Friday Announcements – 04 October 2024
1. Introducing Grid for Schools
2. Our 50% App Sale is Back!
3. Tobii Dynavox UKIE are Hiring: Training and Events Coordinator – Maternity Cover
4. AAC Technician Vacancy
5. ElevenLabs in Predictable Webinar with Richard Cave *Today 1pm!
6. Shaping the Future of Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s Patients
News from Communication Matters:
7. CM AAC User Focus Group Next Meeting
8. CM Peer Support & Communication Clubs – ‘How to…’ Sessions
9. Communication Matters Survey
10. About Friday Announcements
1. Introducing Grid for Schools
From Hannah Craven, Smartbox Assistive Technology:
We are delighted to announce the arrival of Grid for Schools, a versatile education package that brings together everything you need to use Grid software in your school.
https://thinksmartbox.com/grid-for-schools/
2. Our 50% App Sale is Back!
From Emily Gabrielle, Liberator Ltd:
From 2nd – 15th October 2024 you can get a 50% reduction on LAMP Words for Life, TouchChat and Dialogue AAC apps.
With all our iOS AAC apps now available with Voicekeeper custom voices at no extra charge, there has never been a better time to start using one!
To find out more about the Voicekeeper reach out to your Regional Consultant. You can find details of the terms and conditions of the app sale here.
3. Tobii Dynavox UKIE are Hiring: Training and Events Coordinator – Maternity Cover
From Ishita Umanath, Tobii Dynavox Ltd:
We’re on the lookout for someone brimming with energy to join us on a 12-month contract to run our events and training. This is an exciting, varied role which needs someone from an AAC, SLT or OT background who wants to come in and make a difference. You’ll be organising events, creating resources and running training sessions. No two days will be the same and you’ll never get bored.
4. AAC Technician Vacancy
From Rachel Thwaite, Ace Centre:
Ace Centre is a national charity offering a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT) services for people with physical and communication impairments and those who support them.
A vacancy has arisen in our Oldham office for an AAC Technician to join our friendly team. The successful applicant will be an enthusiastic self-starter who will help support children and adults with communication and physical difficulties by setting-up and maintaining our assessment and client equipment, and by providing technical support by telephone, remotely and face to face.
This is an opportunity to join a small and friendly multi-disciplinary team offering excellent CPD opportunities. The role is a permanent, full-time position.
Closing date for applications: 20th October 2024 Interviews: 29th & 30th October 2024
For further information and to apply, please visit our website:
https://acecentre.org.uk/work-with-us
Ace Centre is an equal opportunities employer; we welcome enquiries from everyone and value diversity in our workforce.
5. ElevenLabs in Predictable Webinar with Richard Cave *Today 1pm!
From Annie Galvin, Therapy Box Ltd:
We are hosting a webinar on Friday 4th October at 1pm (UK Time) alongside Richard Cave to discuss the new implementation of ElevenLabs within Predictable. ElevenLabs is a cutting-edge voice AI platform that uses deep learning to produce highly realistic, human-like speech. The voice quality of ElevenLabs is exceptional. Their AI voices sound incredibly lifelike, offering expressive speech that feels personal and engaging.
If you are interested, please sign up using this link:
https://forms.gle/ziCVeQxbGUM2TTSp9
We will also be hosting a webinar with Bridging Voices for users to cover a similar topic, at a time more suited for people in the US or anyone who is unable to attend the one on Friday 4th. This will be on October 15th at 12pm ET (5pm UK time). If you are interested, please sign up using the link: https://forms.gle/3iAba9CVKBBiJmsE8
6. Shaping the Future of Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s Patients
From Dave Newcombe, Skyline Innovation:
We are conducting a brief survey, in partnership with the University of British Columbia’s Linguistics Department, to gather insights from practitioners, patients with Parkinson’s disease, and their families about advancements in speech therapy solutions. Your feedback will help us develop innovative tools and techniques to improve communication for individuals with speech challenges.
Who Can Participate:
- Speech and Language therapists
- Caregivers of individuals with Parkinson’s disease
- People living with Parkinson’s
We invite you to participate in this short survey to help shape the development of new communication technologies. You can take part by filling out our online form https://forms.gle/MyQ9LLyw7FvMu8MY7 or by contacting us directly at [email protected]
Your input is invaluable, and we appreciate your time. All responses are GDPR-compliant.
7. CM AAC User Focus Group Next Meeting
The next meeting of the CM AAC user group will be on Thursday 17 October at 4pm.
If you would like to join us, and are not on our mailing list, please contact [email protected]
or [email protected] for an invite.
We will be discussing the conference.
8. CM Peer Support & Communication Clubs – ‘How to…’ Sessions
We are hosting a series of free CPD and information sessions via Zoom for you to find out more about i) Entry Level 2 and Entry Level 3 in Personal & Social Development, ii) Level 1 Award in Mentoring, and iii) Essential Digital Foundation Skills. The courses are for AAC users and are funded by the National Lottery.
See dates and time below or on our website. Please let Verity know if you would like to book a place (a Zoom invite will be sent nearer the time).
- How to make the most of EL2 and EL3 unit resources
Monday 21st October 11.00am-12.00pm
This qualification (Entry Level 2 and Entry Level 3 in Personal & Social Development) has a host of different topics and themes and there are lots of creative ways to use the activity sheets and PowerPoint slides. Individual units as well as full qualifications can be achieved, and the resources can be adapted and used 1-1 or in small groups. - How to achieve Level 1 Award in Mentoring
Thursday 24th October 2.00pm-3.00pm
This is an opportunity to find out more about what is included and how to complete this qualification. We have lots of resources, information and support available. - How to use the new Essential Digital Foundation Skills resources
Tuesday 29th October 11.00am-12.00pm
We have some new resources to support a range of modules. The resources are based on the DfE modules and include lots of useful topics. CM will provide a certificate of completion.
If you are unable to attend any of the above dates but would still like to know more, please contact Verity.
We would love to hear about what you are doing in your Communication Clubs and how we can support you.
For more information, please contact: Verity Elliott, Project Facilitator
[email protected] 07891 959048
9. Communication Matters Survey
Every November the Trustees of Communication Matters hold a strategic planning day to discuss the work of the charity and what our upcoming priorities should be. We need the help of everyone to ensure the plans for the next 10 years take account of the diverse and developing opportunities that are happening in the AAC world.
Please don’t think this is not for me. We really do need to hear from AAC users, family members, teaching professionals, allied health professionals, researchers, developers, suppliers, or ‘just our friends’. We are keen to listen to the views, needs, and expectations of the wider AAC community. You do not need to be a current member to take part.
The survey is open now using the link below. It will close on 31st October, and following the Board meeting we will then share the results with members.
We really appreciate your commitment to making Communication Matters the success it is today. The survey will take around 15-20 minutes to complete, apologies to AAC users if it takes you a bit longer. So next time you sit down with a ‘cuppa’ we thank you for sharing.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=waIbBJvJwUuBjJhtE0aGu0JxLb9hW29CgLq5_58tUzpUMlE3RDJCS1g1UU5IUDZPMllKRDNLMTNDQS4u
10. 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).
