Friday Announcements – 23 May 2025
1. Predictable Supports 43 Languages!
2. Psychological Support While Living with MND – Your Perspective
3. SEND Next Choices – Leeds
News from Communication Matters
4. AAC Awards 2025 – 3 Weeks Left to Nominate!
5. Belfast AAC Information Day – Book Now
6. CM2025 International AAC Conference – Register Now
7. CM Office Closed Bank Holiday Monday
8. About Friday Announcements
1. Predictable Supports 43 Languages!
From Annie Galvin, Therapy Box Ltd:
Did you know that Predictable supports 43 different languages? It’s a powerful tool for multilingual users and those supporting individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
Whether you’re supporting someone who speaks Spanish, Arabic, Marathi (or many more), Predictable is ready to help them express themselves in their own language.
Learn more and view the full language list on our website:
https://www.therapybox.co.uk/predictable-english.
2. Psychological Support While Living with MND – Your Perspective
From Zoe Williams, University of Sheffield:
The iDeliver MND research project aims to improve the delivery of psychological care for people living with MND and their informal caregivers. There is currently a lack of information about how psychological care is being delivered in services; there is a lack of evidence to help improve services.
As part of this project, we are asking people living with MND and their informal caregivers about their experiences of psychological care and their emotional and wellbeing needs.
Two ways to participate:
- Fill in an online survey which will ask about what psychological care has been received, what care can be accessed, and any preferences to psychological care.
- Take part in an interview which will ask about your psychological and wellbeing needs, what care can be accessed, and any preferences to psychological care.
Evidence collected from this research aims to develop recommendations about how to improve the delivery of psychological care in MND services.
How to take part: The online survey is available now at: bit.ly/iDeliver-survey. To arrange an interview, or for more information about the project, please contact: [email protected]
3. SEND Next Choices – Leeds
From Leeds City Council:
SEND Next Choices – Getting ready for adult life is returning to Leeds first direct arena on Tuesday 24th June 2025!
The event is an opportunity for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents, carers, support workers and teachers to prepare themselves for adult life. You will be able to find out about jobs, training, apprenticeships, college courses, voluntary work, leisure activities, finances, support and benefits available in Leeds. Over 70 organisations will be there on the day with support and information.
There will also be information sessions about supported internships and financial support. You will be able to meet organisations who can support you as you move into adult life. Everyone is welcome and the event is free to attend.
Book your free ticket for one of three time slots: 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm or 4pm to 6pm.
Free tickets can be booked via this link: http://bit.ly/send25. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
4. AAC Awards 2025 – 3 Weeks Left to Nominate!
Nominations for the AAC Awards 2025 are open until midnight on Friday 13th June. 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.
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 onto 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 by 13th June and buy tickets here:
https://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/conference/awards/
5. 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!
6. 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.
7. CM Office Closed Bank Holiday Monday
The Communication Matters Office will be closed on Monday 26th May for the Bank Holiday. Please email [email protected] with any enquiries and we will get back to you as soon as possible on re-opening. Thank you for your understanding.
8. 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).
