This content was shared in the Research Matters newsletter on 10 November 2025.
We are thrilled to share highlights from an exciting workshop at the Communication Matters Conference 2025, where our community came together to identify what truly matters in AAC research. This newsletter offers a glimpse into the powerful conversations and priorities that emerged when AAC users, families, and professionals collaborated to shape the future of research.
A full article detailing the workshop methodology, and findings will be published in the Communication Matters Journal and shared with you soon.
The Power of Nothing About Us Without Us
At the heart of our workshop was a fundamental principle: AAC research must be driven by the people it affects most. This guided our Research Matters workshop — ensuring that lived experience, not just academic interest, determines what we study and how we study it.
Research is not just about collecting data — it is about empowerment, access, and equality. When done right, it changes clinical practices, shapes technology development, and creates strategies that genuinely work for AAC users in their daily lives.
Breaking down research myths
One of the most powerful moments came when we asked delegates what they could contribute to research. Those already involved in research projects listed their skills confidently, but others felt uncertain about their value. This opened an important conversation: everyone involved in AAC has something critical to offer.
Research questions come from real challenges people face—in clinics, classrooms, homes, and communities. Whether you are an AAC user navigating daily life, a family member supporting communication, or a professional encountering clinical puzzles, your questions and curiosities are the foundation of meaningful research.
What the community said
Working in small groups, participants identified questions and knowledge gaps that matter most to them. Six major themes emerged, covering everything from education and user experience to health support and specialist environments.
The questions raised were not just academic curiosities — they were calls to action reflecting real needs and experiences. Here is a taste of what people wanted to know:
- How can we properly resource AAC in educational settings?
- Are AAC users satisfied with their systems, or are many bored and frustrated?
- How can AAC users be fairly compensated for their expertise when contributing to projects?
- What mental health support do AAC users need?
- How can newcomers get started in AAC research?
- How do we support AAC in challenging settings like prisons and high-security facilities?
The complete list of research questions and thematic analysis will be available in our forthcoming journal article.
We shared these priorities at the ISAAC International Online Conference and with the recent Research Matters online group to prioritise them and see whether they resonate with the wider AAC community globally. Our goal is to develop a shared set of research priorities that can guide funding, academic projects, and clinical innovation.
The questions raised at this workshop should inform what researchers study, what funders support, and what innovations emerge. When research is grounded in lived experience and responsive to genuine needs, it becomes transformative rather than merely interesting.
Have your say
Scan the QR code or click here to view the survey before Thursday 4 December 2025 to rank the research themes in the order that matters to you.
Why this matters
Traditional research can sometimes feel disconnected from the people it is supposed to help.
By bringing together diverse voices—AAC users, family members, clinicians, researchers, and advocates—we are building a different kind of research culture. One where:
- Research questions come from real-world challenges
- AAC users are researchers, not just research subjects
- Lived experience is valued as expertise
- Accessibility is built in from the start
- Results actually lead to meaningful change
Join the Movement
Whether you’ve been involved in research for years or have never considered it before, your voice matters. The questions you have, the challenges you face, and the ideas you generate are exactly what the AAC research community needs.
Stay tuned for the full article detailing our workshop methodology, and full list of questions.
Get involved in future Research Matters sessions where we’ll continue exploring these themes.
Keep questioning because every question asked by someone who lives with AAC brings us closer to research that truly matters.
Together, we’re not just studying AAC — we’re shaping its future.
Register for our next online Research Matters meeting
Our Research Matters group meets online to learn about research and to connect people who are interested in conducting or participating in research with one another.
Next meeting: Wednesday 28 January, 4pm – 5pm
To register for the online meeting click the link below to receive an invitation to join our next meeting.
