Celebrating the role of unaided and light tech AAC

The unsung hero of your communication toolkit

AGOSCI has proudly partnered with

KWS Australia and Scope Australia

to present this webinar

Background

Unaided and light-tech communication tools may easily be forgotten or overlooked in our communication toolkits. As technology advances, new high-tech devices can be considered the 'solution' to all communication challenges. 

However, forgetting our unaided and light-tech communication options is a trap we can't afford to fall into!

This webinar is a timely reminder that effective communicative participation requires holistic multi-modal communication, which must include unaided and light-tech options! These options are communication heroes in their own right, not an after-thought.

Join AGOSCI, Key Word Sign Australia, and Scope Australia for a 90 minute webinar to re-discover and celebrate the breadth, variety, and power of unaided and light-tech communication options for communication participation.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Revisit and reconnect with the difference between unaided and aided communication supports, and how they can be applied
• Identify how different communication aids can be used as part of a holistic multi-modal communication system
• Understand how people with a variety of communication skills and styles can benefit from a range of communication supports

Audience

Professionals and family members who:

• are creating a communication positive environment
• might be new to, or need a refresher, on unaided and light-tech communication tools
• have had experience with some communication aids, but are wanting to move beyond a 'first-then' board or a single app, to explore other options
• are unsure of the difference between aided and unaided communication supports, and how they can be used together

Webinar Details

This is a recording of a 90 minute webinar, presented LIVE in April 2022. 

About the Presenters

Liz Weston - NECAS, Scope Australia

Liz is a speech pathologist who has spent most of her career working with people who experience communication support needs. Liz currently works for the Non-Electronic Communication Aid service in Victoria. Liz’s current areas of focus are working with electronic and non-electronic communication aids, training and capacity building for use of targeted and comprehensive communication aids and        positive behaviour support.

Cathy Olsson - Key Word Sign Australia

Across her career Cathy has worked in professional leadership roles in organisations providing services for people with disabilities and their families, including more than 27 years as the Professional Lead Speech Pathology with Novita Children’s services and three years working in the inaugural professional leader role in the South Australian government adult disability services. Cathy also worked as the Senior Advisor Disability with Speech Pathology Australia, supporting the Association and members to navigate and provide high quality speech pathology services in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Throughout her career Cathy has had a clinical focus on provision of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), including Key Word Sign. She is a trained Key Word Sign train the trainer and presenter and has also held roles within AGOSCI and in the Australian Chapter of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. She feels privileged to have shared the journey of growth and development in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication practice in Australia over the past 30 plus years with many amazing people, and to have been able to combine her interest in social justice and activism with her work promoting communicative participation and access for people with complex communication needs.

Cathy is currently balancing working two days a week in a project role for Key Word Sign Australia attempting to fill the shoes of Libby Brownlie while Libby is on leave and being doting grandmother and to her two under three years of age grandchildren, including two exhausting but wonderful days per week of childminding.

Disclosure and Sponsorship

AGOSCI has proudly partnered with Key Word Sign Australia and Scope Australia to present this information to our Australian Audience. AGOSCI would like to thank both these organisations for their sponsorship and assistance to coordinator this live online event. 

AGOSCI is an independent body and does not endorse individual products or brands.

AGOSCI acknowledges the presence and contributions of all suppliers and resources available in the Australian AAC marketplace.