2025 Study Days
Inspiring New Ways of Thinking About Access to Technology for People with Intellectual Disability – 21 November 2025
Friday, 21st November 9:30-16:00
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.
- Professor Annalu Waller and Dr Tom Griffiths – University of Dundee
- Dr Ben Simmons – University of Bath
- Zoë Clarke and Sally Darley – Barnsley Assistive Technology Team
- Ruth Williams – Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Adult with Learning Disabilities Team
- Dr Katherine Broomfield – Cardiff Metropolitan University & North Bristol NHS Trust & Communication Matters
- Professor Jill Bradshaw – University of Birmingham
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.
- Review the history of access to independent control and communication through electronic assistive technologies (EAT) for people with intellectual disabilities to provide the background and context for the day
- Learn from the lived experience around independent/inter-dependent control and communication for people with intellectual disabilities about the challenges and benefits to accessing EAT
- Raise awareness of aspects of agency, autonomy, and communication that can inform EAT development and practice
- Share ideas about how the rapid advancement in technology can offer opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities
- Emphasise the importance of people being able to explore technology in order for EAT to evolve to meet their use and/or needs
- Identify novel EAT goals for people with intellectual disability and consider the role of technology in achieving these
- Influence a shift in practice with this cohort of people – moving beyond traditional EAT concepts
9.30 |
Registration | |
10.00 – 10.10 |
Introduction to day | Zoë Clarke |
10.10 – 10.50 |
Then and now – the technology journey for people with intellectual disabilities | Annalu Waller |
10.50 – 11.30 |
Personhood and agency– rethinking the role of assistive technology from a person-centred perspective | Ben Simmons |
11.30 – 11.50 |
Break | |
11.50 – 12.10 |
Technology developments – novel and emerging technologies and the potentials for people with intellectual disabilities | Tom Griffiths,
Katherine Broomfield and Zoë Clarke |
12.10 – 12.45 |
Personal experiences and perspectives of ID and technology | Ruth Williams
and collaborators |
12.45 – 13.45 |
Lunch | |
13.45 – 14.15 |
Interaction and interdependence: shifting away from function and independence based goals | Jill Bradshaw |
14.15 – 14.55 |
Workshop 1 : New roles for technology and areas for developments |
Katherine Broomfield and Ruth Williams |
14.55 – 15.00 |
Break | |
15.00 – 15.45 |
Workshop 2: How do we influence local decision making in this area? | Sally Darley
and Zoë Clarke |
15.45 – 16.00 |
Next steps & Close |
Zoë Clarke and Katherine Broomfield |
2022 Study Day
Becoming an Aided Communicator (BAC) Study Day – 21 June 2022
The proceedings of the Becoming an Aided Communicator (BAC) Study Day, which took place on 21st June 2022, are now available to purchase in a digital booklet. The booklet is available to anyone with an interest in language development and AAC. The Study Day focused on the language and communication opportunities of children and young people who are learning language using aided communication.
This large summary document (PDF format) includes abstracts, discussion commentary, bibliography, biographies, and a list of existing publications (total 94 pages). It costs £15.00, with all proceeds going to Communication Matters charity. Our sincere thanks to the BAC team for their contribution. You can buy the booklet online below and a link will be emailed to you.