Friday Announcements

1. PODD 1-Day Alternative Access Course – Ace Centre
From Ryan Crowe, Ace Centre:

Date: Thursday 29 October
Location: Oldham
Time: 9:00AM-5:00PM (GMT)

Building on the skills gained in standard PODD training, this one-day workshop builds theoretical understanding and practical skills in Alternative Access PODD, exploring eye-pointing, partner-assisted scanning, and combination access for individuals who cannot use direct pointing. Please note, you will have needed to complete a 2-day workshop PODD course to apply.

For more information and to book your place, visit our website



2.  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]



3.  Let’s chat! ISAAC Informal Chats
From Marcia Gemler, ISAAC:

ISAAC, the International Society for AAC, invites AAC users to meet virtually online for informal chats every two weeks. Please join moderator Chelsea Hagen for the next AAC chat on 17 August, 7:00PM-8:00PM UK time. 

The chat questions:  
1.  How do you plan for meeting new people at parties or fun events?
2.  How do you request assistance from people who are not familiar with your AAC?

We’d love to have participants from the UK! You do not have to be an ISAAC member to participate in the chats. 

More information can be found here: isaac-online.org/english/news/pwuaac-online-chats/



4.  Specialist SLT Vacancy – Treloar’s
From Sophie Milroy, Treloar’s:

Developing Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (Band 5) Term-time only
Full-time, £32,507–£37,271 (DOE)

Are you a newly qualified Speech & Language Therapist with a passion for SEND and AAC? Treloar’s is one of the UK’s leading specialist education and therapy settings for young people with physical disabilities and complex communication needs. This Band 5 development role offers the chance to grow your specialist skills within a highly supportive SLT team.

We’re looking for HCPC‑registered (or soon‑to‑register) therapists who are enthusiastic about AAC, communication technology and multidisciplinary working. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking for your next step, this is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference.

What we offer: 
• Regular clinical supervision and mentoring
• Excellent CPD and specialist training
• Collaborative MDT working
• Term‑time only schedule
• Competitive salary and benefits, including Health Cash Plan, Perkbox, pension and wellbeing support
• Free onsite parking

Closing date: Wednesday 9 September, 12:00PM 
Interviews: W/C 14 September 2026

To apply, please complete our online application form or contact the Recruitment Team on 01420 547400 (ext. 3574).

To find out more and apply, please click here.



5.  SLT Vacancy – Stewarts Care, Dublin
From Claire Donnelly, Stewarts:

Stewarts Care is a long-established voluntary organisation, funded by the HSE under Section 38. We support people with intellectual disabilities through residential care, day services, independent living, job advocacy, and vocational training.

Salary: €45,514 – €65,068 per annum (including LSI)
Location: Lucan, Dublin, Ireland

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly experienced and welcoming SLT team, including other Staff Grade SLTs, 4 Senior SLTs, a Clinical Specialist SLT and myself as the Children’s Disability Network Manager is an SLT by background. It’s a great environment for newly qualified therapists, with strong supervision, support and CPD opportunities. We are based in Lucan in Dublin. 
 
To learn more about this vacancy and how to apply, click here.



6.  CM Conference 2026 – One Week Left to Register!

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!



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 Soon!

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.  Becoming an Aided Communicator (BAC) Study Day Booklet

The proceedings from the BAC Study Day in Leeds 2025 are now available.

The Becoming an Aided Communicator (BAC) research team offers a unique opportunity to access comprehensive documentation and resources designed to support an in-depth exploration of language and communication development.

These materials include research summaries alongside previously unpublished resources to use in your consideration of children and young people’s language and conversational skills. The BAC documentation is available to purchase, with proceeds supporting the work of Communication Matters.

The BAC Study Day involved professionals from 16 countries, including teachers, psychologists, speech/language therapists and occupational therapists. The BAC data collection materials developed were considered appropriate across all 16 countries, and the documentation provides comprehensive descriptions of the unique BAC work.

This documentation includes resources developed and used to gain an understanding of the ways children and young people use their aided language and communication skills, as well as research findings derived from the country-specific data collection activity.

These resources and findings are available through Communication Matters in two publications:

1. Becoming an Aided Communicator (BAC): Theory, Methods, Findings and Practical Implications (2022)
2. Becoming an Aided Communicator (BAC): Gaining Insights into Aided Language Competence to Inform Practice (2025)
   
   

To learn more about the BAC Study Days, and to purchase your digital copy of the booklets, please click here.



10.  CM Journal August Issue – Out Now!

The latest issue of the CM Journal, Vol 40 No 2, has now been published.

As always, we would like to thank all of the authors for their hard work and for submitting their articles to a varied and insightful issue of the journal.

Members of Communication Matters will be receiving their physical copies of the journal in the post shortly, whilst the digital version can now be viewed on the Members Portal.



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).

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.