AAC Awards

Over 400 people came together at the prestigious New Dock Hall at The Royal Armouries in Leeds for a truly wonderful evening of celebration and recognition. The event brought together AAC users, their families and friends, teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, clinical scientists, researchers, academics, suppliers of AAC products, and many others passionate about supporting the world of AAC.

Coinciding with the Communication Matters International AAC Conference, the evening was filled with joy, inspiration, and connection — featuring awards, dinner, entertainment, and dancing to the tune of DJ Oli!

It was a night to remember, celebrating the incredible achievements and contributions within the AAC community.

AAC Awards 2025 – Winners and Shortlisted Nominees 

Thank you to those who made a nomination for the Communication Matters AAC Awards 2025. 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 decided by popular vote, for a setting, school, team or organisation, that has promoted AAC in a particularly creative or inclusive way.
  • Winner: Abbey Hill Academy and Sixth Form College
  • Shortlisted nominees:
    • Capability Scotland
    • Henshaws College SLT Department
    • Linwood School

• Access Award in memory of Samantha Hunnisett
  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
  • Shortlisted nominees:
    • Kellie Arguelles
    • Sense Pilot

• Arts Award in memory of Alan Martin
  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
  • Shortlisted nominees:
    • Cathy Soreny and the Stories Beyond Words Collective
    • Dave The Shouting Mute
    • Gavin Clifton

• Innovation Award in memory of Harchie Sagoo
  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: Sense Pilot
  • Shortlisted nominees:
    • Thinking Space by Assistiveware
    • Robert Causemann from Rehadapt

• Make a Difference Award in memory of Anthony Hewson
  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
  • Shortlisted nominees:
    • 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
  • Shortlisted nominees:
    • 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
  • Shortlisted nominees:
    • Laura Brown
    • Melanie Boyle
    • Owen McGirr

• Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Jamie Munro
  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 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.