Friday Announcements – 16 May 2025
1. Versa Sale Coming Soon!
2. Grid Pad 15 and Eye Gaze Bundle Offer
3. SensePilot’s Head Mouse Software is Now Live!
4. ElevenLabs Voices Now Free in Predictable for MND, MSA and Mouth Cancer Users
5. TechAbility25 – Call for Presentations
6. Communication Access – Welsh Speakers Needed
7. What’s New in the World of Assistive Tech? The QVoice Blog
News from Communication Matters
8. AAC Users Focus Group Meeting
9. AAC Slogans Needed!
10. AAC Awards 2025 – Nominations Open & Ticket Sales
11. Belfast AAC Information Day – Book Now
12. CM2025 International AAC Conference – Register Now
13. About Friday Announcements
1. Versa Sale Coming Soon!
From Emily Gabrielle, Liberator Ltd:
We are excited to announce that both VersaWrap™ and VersaSpeaker™ will be on sale at a reduced price for a limited time.
Get the VersaWrap™ for just £39.95 and the Bluetooth® VersaSpeaker™ for £125.00 – available exclusively on our online store from May 19th-30th 2025.
The perfect pairing for your iPad if you have just taken advantage of an AAC iOS app sale!
2. Grid Pad 15 and Eye Gaze Bundle Offer
From Steph Ghatta, Smartbox Assistive Technology Ltd:
Smartbox are running a promotion of their 15″ dedicated communication device, powered by AAC software Grid, and eye gaze camera for a bundle price of £4500. This offer is running until 31st May 2025.
Contact us today: [email protected]
3. SensePilot’s Head Mouse Software is Now Live!
From Mike Hazlewood, SensePilot:
SensePilot is an Assistive Technology startup, and we’re pleased to say that our innovative head mouse software is now available for Windows devices with a 30-day free trial!
Accurately control a PC and play games hands-free using head movements and facial gestures, all using only a webcam. The app can also be used in conjunction with switches and gaming joysticks.
To find out more, visit our website at https://sensepilot.tech/ or email us at [email protected].
4. ElevenLabs Voices Now Free in Predictable for MND, MSA and Mouth Cancer Users
From Annie Galvin, Therapy Box Ltd:
Did you miss it? Therapy Box has partnered with ElevenLabs to offer free AI voice clones for people with MND, MSA, and Mouth Cancer. Using a short voice sample, or even old recordings, you can create a natural, personalised voice that sounds like you.
Even better, your custom voice can be used seamlessly within the Predictable app, with setup taking less than a minute!
Find out more on our website: https://www.therapybox.co.uk/elevenlabs
5. TechAbility25 – Call for Presentations
From Fil McIntyre, Natspec Ltd:
Doing exciting and interesting things with Assistive Technology? Want to present your practice or research at TechAbility25, a leading AT conference in the UK?
Fill in the Expression of Interest to Present form. The deadline is Monday 19th May.
If you want to discuss a presentation idea before submitting, get in touch with [email protected]. TechAbility25 will be held on 19th November in Nottingham.
6. Communication Access – Welsh Speakers Needed
From Caroline Walters, RCSLT:
Could you help us support inclusive communication for all in Wales?
We know that thousands of people across Wales experience communication difficulties every day. In partnership with a range of charities including Communication Matters, we have created the Communication Access symbol and training to support inclusive communication for all. We want to ensure that we hear from Welsh speakers with communication difficulties and are excited to be creating a Welsh language version of Communication Access this year.
Are you a Welsh speaker? Have you had lifelong communication difficulties or experienced any communication difficulties resulting from conditions such as a stroke, head and neck cancer or dementia? We would love to hear from you by Thursday 5th June 2025.
We are looking for several individuals over the age of 18 who would be willing to be filmed over the summer, sharing their experiences. Your involvement will be vital to ensuring that support improves for people with communication difficulties across Wales.
Please click here to see examples from the English version of the Communication Access training and more background on the initiative. For an informal chat or to show your interest in the opportunity, please contact Caroline Walters (Welsh-speaker) by e-mailing [email protected] or phoning 029 2002 5585.
7. What’s New in the World of Assistive Tech? The QVoice Blog
From Mike Marcucio, QVoice:
Staying up-to-date with the fast-moving world of AAC can be a challenge! From exciting new technology to helpful research and community happenings, a lot has been going on.
The field of AAC has seen some notable developments recently. Artificial Intelligence continues to drive innovation, with advancements in smarter predictive text and remarkably realistic, customisable “neural voices,” some even controllable via eye-tracking technology. These tools offer the potential for AAC users to communicate more efficiently and with greater vocal personalisation. Concurrently, research is shedding light on promising new applications for AAC, such as its role in language recovery for individuals with aphasia. There’s also a push towards more holistic assessment methods that better consider an individual’s environment and communication goals, alongside studies highlighting effective, naturalistic approaches for teaching functional communication skills like commenting.
To explore these updates and more in further detail, check out our blog: https://blog.qvoice.app/#
8. AAC Users Focus Group Meeting
The next AAC User Focus Group Meeting is on Monday 19th May at 5pm.
Please email for the zoom link and agenda:
[email protected] or
[email protected]
9. AAC Slogans Needed!
We are designing a secret giveaway for the Communication Matters AAC Conference and need your help!
This year’s theme is “Identity” and we are looking for short slogans (3-5 words) linked to AAC that promote identity, empowerment and awareness. Please feel free to submit as many as you like! The results will be shared at conference and after through our social media channels. You can submit here: https://forms.office.com/e/XzSKXgaxCq
Last chance to submit your ideas is 23rd May.
10. AAC Awards 2025 – Nominations Open & Ticket Sales
Nominations for the AAC Awards 2025 are now open! Follow the link below to fill in a form to nominate an AAC user, a family member or carer, professional or team, project or product that has supported you or helped to achieve the unachievable! Self-nominations are permitted and encouraged but all must be accompanied by a statement of support for the person, organisation, project or product you are nominating which can be given in a written or alternative format. Nominations close on Friday 13th June at midnight.
The AAC Awards are moving to the CM International AAC Conference! Though they are included in the price of the two-day conference registration or can be added on to one day or exhibition only attendee registrations, they are open for all to join. Not coming to conference this year? You will be at conference but you would like family, friends or colleagues to join in the Awards fun? No problem! Tickets for those who want to attend the Awards only are now on sale.
Submit a nomination and buy tickets here:
https://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/conference/awards/
11. Belfast AAC Information Day – Book Now
This AAC Information Day is a product demonstration day supported and presented by our Commercial Members from the UK’s leading suppliers of communication aids, equipment, software and symbol systems.
The day consists of five sessions which provide information and offer up-to-date knowledge on the range of AAC products available in the UK. There will also be an exhibition period where you can try out products.
Date: Thursday 12 June 2025
Venue: Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, Antrim, BT14 6E
Cost: FREE to attend! Lunch & refreshments are provided
To find out which suppliers are attending, please visit our website by clicking on the links below:
Book your place now!
12. CM2025 International AAC Conference – Register Now
Registration is now open, but we wanted to highlight some exciting changes and additions taking place this year.
One notable change is the conference being shortened to two days. We will open the main conference on Monday 8th September at 9AM and close at 4PM Tuesday the 9th. While this means a slightly shorter conference than previous years, we have worked hard to consolidate the programme to offer better value with events on either side. These include:
- Pre-Conference Relaxed Exhibition: on the afternoon of 7th September, we will be providing a time for conference delegates and the community who need a quieter and less busy space to meet with suppliers. This is a free optional event for those who wish to add it to their delegate package. Tickets will also be available to people not attending conference.
- AAC Awards: on the evening of 8th September, we will be hosting our biennial event celebrating all forms of communication, the people who use AAC, the professionals, families and suppliers that support them. Being held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, we are certain the awards, dinner and dancing will prove to be a fun and exciting night for all! This event is included in the full delegate registration price. It can be added to one-day and exhibition-only delegates at an additional price. Tickets will also be available to people not attending conference.
- Post-Conference Research Study Day: this additional day on 10th September is open to conference delegates and others who are interested in research focused strands delivered by an international cohort of researchers and academics. This event can be added to all delegate packages at an additional price. Tickets will also be available to people not attending conference.
Changes to accommodation
In another effort to offer choice and value, there are now options available for conference delegates to choose accommodation. When going through the registration process you can add on-campus accommodation at Storm Jameson, which will be added to the full conference delegate rate. You can also choose to opt-out and stay elsewhere. We have teamed up with Conference Leeds to offer delegates preferential rates at hotels within Leeds for your convenience.
Registration is now open!
Book early to take advantage of the Early Bird discount which expires on 11th July.
See prices and book online here.
13. 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).
