This page provides easy access to Communication Matters guidance, research and publications. Selected external publications and online resources are also available here.
Communication Matters Position papers
To find out more about Communication Matters #AccessforAll campaign and toolkit on the AAC for All page. The following position statements are resources for raising awareness of AAC in the call for AAC-specified funding and AAC-provision policy across the UK.
AAC and Use of Phones and Mobile Devices in School
Author: Beth Moulam. Approved by the Board of Trustees on behalf of Communication Matters, March 2026
Communication Matters welcomes the Government guidance (DfE, 2026) on the use of mobile phones during the school day, announced in January 2026. We also welcome the statement within the guidance that students with a disability must not be disadvantaged by this policy. Reasonable adjustments must be made under the Equality Act (Gov.UK 2010) for specific pupils when required, including for children and young people who use technology as their voice.
AAC and screentime, 0-5 years
Author: Beth Moulam. Approved by the Board of Trustees on behalf of Communication Matters, March 2026
Communication Matters welcomes the Government review of screen time by the Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group, announced in January 2026. We are in agreement with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists that excessive screen time; watching videos, playing games and scrolling, are harmful to children’s cognitive and language overall development. However, Communication Matters also support the various findings that there are positive benefits in homes with language rich environments that include learning through interactive co-viewing; parents sharing screen time, working together and supporting early language development (RCSLT, 2025; Kirkorian et al, 2025; Brushe et al, 2024).
Improving access to speech and language therapy
Approved by the board of trustees and sent on behalf of Communication Matters as a joint signatory on letter to PM, March 2026
The RCSLT, alongside partners from the Invest in SLT campaign, delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street on Sunday, 22 March, calling for urgent cross-government action to improve access to speech and language therapy. Coordinated by the RCSLT and Mikey’s Wish Foundation) (founded by activist and campaigner, Mikey Akers) over 50 organisations, including Communication Matters, signed the letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to publish the speech and language therapy action plan that members of the campaign had been promised in a meeting with Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, on 24 March 2025.
The Power of Communication
The Power of Communication DVD was produced by Communication Matters to provide an introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). This short film (runtime 9 minutes) delivers a powerful message that communication really does matter. The film, now available on YouTube, promotes communication in all its forms – central to the values of Communication Matters. It was produced by Di Palmer and filmed by Ben Bishop.
The film is of general interest, but we hope it will be particularly useful to service managers and purchasers who have responsibility for AAC services but minimal experience of working with AAC users. It aims to provide a starting point for more informed decision-making on AAC service delivery and planning.
ROAR4CM
This is an updated version of our #Roar4CM video after the Communication Matters International AAC Conference in September 2022.
Other Ways of Speaking
‘Other Ways of Speaking; (PDF) has been produced in partnership by Communication Matters, The Communication Trust, 1Voice, ACE Centre, The Makaton Charity, Scope and Signalong.
This short booklet provides information about children and young people who use a variety of different ways to communicate, how you can help support them and where to go for further information. You should read this booklet if you live or work with children and young people who have little or no speech.
Please contact us if you would like to receive a hard copy (or copies) by post.
AAC and AT Resources
Ace Centre provides a wide range of resources, publications and downloads to support use and implementation of AAC and AT. In addition to the workbook resources, Ace Centre has published guidance on how to use these resources with AAC users of all ages.
AAC Exams Access
Reports from the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Exams Access Working Group on ‘Exams Access Guidance for Young People Who Rely Upon AAC’:
Speaking Up, Speaking Out
Communication Matters Flyers
Communication Matters Research
Communication Matters Conference Abstracts
Book of Abstracts | Conference web page | CM 2025 Conference Book of Abstracts | Conference 2025 |
|---|---|
CM 2024 Conference Book of Abstracts | Conference 2024 |
CM 2023 Conference Book of Abstracts | Conference 2023 |
CM 2022 Conference Book of Abstracts | Conference 2022 |
CM 2021 Conference Book of Abstracts | Conference 2021 |
CM 2020 YouTube Playlist for Members only – please see Members Area for link. | |
CM 2019 Conference Book of Abstracts | Conference 2019 |
CM 2018 Conference Book of Abstracts | |
CM 2017 Conference Book of Abstracts | |
CM 2016 Conference Book of Abstracts |
