Friday Announcements – 10 October 2025

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1. Therapy Box AAC Awareness Month Sale Now Live!
2. UK LAMP Workshops in November – Now with Extra Webinar Included!
3. Celebrating AAC Awareness Month – 50% Off Avaz AAC
4. ‘Ask Me Anything About AAC’ New Facebook Group
5. Free Webinar: Supporting Students with Fine Motor and Mobility Challenges and the Micro:bit
6. Text to Speech Software Free Giveaway
7. 1Voice Yorkshire and Northeast Meet Up – Artists & AAC

News from Communication Matters
8. CM AAC User Focus Group
9. CM Peer Support & Mentoring Project – Development Opportunities
10. ‘Inspiring New Ways of Thinking About Access to Technology for People with Intellectual Disability’ Study Day – Register Now!
11. About Friday Announcements

 

1. Therapy Box AAC Awareness Month Sale Now Live!

From Annie Galvin, Therapy Box Ltd:

Our AAC Awareness Month Sale is happening now!

From October 8th-15th, get 50% off Predictable and Scene & Heard Pro Lifetime on both the App Store and Play Store.

Take advantage of this offer while it lasts!

 

2. UK LAMP Workshops in November – Now with Extra Webinar Included!

From Emily Gabrielle, Liberator Ltd:

We’re thrilled to partner with the Center for AAC and Autism to bring LAMP workshops to the UK this November!

These one-day sessions are ideal for anyone supporting non-speaking or minimally speaking individuals. Whether you’re new to LAMP or looking to build on your knowledge, you’ll gain practical strategies and evidence-based insights into the power of motor planning in AAC.

Workshop Dates:

  • Edinburgh – 7th November
  • Leeds – 10th November (Last few tickets!)
  • Birmingham – 13th November

All attendees will also receive free access to a follow-up webinar:
“Moving Forward with LAMP on iOS” – hosted by the Center for AAC and Autism in December.

All venues have good public transport and road links.

Book now via Eventbrite – spaces are limited!

 

3. Celebrating AAC Awareness Month – 50% Off Avaz AAC

From Rishi Keshav Kumar, Avaz App:

We’re excited to share that our big October Sale runs from 8-15th October – a full week of special pricing just for you!

Don’t miss out. Full details are here: Read the Sale Blog.

Want to see how Avaz can support your team better? We’ve included a short pre-recorded demo to help you evaluate with ease.

 

4. ‘Ask Me Anything About AAC’ New Facebook Group

From Maddy Norman:

Hello, my name is Maddy Norman, I am an AAC user for 39 years over many different types of systems.

I have set up a user-led advice page called ‘Ask me anything about AAC’ where people can ask questions and post tips and advice on AAC issues.

My aim is to have a team of knowledgeable experienced users to get tips from. I am also looking for professionals to come on board. It’s OK to be an adviser but not a friend.

It’s on Facebook, it is separate to my personal page, you can join here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1999527404198246/.

 

5. Free Webinar: Supporting Students with Fine Motor and Mobility Challenges and the Micro:bit

From Dr Emma Posey, Micro:bit Educational Foundation:

Please join Micro:bit Educational Foundation for a FREE accessibility webinar this Autumn and do share this opportunity with others…

Webinar: Supporting students with fine motor and mobility challenges and the micro:bit
Register for free
11 Nov 2025 16:00 GMT
Duration: 40 mins
Kirsty McNaught, accessibility consultant and author of this guide will present some common challenges these students may face working with the micro:bit, suggest adaptations and give practical advice.

Why not join our research community?
We often reach out to our community and ask them be part of our research activities. We would love you to be part of it too and be the first to know about any opportunities. To join, use the link to complete the form – it takes about 2 minutes – Join our research community.

Very best wishes and hope to see you at the webinar.

 

6. Text to Speech Software Free Giveaway

From Robert Loten, Panopreter Software:

Panopreter is an intuitive and versatile text-to-speech software that converts digital text content on your computer into natural-sounding spoken speech, or you can save the generated audio in popular formats like mp3, mp4, ogg, etc. It is easy to use and makes the digital world more inclusive and accessible to both novice users and those with more advanced technical skills.

Besides the Windows PC desktop application, text-to-speech plug-ins are also available for Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer web browsers, and Microsoft Word. Users can listen when they surf the web and avoid eyestrain. More information is available on our website: https://www.panopreter.com.

We are now offering a few free software activation keys to visitors who are interested in this assistive PC software. Email us for free activation keys at: [email protected].

 

7. 1Voice Yorkshire and Northeast Meet Up – Artists & AAC

From Dominic Carroll, 1Voice:

Join the Yorkshire and North East branch for their next meet-up.

Free social meet up at a fully accessible art gallery.

Location: The Hepworth Art Gallery, Wakefield, WF1 5AW
Date: Saturday 18 October
Time: 2 to 4 pm
Cost: FREE. Optional entry to the gallery is £11.

Click the link to book www.ticketsource.co.uk/1voice or email [email protected].

 

8. CM AAC User Focus Group

We are holding our next AAC User Focus Group at 4pm on Thursday 16th October.

CM values the views of AAC users and would like to hear what you think. This meeting will mostly give a chance for feedback to conference.

  • What did you think of the conference and of the study day?
  • Did you have a favourite session?
  • What did you think about the new layout of rooms?
  • What did you think of the food at conference?
  • How can we encourage more AAC users to come to conference?

If you would like to be included in the AAC User Focus Group and would like a link, please contact: [email protected].

 

9. CM Peer Support & Mentoring Project – Development Opportunities

Are you interested in being involved and helping to develop this project? We are looking for 2 – 3 AAC users who have a range of skills and interests to help develop our resources and engage in project development and delivery.

We have a limited number of hours available, and activities may include helping to make our resources accessible, developing topics for workshops and/or possibly co-presenting.

If you are an AAC user and feel you have particular skills, please let us know more along with your area of interest. Send a CV and a one-page A4 document or email (no more than 600 words) to [email protected].

You can find out more about the project here.

Communication Matters will review all applications. For those AAC users that are not successful, it is likely that we will keep your details for future reference. Please note that payment is provided on a self-employed basis.

For more information, please email: Verity Elliott – [email protected].

 

10. ‘Inspiring New Ways of Thinking About Access to Technology for People with Intellectual Disability’ Study Day – Register Now!

21st November 2025, 9.30-4pm, Irwin Mitchell Offices, Temple, London, EC4Y 0AY

Communication Matters are delighted to partner with a range of leading academic and clinical experts in intellectual disability to host this exciting event.

Following on from our previous Study Day in November 2019 (‘Where Next for People with Cognitive Disabilities & Electronic Assistive Technology?), we will offer delegates a range of plenaries and workshops to explore the state of play around existing technology for people with intellectual disability as well as the opportunity to (re)consider how to activate current and future technologies in creative and innovative ways. This is a standalone event and, although drawing on learning from the 2019 event, there is no need for delegates to have attended the previous Study Day to benefit from this one.

Attendance: £100 for non-members, £90 for members and £75 for AAC users/PAs/family members. Lunch and refreshments included.

Learning objectives, full programme and booking details can be found here. Register your place now!

 

11. 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).