Friday Announcements

1. AAC Trials and Loans Process Feedback – Tobii Dynavox
From Niamh Bridges, Tobii Dynavox:

We’re looking to gather feedback from people who have experience with AAC trials and the AAC loan process. We’re keen to hear what’s working well and where things could be improved. Your feedback will help shape future developments and improvements to the service.

We’d really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete our short survey: Click Here

Thanks very much for taking the time to share your thoughts.



2.  Supporting Literacy with AAC – Limited Spaces Left!
From Ryan Crowe, Ace Centre:

Are you a teacher or education based professional, needing to support learners with complex communication and learning needs? Needing to get to grips with additional SEND provisions and not sure where to start?

Supporting Literacy with AAC is a 2-Day Developing Level course designed to help build skills and knowledge around literacy development for Augmentative & Alternative Communication individuals. This course will look at identifying skills, potential barriers, legislative requirements and resources available.

Find out more and book your place



3.  SCERTS Framework Workshop – Great Ormond Street Hospital
From Kate Macleod, GOSH:

The SLT Neurodisability service at Great Ormond Steet Hospital is excited to offer a workshop on the SCERTS framework.

SCERTS – An introduction
Presenter: Emily Rubin, Co-Author of The SCERTS Model
Date: Monday 14 September
Time: 9:30AM – 3:30PM
Location: Hybrid – in-person at GOSH, or virtual via Zoom
Price: £50

This hybrid workshop will introduce the SCERTS® framework, an evidence-based, developmental, and relationship-based approach designed for autistic and neurodivergent learners. The SCERTS framework provides a common language, particularly around provision of support, where developmental capacities in Social Communication (SC) and Emotional Regulation (ER) are supported by our Transactional Support (TS). This hybrid format is interactive, and participants will have the opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another throughout the day through polls, chats, and Q&A.

Please click here to find out more and book a place.

For any queries, please contact: [email protected]

4. CM Conference 2026 – Registrations Close Today!

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.

Registrations for all delegates close today, Friday 21 August, and all payments must be received by today.

Book your place now!



5.  CM 40^th Anniversary Dinner – Bookings Close Soon!

We are celebrating Communication Matters’ 40th anniversary at the Royal Armouries on Monday 14 September, and we look forward to seeing many members, AAC users, families, friends and AAC professionals joining us for a fabulously fun and friendly evening.

Our after-dinner speaker is Lee Ridley, who combines stand-up comedy and writing, with advocacy for the AAC community in his role as patron for Communication Matters, The Sequal Trust, Smile and The Scott-Morgan Foundation.

The Celebratory Dinner is part of the International AAC Conference programme; however, non-delegates may also join the party. If you do NOT plan to attend the Conference as a delegate, you are welcome to join us at the Celebratory Dinner by buying Dinner Only ticket(s) here.

Any bookings should be received by 28^th August. After that time, any dietary requirements cannot be guaranteed.



6.  CM 40^th Anniversary Messages: Last Call for the History Book

We are updating the History of Communication Matters book in readiness for its launch at our 40th Anniversary Dinner at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, this September. To help offset the cost of printing, we invite you to add your story or congratulatory message to the book: up to 40 words for £50 or up to 100 words for £75.

Whether it is a short thank you, a favourite memory, or a story about the impact of AAC and CM, we would love to hear from you.

If you are an AAC user, you can submit your story or message free of charge. Space is limited, so we encourage you to send your contribution as soon as possible.

To learn more and send your message, click here.



7.  CM Conference Posters – Help with Printing

The poster session at CM2026 is going to be a big part of Conference, and we’re delighted to have received so many excellent submissions. If you are presenting a poster, and need help with printing costs, CM can help.

If you would like CM to arrange printing of your poster on your behalf, please send your poster as a PDF to [email protected] and we will arrange for it to be printed at no cost to you, and available for collection at the conference.

Please note, the deadline for submitting your PDF for printing is Tuesday 1 September.



8.  Design and Collaboration: CM AAC Study Day Bookings Close Today!

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

The registration deadline for the Study Day is Friday 21 August.

9.  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.