Celebrate with our winners
AAC Awards 2025
Our awards celebrate the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, their families and friends, teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, clinical scientists and suppliers of AAC products that make up our incredible community.
This year, the AAC Awards 2025 coincided with Communication Matters International Annual Conference. The Awards were hosted at the prestigious New Dock Hall at The Royal Armouries in Leeds on Monday 8 September.
Announcing the Shortlist
Thank you to those who made a nomination for the Communication Matters AAC Awards 2025 and joined us for a special evening of celebration on Monday 8 September when we announced the winners.
We were completely overwhelmed with the number and quality of entries this year and the Judging Panel deliberated for many hours to reach their decisions. We are delighted to reveal the winners and shortlisted nominees below.
Setting of the Year Award
An award for a setting, school, team or organisation, that has promoted AAC in a particularly creative or inclusive way. This award will be decided by a popular vote – voting has now closed.
WINNER
Abbey Hill Academy and Sixth Form College
SHORTLIST
Capability Scotland
Henshaws College SLT Department
Linwood School
Access Award
An award for an individual or team, whose innovative work has broken down barriers to access assessment or the use of AAC or Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT). This award is in memory of Samantha Hunnisett, who was passionate about ensuring an equity of opportunity in accessing EAT.
WINNER
Echo by Ace Centre Research & Innovation Team
SHORTLIST
Kellie Arguelles
Mike Hazlewood
Arts Award
An award presented to a person, project or organisation who uses AAC (or supports people who do) and who have made a significant contribution to the arts. This award is dedicated to the memory of Alan Martin, who championed the arts and creative inclusion through his work as a dancer, musician and comedian.
WINNER
Sam Judd
SHORTLIST
Cathy Soreny and the Stories Beyond Words Collective
Dave the Shouting Mute
Gavin Clifton
Innovation Award
An award given to a particular product, resource or supplier that has demonstrated “outside the box” thinking. This award is dedicated to the memory of Harchie Sagoo, an exceptional young man with a big smile and passion for innovation and pushing boundaries.
WINNER
Linas Jonika
SHORTLIST
David Niemeijer
Robert Causemann
Make a Difference Award
Awarded to someone who has made a difference – a parent, carer, teacher, teaching/learning assistant or therapist who has supported an AAC user; a Trustee who has made a difference at CM… the possibilities are endless. This award is dedicated to the memory Anthony Hewson, a supporter who made a difference in so many ways and showed exceptional awareness of the needs of disabled people.
WINNER
Janice Murray
SHORTLIST
Abdi Omar
Jonathan Bryan
Laura Brown
Research Award
An award given to a researcher, a published paper or project which has furthered the evidence base around AAC.
WINNER
Assistive Technology Team, University of Dundee
SHORTLIST
Bronwyn Hemsley
Katherine Broomfield
Rising Star Award
A newcomer (AAC user, student, professional, academic, personal assistant, family member) to the world of AAC who has made an impact over the past two years.
WINNER
Fraser Somerville
SHORTLIST
Laura Brown
Melanie Boyle
Owen McGirr
Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded by the Communication Matters Board of Trustees to an inspiring individual, whose work has had an impact across the entire field of AAC. This award is dedicated to the memory of Jamie Munro, who inspired all he worked with during his career as an AAC supplier and developer.
Alli Gaskin
Alli Gaskin was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of her extraordinary contributions to the AAC community. The award was accepted on her behalf by her children, Emily and Jack.
Our AAC Awards 2025 Partners
