From PECS to robust AAC
Megan’s AAC Journey: a Teacher’s Perspective, CMJ Vol 37 No 1 April 2023
Megan is a social butterfly and her personality has been visible throughout her communication development. Her first experience of picture based communication, led to a ‘chatty’ trail of images wherever she went. When her teacher tested out communication boards, it was soon clear that these were too cumbersome for Megan and she needed a more robust communication system.
Moving to a tablet-based Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device, Megan was quick to find and use language that was important to her – often around play and friendship. Megan was reluctant to let adults touch her device (for modelling), so school staff used whiteboard solutions to offer guidance. Peer modelling was really powerful for Megan, especially during social chit chat, rather when the focus was on learning!
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For more dramatic and uplifting moments from Megan’s AAC journey, see the full article in the April 2023 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
AAC for adults after a stroke
Metamorphosis, CMJ Vol 37 No 1 April 2023
“A stroke can take away the power of speech. My stroke left me with very poor speech. On good days, I can just about make myself understood, but on bad days, I have no speech at all. I have worked with AAC throughout my working life. I have taught AAC, designed and developed AAC, marketed AAC, and lectured on AAC all over the world. After the stroke, I became a consumer of AAC. I am probably the only person in the world to have occupied each of those roles. The irony of becoming a user of AAC is not lost on me.”
Tony had a stroke in his sixties that left him with a left hemiplegia, paralysed completely down his left side and weak core muscle strength. His speech is limited and sometimes he has to use a sign system to communicate. His article is a powerful reminder that adults with limited communication require time to answer questions, age-appropriate language and a respectful understanding of an individual’s need to control their environment.
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To read Tony’s article in full, see the April 2023 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
AAC for children with Angelman Syndrome
Angelman Syndrome and Lots to Say, CMJ Vol 37 No 1 April 2023
Leia was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome at 2 years 7 months after concerns were raised about her inability to speak or babble. Interventions began almost immediately with specialist support and home visits. Leia’s first communications were a mix of sign language, head nods and symbol boards, and it was clear to Tracey (Leia’s mum) that she had a good understanding of language.
Learning to communicate would be a trial and error experience, with some devices failing to capture Leia’s attention. A key milestone was the Angelman conference which introduced a communication and modelling system that Tracey could work on with Leia, rather than expect Leia to teach herself. Another milestone came from Tracey’s PGCE in Complex Communication Needs, where she realised that even when Leia initiates communication without using an AAC device, her initiation was no less valid.
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Read more about Tracey’s reflection on her own role in communicating and modelling along with a few of Leia’s personal preferences for witty greetings in the April 2023 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
Music Making with AAC
Using AAC for Active Participation in Music Making, CMJ Vol 37 No 3 November 2023
Sarah Dunn is a qualified secondary music teacher who has supported her 8 year old son (who is non verbal and non-ambulatory) in being an active participant in meaningful music making using his AAC eye gaze devices and switches.
The range of options has enabled her son to perform in school concerts by developing speech and ‘singing’ options through his AAC device. For a more independent style of music making, Sarah has been impressed with recordable switches and eye gaze software that enables her son to play with others as well as accessing his choice of instruments, pace and volume. For more sophisticated musicians, software offers access to pre-programmed scales, chord palettes and backing tracks. She and her son are frequently editing his communication grid to encompass concepts of pace and volume as well as type of instruments.
Sarah established the charity Accessible Inclusive Music (AIM) (registered charity 1203866) to provide musical opportunities to children and young people.
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Sarah’s article on making music can be found in the November 2023 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
Coding her way to Dundee University
An AAC User’s Experience Transitioning Into University Life, CMJ Vol 38 No 3 April 2024
Minecraft is more than a game – it can be a pathway to university. Becky Tyler’s interest in Minecraft led to working with a gamers charity to develop and test an eye gaze interface for the game – and then presenting the release at a video game design conference held at the V & A Museum.
This in turn, led to a collaboration with V&A Dundee and Dundee University and the opportunity to study Applied Computing. As a student with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dyslexia, it was helpful to Becky that the University is very accessible and staff have an unparalleled knowledge of AAC and its challenges.
Despite these advantages, there have been many challenges too, from IT and admin to the difficulty of teamwork and collaboration with other students. With persistence, creativity and practical help from an assistive technology expert, Becky continues to problem solve her way through her degree course, “Don’t be put off or discouraged when you start your course, as inevitably things will go wrong, and it will take time to get things right.”
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For more insights into the solutions Becky has found to coding and studying with AAC tools, read her full article in the April 2024 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
AAC for second languages
Worlds Apart – A Cerebral Palsy Perspective on Learning and Studying in a Second Language, CMJ Vol 39 No1 April 2025
Huiwen Qi describes herself as “just a girl from China”, but don’t be fooled. Huiwen is no ordinary girl. In September 2023, Huiwen came to the UK as a mature student with cerebral palsy to study a master’s degree in psychology. She plans to work as a psycho-counsellor with people with disabilities.
Heather Graz interviewed Huiwen to learn more about her experience of growing up in China with cerebral palsy and then learning English as a second language whilst studying. A combination of talking with her scribe (a note-taking assistant), recording lectures and translation apps all played a part in her extraordinary language learning journey.
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We could all be more like Huiwen who says, “Don’t take any limitation of your ability.” Read more about Huiwen’s extraordinary experience in the April 2025 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
The AAC challenge for parents
Empowered by the Ripple Effect, CMJ Vol 38 No3 November 2024
Before discovering robust AAC, Becci was struggling to connect with her son, Albert. His pre-school use of signing systems wasn’t working for her son, Albert and she had to begin a challenging journey of trying to find AAC solutions backed up with relevant, useful support.
A Communication Club broke her feeling of isolation and triggered a phase of learning that was as uplifting for Becci as it was effective for Albert, who is now enjoying a whole new level of communication and connection with his siblings.
Becci herself has gone on to advocate for improved learning and engagement strategies for Albert’s class at school. The ripple effect has empowered other parents to seek AAC solutions for their children, as well as seeing Becci, a teacher in a mainstream school, support her SENCO with AAC-related classroom improvements.
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Read more about Becci and Albert’s journey to create meaningful connection in the November 2024 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
Upgrade AAC for self-advocacy
Me and My Eye Gaze Journey, CMJ Vol 38 No3 November 2024
There’s nothing quite like the Communication Matters International Annual Conference for demonstrating the importance of AAC users getting together and sharing their experiences of AAC technology. Maddy Norman could see first-hand how her large onscreen keyboard was holding her back from internet access and all the independence that accessibility apps could provide.
Maddy had to unpick the funding constraints of ‘face-to-face’ criteria and demonstrate to the regional AAC Service Team how her personality and good humour would shine even brighter with a technology upgrade. “My advice to others would be to keep badgering your local NHS trust and don’t take no for an answer if they do – just keep fighting”.
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Read more about Maddy’s upgrade – and her part in our AAC User Focus Group in the November 2024 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
The only AAC user in an adult care setting
Learning Language and Vocabulary as an Adult using AAC, CMJ Vol 39 No 1 April 2025
After 25 years of using AAC, Scott wanted to develop his language skills to improve his communication. Using better sentences, new words and a quicker pace of communication would all be a challenge – and he suspected that some of the biggest challenges would be for his carers and speech therapist!
Scott will be the first to admit that he’s found the time and effort it takes to practice and learn new words to be frustrating. As an adult, Scott is the only person in his setting to use AAC, and with frequent staff changes, carers don’t always know to give Scott time to respond in full.
Scott continues to work on his vocabulary with his speech therapist, Judy King, and Scott has presented tips and “golden rules” of AAC language learning as an adult to the Communication Matters Annual Conference.
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Read more about Scott’s Golden Rules of AAC Language Learning in the April 2025 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
AAC and a learning journey towards independence
A Remarkable Invention, CMJ Vol 39 No1 April 2025
Aimee’s education alongside her natural interest in gaming and creative play have been given a huge boost thanks to her communication device being integrated with access to computer systems. This has seen her friendships flourish alongside her learning.
With the benefit of hindsight, Aimee describes the ways she might have engaged more deeply in school with less personal assistance and more technology. At the same time, her University experience has shown her how strategies for prioritising key lessons and work have enabled her to keep pace with others on her course without feeling the need to do everything, all at once, everywhere!
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Read more about Aimee’s experience of using eye gaze technology for learning, gaming and friendship in the April 2025 issue of Communication Matters Journal.
Personalising AAC for genuine communication
Jamie: Who Chooses My Words? CMJ Vol 37, No 3 November 2023
“When I was younger, people told me I wouldn’t be able to use AAC because I couldn’t read and write. I believed them… so for 36 years, I relied on people interpreting my speech and gestures. All my life people had been changing my words.”
Jamie’s first use of assistive technology brought an explosion of words to Jamie’s world, but the way the words were organised in the AAC app wasn’t intuitive or natural to him. Despite discouragement from ‘experts’, Jamie worked at organising his vocabulary his way. “Looking back now, I feel if I hadn’t done it my way I might have given up and not become an AAC user.”
Jamie has developed a wide range of strategies to create, store, produce and personalise his words. It’s changed the way he thinks, reads and writes about politics, social justice as well as talk with his partner and perform stand-up comedy.
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Read more about Jamie’s experience of building his vocabulary in the Golden Rules of AAC Language Learning in the November 2023 issue of Communication Matters Journal.