyday life.

In this webinar, they talk openly about communication, creating accessible resources, and what it’s really like living with a disability.

Through honest conversation and personal insight, they explore how Makaton supports independence, self-expression and connection with others, and why representation and disabled voices matter, especially during Disability Pride Month.

To find out more about this webinar, click here, or sign up directly via Zoom.



2.  Vocabulary Assistant (Urdu) Vacancy – Ace Centre
From Ryan Crowe, Ace Centre:

Ace Centre is looking for a bilingual Urdu/English speaker to support the creation of an Urdu AAC Vocabulary package! This opportunity would suit an SLT or Education professional or Student/Learning Assistant.

To find out more please visit our website here.

Deadline for applications for this position is Monday 20 July.



3.  Assistive Technology Consultant Vacancy – Access Technology
From Mike Thrussell, Access Technology:

Access: Technology is recruiting for an Assistive Technology Consultant to join our growing team. This is a full-time role supporting disabled children and adults to access communication, learning, independence, and leisure to improve quality of life through effective use of electronic and digital assistive technology.

The work includes assessment, intervention, training, troubleshooting, report writing and collaboration with families, schools, case managers and multidisciplinary teams. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience or interest in AAC, alternative access methods, eye gaze, switches, mounting, environmental control, education technology, brain injury, cerebral palsy, autism, sensory differences or complex needs.

The salary is £34,000 per year for consultant level, or £40,000 per year for candidates appointed at Senior Consultant level.

This role involves extensive travel, likely to account for around 40% of working time. Applicants must have a full UK driving licence and access to their own vehicle.

Full vacancy details, including role expectations, recruitment process and how to apply, can be found here: accesstechnology.co.uk/blog/vacancy-assistive-technology-consultant-summer-2026

For further information, please contact: [email protected]



4.  Join the CENMAC Team! – Various Opportunities
From Annabel Dent, CENMAC:

CENMAC is a team of professionals supporting children and young people experiencing barriers to learning and/or communication to access the curriculum and/or to communicate using assistive technology.

Our unique service offers assessments, reviews and the loan of Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

We work across the Greater London area, with children and young people aged 2 to 25 with Education Health Care Plans (EHCP) in mainstream education, special schools, and those who are home educated.

We are currently recruiting for several positions:

• Speech and Language Therapist (Highly Specialist) Band 8 (Havering)
• Speech and Language Therapist (Highly Specialist) Band 7 (Havering)
• Specialist AAC Speech and Language Therapist Band 7 (Greater London)
• Assistant Practitioner – Supporting Speech and Language Therapists and Advisory Teachers

If you would like to be part of an innovative team transforming support in schools we’d love to hear from you. For full job descriptions/person specifications and to apply, please click here.



5.  Mentoring Project Summer Online Sessions
From Verity Elliot, Mentoring Project:

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

Having a Good Conversation
Tuesday 14 July, 10:30AM – 12:00PM (Microsoft Teams)
This workshop will focus on how to be a good communicator and to be more aware of how we engage with others. We will share ‘tips and tricks’ along with understanding what helps us and what we need when having a good conversation.

This session is free to attend for any AAC users, practitioners, parents and carers.
Register your place here.

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]



6.  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.



7.  CM Conference 2026 – Last Few Subsidised Places Left!

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.

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.

AAC users and their families can apply for subsidised places for themselves and accompanying PAs at a significant discount. Places are limited, and are offered on a first come, first served basis. There are only a few places left, so book now to secure your discount!

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!



8.  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



9.  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.



10.  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.