Free Member Webinars

 1. What is AAC, and what does it look like? Presented by Janelle Sampson

17 February 2017

The first thing to know about AAC is what it should look like. Without knowing where you are heading, it’s often hard to prioritise the multitude of individualised considerations that you will need to make as you start or continue along the learning curve. It’s important to know what real and functional communication with AAC looks like, and also what it doesn’t look like. 

This first seminar in our series of ‘An Introduction to AAC’ will provide participants with examples and stories highlighting the use of augmentative and/or alternative modes for interaction, conversation, learning and participation. It will introduce participants to the variety of ways messages can be conveyed from different types of technology or non-technology, to various access methods and environments. Without knowing what it looks like, how can we start a journey ourselves, or recommend appropriate support for our clients. To quote Stephen Covey who wrote ‘7 habits of highly effective people’, we must begin with the end in mind.

The seminar will also discuss some simple strategies to get started, and the role of various players in that process, i.e. The person using AAC, family, educators, peers and other service providers. 

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2. Recording of opening ceremony and first keynote speaker from 2017 AGOSCI conference. Towards cohesive language development in AAC. Presented by Cathy Binger

July 2017

This is a live recording of Cathy's keynote address at the 2017 AGOSCI conference.

Viewing tip - easiest to view on a large screen and good speakers.

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3. Being part of the AACtion. Presented by Fiona Given 

July 2017

Fiona Given shares her keynote address from the AGOSCI 2017 conference about experience as an AAC user. She speaks frankly of the barriers experienced by multi-modal communicators in Australian society, as well as insight into what the future holds for AAC communicators.

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4. How I became an AAC communicator. Presented by Nick Bradbury 

September 2017

Nick Bradbury is a man in his 30’s who started his AAC journey as a child. He has established himself as an independent communicator through switch scanning (via his right knee). Nick shares with us his progression with communication devices and talks about his struggles and triumphs. He talks about what it means to achieve communicative competence, and will provide opportunities to answer questions.

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5. Championing communication access for all. Presented by Barbara Solarsh and Georgia Burn

October 2017

Scope Australia have been leading Australia in their projects to promote communication access for people with complex communication needs. Barbara Solarsh (Communication Access Coordinator) and Georgia Burn (Communication Access Consultant) speak to us about the work that Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre and the Victorian Communication Access Network (CAN) has done over the last 8 years, including the Communication Access Symbol accreditation process which has now been awarded to over 200 Victorian businesses. With ambitions to spread these initiatives throughout Australia, Barb and Georgia will be available to discuss the process of awarding the Communication Access Symbol, how people with complex communication needs can get involved, and will discuss what the future holds for communication access in Australia, as well as your questions about communication access.

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6. AAC and the NDIS - surfing the waves of change. Presented by Gail Bennell

16 November 2017

With the NDIS getting into full swing across Australia, we are seeing change not only to the way things in disability are being done but also changes within the way the scheme itself is run. Gail Bennell is a speech pathologist, private practice coach and video podcaster who has worked with participants within the NDIS roll out in 3 states since 2013. She will discuss the NDIS Assistive Technology (including AAC) framework, the challenges of providing services in a rapidly changing environment, and the ways that participants and providers can survive (and thrive) in the waves of change. 

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7. Achieving functional communication through minspeak. Presented by Siobhan Daley

15 March 2018

Siobhan Daley is boccia athlete, an aspiring speech pathology student and an AAC user. She shares with us her journey in learning Minspeak and discussing the successes, challenges and technical aspects on how this method has worked for her and what has helped her in becoming proficient in this language.

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8. Assessment and AAC - where do we start? What am I looking for? Presented by Janelle Sampson

22 May 2018 

Where do we start when it comes to assessing people with Complex Communication Needs for the most appropriate AAC solution? Janelle Sampson has over 25 years experience as a Speech Pathologist and currently runs Two Way Street, a busy private practice in South Australia. She will present on considerations for assessment with regards to client/family centred practice and also within the context of AAC requirements. Participants will learn about the assessment process and outcome measurement approaches, as well as have the opportunity to post questions and discuss assessment challenges with Janelle.

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9. Communication assistants: what strategies do they use in conversation with people who have Down syndrome, Rett syndrome or Cerebral Palsy?Presented by Dr. Jane Remington-Gurney 

4 September 2018

We know that the people supporting individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) play an invaluable role in enabling them to communicate and have their voices heard in community. However, conversation is more than just communicating and often elusive to people with CCN. 

In my PhD study, Conversations Without Speech: A qualitative investigation of the strategies used by adult communication assistants in Queensland, the person without a reported disability was the focal point. In the peer reviewed literature this person is referred to as a communication partner irrespective of their knowledge and skills in AAC; and is noted to be ‘often unrecognised and/or unsupported’ (Kent-Walsh et al., 2015). In my research I sought participation from adults in Queensland who already had some knowledge and skill in AAC and I referred to these people as communication assistants. Participants supported individuals with Down syndrome, Rett syndrome or Cerebral Palsy. This enables a broad spectrum of strategies to be identified across the sensory, motor and cognitive-linguistic domains. Data was collected from a survey, written narrative analysis, and observational analysis of filmed dyadic conversations. 
In the webinar I aim to share with you some of the findings of this research. In particular, the glossary of seventy three conversation strategies and seven styles of conversation that were identified. I hope that the information will be provocative and provide some new tools and considerations for when we participate in or examine closely, conversations without speech. 

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10. What’s in a voice? An overview of message banking and voice banking. Presented by Peta Booth 

11 December 2018
Our voices are intrinsically linked to our identity. Many individuals are born without the ability to harness their voice, whilst others may lose their voice due to numerous reasons, including degenerative conditions (e.g. MND), or as the result of surgery (e.g. Laryngectomy). Message banking is an increasingly known strategy to support people to record ‘legacy messages’ which can be integrated into their speech generating devices. Voice Banking is an ever emerging technology that enables people to create bespoke synthetic voices which closely represent an individual’s vocal characteristics. 

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11. Understanding parent rejection and abandonment of AAC systems. Presented by Alison Moorcroft 

14 March 2019

In this one hour webinar, participants will be provided with an overview of the research evidence for why AAC systems are rejected or abandoned by parents of children with complex communication needs. Participants will also learn evidence-based strategies that, when incorporated into clinical practice, may support parents to accept and use the AAC systems they introduce. 

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12. Using AAC to give evidence in court and tribunal hearings. Presented by Fiona Given

10 April 2019

This webinar will focus on using AAC to give evidence in court and tribunal hearings.

Fiona Given uses AAC and is a general member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. She has heard a number of cases involving people who used AAC and has published in the area. The aim of this webinar is to demonstrate that AAC is a legitimate way to give evidence in courts and tribunals. 

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13. Implementing music therapy and AAC in a lower resourced setting. Presented by Kylie Hinde and Farhin Chowdhury

8 May 2019

Kylie Hinde and Farhin Chowdhury share their unique experience of teacher and parent training at Foundation for Autism Research and Education (FARE) in Bangladesh (February, 2019). This involved providing workshops combining music therapy and aided language input. Both returning to Bangladesh, Kylie and Farhin explore how they adapted their own practices and clinical skills, navigating the Bangladeshi cultural context.

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14. Online therapy: making the most of technology to support AAC users and people with complex communication needs. Presented by Edward Johnson 

5 June 2019 

The webinar will present some of the evidence for individualised and family-centred online therapy, including the perspectives and experiences of some families, AAC users, and people with CCN who have accessed online therapy. Case studies will be used to walk participants through the process of delivering best practice online therapy.

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15. Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Literacy. Presented by Ashley Harling (CPSP)

31 July 2019 

Up to 90% of students with complex communication needs (CCN) enter adulthood without functional literacy skills. This contributes to <5% of those people being employed. Literacy is a  critical skill allowing us to participate and contribute in our literate society. Recently Ashley presented at the DSF conference talking about the unique challenges experienced by people with complex communication needs (CCN). Within the context of considering AAC and literacy, this presentation will discuss the unique barriers and risks experienced by individuals with CCN, the impact of our presumptions, and how we can support development.

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16. "How do I need to be in order to be with you?": supporting adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Presented by Sheridan Forster

7 August 2019 

In research and practice a crisis in companionship is being recognised for adults with profound intellectual disabilities (PIMD). For many people, engagment with another person throughout the day, outside of their needs based care, can be measured in seconds or minutes. Rarely is this companionship measured in hours.

Many academics, practitioners, and parents now recognise that what is needed for adults with PIMD is not being treated just like everyone else, but being engaged with in a way that meets that individual’s needs. Changing a culture that constantly falls back on “just talking” to the person, missing the mark of the multisensory modalities needed for expression and the deep attentiveness required to understand and scaffold the communication a person with PIMD, is a massive challenge.

In this podcast, Sheridan will introduce some of the research that describes communicative environments of people with PIMD, the strategies which are growing to be best practice, and acknowledges the complex issues of ethics and practice when  a shared language may not currently be verbal or visual.

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17. Encouraging the promotion of long-term AAC use: learning from social identity theory. Presented by Ruyi Tong      

25 September 2019

This webinar explores factors that may influence outcomes of AAC interventions over time, by drawing on principles from social identity theory.

Key learning outcomes

1) Understand social identity theory and how it may provide a framework for designing AAC interventions.

2) Identify different AAC intervention outcomes that may promote and limit long-term AAC use.

3) Understand different ways of empowering new and existing AAC users to use AAC longitudinally.

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18. I have a dream for communication - AGOSCI conference keynote presentation 2019. Presented by Joey Harrall

October 2019

Joey Harrall is 19 years old and he has cerebral palsy because of that he can’t walk or speak but he doesn’t think that he is unlucky with having a disability. He lives with his lovely brother, beautiful sister in law and five bright and funny nephews in Western Australia. He presented for the first time at ISAAC in 2018 and he started to help the Variety Motor Mouth camp by giving speeches and mentoring the parents and the kids. He has a dream to own his own mentoring business someday because he has a dream to help people to find their voice in this fast pace world. In his downtime, he likes trying to fix computers, playing with his family and of course sleeping.

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19. Moving beyond object requesting for AAC users with ASD: What does the research say? Presented by Kristy Logan

20 November 2019

This webinar will present the key findings from Kristy’s PhD research, which has explored how AAC interventions are used to develop symbolic communication for functions other than making object requests in children with ASD. The webinar will focus on three main areas:

1. AAC intervention ingredients according to research: creating communication environments, evidence-based teaching strategies, reinforcing communication, and identifying the dosage of therapy required

2. Aided enhanced milieu teaching (AEMT) as a naturalistic intervention to develop symbolic and social communication skills in children with ASD

3. Strategies for supporting parents to implement AEMT with their child with ASD

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20. International perspectives on Easy English and Easy Read: what do we need to know? Presented by Cathy Basterfield 

2020

Accessible written information is being developed in Australia and internationally. This has been occurring in different parts of the world for over 20 years now. There are various labels used including Easy English, Easy Read or Easy to Read in the English-speaking world. 

This webinar will present a review of national and international perspectives on developing accessible written content with and for people with literacy that does not meet day to day reading needs. A review of current practices, recently published research with content and discussion from - IASSIDD 2019 (August 2019), PLAIN International 2019 (September) and Clear (KLAARA) International (September 2019) will be presented. 

This webinar provides an up to date analysis on what we need to know to be advocating and developing quality accessible written information in Australia. 

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21. Exploring the spoken language development of school-aged children on the Autism Spectrum with minimal verbal language. Presented by Lauren Davis 

12 August 2020

This presentation will discuss the language development of children on the autism spectrum who enter formal schooling with minimal verbal language skills. This includes possible methods for assessing the social-communication and language skills of these children to determine profiles of strengths, needs and language emergence over time, as well as identification of potential differences in the personal, family, and environmental factors in children who do or do not go on to develop spoken language skills during the formal school years. This has important implications for clinicians working with this unique group of children on the autism spectrum, with practical implications for assessment and intervention planning discussed in light of the research study findings and clinical experience.

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22. Connection, isolation and online life in lock down. Presented by Siobhan Daley

Siobhan Daley is a 20 year old living by herself in Newcastle. She has been using AAC her whole life and currently works for Liberator as their New South Wales AAC Ambassador. She is an elite boccia athlete on the Australian High-Performance Squad and represented Australia in Dubai last December. She enjoys listening to music, playing video games and watching tv.

In this presentation, Siobhan discusses the time she has already spent in lockdown due to the COVID19 pandemic, giving tips on how she has kept herself and her team happy, healthy and (reasonably) sane, as well as discussing how to maintain relationships while in such close quarters for extended periods of time.

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23. Family, friendships and autonomy for the future. Presented by Hannah Gutke (Parent and Educator)

12 October 2020

In this webinar, Hannah will share with pride some of her experiences as parent to Claire, who is learning to communicate with AAC. She will share some of their experiences in embedding AAC into daily life, of improving her own skills as an effective communication partner, and in building wider networks of communication partners for her daughter. Developing peer relationships has become a key element in supporting Claire to become an effective communicator and to reach the ultimate goal of communication autonomy. Hannah will explain some of the steps that led to the initiation of a communication club for Claire that includes friends from her Year 4 class, and will recount some of the highlights of these connections. She will share some ideas that have worked for their family to promote an inclusive and wonderful life for Claire where she is valued and can add value.

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24. Improving communication access in mental health support. How can we help? Presented by Eleanor Watson

13 April 2021

COVID-19 has bought about an unprecedented focus on mental health supports in Australia. However the question remains; how accessible are the existing mental health supports for people with communication support needs? This webinar will look at the current research around communication access in mental health support and identify strategies to promote communication about mental health and wellbeing.

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25. Autonomy in decision making (AiDEM): a summary of the key learning and resources from the project. Presented by Ashley Harling 

21 June 2021

This webinar summarises a 2019/20 project whose aim was to improve the participation of students with complex communication needs in daily decision making. When it comes to providing students with opportunities to learn and practice self-determination to make meaningful contributions to their future, there is a significant burden on teachers to adapt the curriculum to meet the individual needs of students and a disconnect between best practice and everyday practice which many educators feel unsupported to bridge.

The outcomes from the project resulted in a pack of resources targeting some of the early barriers to participation. The resources developed were the result of visits to different schools who had identified students who they felt could benefit from increased participation in decision making. The resources target two key areas:

1. Communication partner skills
2. Individualised planning: A common base of understanding about how students can be supported to participate in decision making.

The project confirmed many larger research studies that one of the primary barriers for participation in decision making is perception of capacity which, in turn, affects provision of opportunity.

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26. “The best PD we’ve ever had”- what we learned from creating, delivering, and refining an AAC workshop series for parents and carers. Presented by Megan Walsh and Caitie Mitchell 

28 July 2021

In 2018, speech pathologists Megan Walsh and Caitie Mitchell developed a year-long series of workshops for parents and carers of children who used AAC.  They have run the program every year since then, including during the COVID-19 lockdown.  Based on feedback from the participants, Megan and Caitie also developed short “masterclasses” on specific topics, which have been offered several times per year since 2019.  In this workshop, Megan and Caitie will share:

• The clinical observations and AAC evidence used to build the course content

• The pre and post assessment tools used and the clinical reasoning behind those

• The revisions made along the way, including ongoing incorporation of evidence

• Lessons learned about carer capacity building in AAC

• Practical tips for starting and running AAC workshops, including within NDIA funding structures

• Ideas for short courses and “masterclasses”

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27. AAC competencies from coursework into practice. Presented by Ruyi Tong and Abigail Lewis

16 August 2021

Edith Cowan University implemented a new unit in 2020 focused on developing speech pathology students’ competencies for working with clients that have complex communication needs. This unit was developed in consultation with key stakeholders such as therapists, clients participating in the NDIS, and equipment suppliers. To evaluate the unit, data was collected at several time points, including after placements, to understand the impact of the unit on students’ practice.

This webinar will describe the process of developing industry-informed content and present the preliminary findings from the student evaluations of this new unit. Recommendations for preparing students for practice with clients with complex communication needs will be discussed. There will be opportunities to discuss the potential application for new graduate speech pathologists entering the disability sector as well as implications for supervisors of speech pathology students or new graduates.

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28. Building an AAConnect™ community. Presented by Jenna O'Brien

27 September 2021

Kids Plus are passionate about delivering targeted intervention to support clients to achieve the most effective communication to maximize potential and enhance their quality of life.  In some cases this involves the use of high-tech Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) options. 

But, maybe there's another piece to the puzzle; the real transformation for these clients comes when you inform and influence their unique environments. We will explore the impact of education and training, changing attitudes, and developing advocacy skills in the important people around the client through our AAConnect™ program.

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29.The view of an AAC user. Presented by Noah Callan

11 October 2021

My name is Noah, and I am an AAC user. One of my greatest passions is the excitement of discovering new technology and the incredible impact dramatically improving the quality of my life. I have helped change the angles of accessibility in Apple operating systems, and from that point, I started realising I have a voice. I can create change and advocate for it. I have always been interested in technology and the power it generates for someone with a disability. AAC is essential as it gives me a voice I never had. If AAC were not a thing, many of the incredible opportunities that have come my way so far in my life would not have been possible.

Join Noah as he educates and shares his wisdom on the view of an AAC user!

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30. Fostering Autistic wellbeing through the Neurodiversity Paradigm. Presented by Kat and Katrina of Bridges Learning Systems

14 April 2022

Do you want to support your autistic child or student to be their best selves? Of course you do, but what exactly does that look like?

Join Katrina Martin and Kat Harhai as we discuss what Autistic wellbeing looks like (spoiler- it’s not what all of the textbooks might have you believe!).

We’ll unpack the medical model of Autism and dive into how you can reframe your thinking, to be a true ally to autistic children.

This month is autism acceptance month, but we’ll challenge you to take a step beyond acceptance towards true affirmation. In the process you’ll find that when you apply a neurodiversity lens you are much more able to foster true Autistic wellbeing.

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31. Individualising AAC systems for diverse needs. Presented by Dr. Amarie Carnett

20 April 2022

Dr. Amarie Carnett is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas San Antonio.

Prior to pursuing her advanced degrees, Dr. Carnett worked as a special education teacher and behaviour specialist in public schools in Texas. She has over 10 years of experience working in the field of Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

Her research interest can be classified into two overlapping categories (1) communication interventions, and (2) adaptive functioning. She has 37 peer reviewed articles related to communication interventions, and adaptive functioning.

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32. Inclusive education for people with complex communication needs. What do we know? What do we want to know? Presented by Phoebe Lehmann and Dr. Abi Thirumanickam

9 May 2022

In this webinar, Abi and Phoebe talk about perceptions, attitudes and beliefs around inclusive education for people with complex communication needs, and the use of inclusive research principles in conducting research with people with complex communication needs.

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33. New research: EMG and spatial technology for AAC. What is it? Presented by Alex Alvarado and Annette Curry

30 May 2022

This online presentation is designed to introduce AAC users, therapists and caregivers to EMG and Spatial technology, the latest development by Control Bionics, which is designed to reduce user fatigue while increasing communication speed.

By the end of the presentation, participants will:

• Understand when and how to implement EMG and Spatial technology for AAC users

• Benefits and the future of EMG and Spatial technology

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34. Cosmos Connect: beyond assistive technology. What is next?

35. AAC therapy for non-verbal children with ASD - What works for whom and why? Presented by Dr. Stephi Sievers

5 July 2022

Each child with ASD presents with a unique constellation of strengths and needs, resulting in substantial heterogeneity and variability in response to therapy. Thus, there is a need to tailor AAC to meet the individual needs and skills of the AAC user. However, research evidence is scant on what components of AAC therapy are most effective, for whom, and under what conditions. This paucity of research makes evidence-based decisions challenging. There is a need for a deeper understanding of the active ingredients that drive effective AAC interventions to inform clinicians.

The focus of this webinar is on improving AAC outcomes for children with ASD who are minimally verbal — the emerging research on factors that predict, moderate, and mediate AAC outcomes. Exploring factors under these terms is an important step to making evidence-based decisions on individualizing AAC interventions to a specific subgroup of children with ASD who are minimally verbal. Topics to be discussed include a review of ASD communication development,  AAC terminology, barriers to AAC evidence based practice, summary of research on factors that explain variability and clinical implications. Discussion is encouraged through out the webinar on how can clinicians integrate emerging research into their clinical rational and contribute their insights or questions.

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36. Assessing the mental health of young people with complex communication needs. Presented by Jacinta Pennacchia

8 August 2022

Young people with complex communication needs (CCN) face barriers in accessing services to address mental health concerns.

Access to valid and reliable tools for measuring mental wellbeing and mental health problems is critical for understanding the experiences of people with CCN, as well as for identification and management of mental health concerns.

This webinar will:

a) explore barriers to accessing tools which measure mental health and

b) describe the presenter's PhD plan which works towards addressing these barriers.

Consumer involvement is a major component of Jacinta's work. Throughout her PhD, consumers may be involved in any aspect, including identifying research priorities, influencing study design, planning recruitment and other implementation strategies, interpreting the findings, and integrated knowledge translation whereby consumers support the dissemination of findings to research end-users. Jacinta has been supported by the AGOSCI Annual Research Grant to fund consumer involvement in her PhD research.

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37. Connect Play Learn; Including a relationship focus in early childhood interventions. Presented by Jacqui Barfoot

22 August 2022

This webinar has three parts. Jacqui will discuss the current evidence and context for a relationship-focused approach. She will then present a case study to demonstrate application of a relationship-focused approach before talking through the Connect Play Learn packages and resources.

Connect Play Learn is an online training package developed by Mamre Association and Occupational Therapists Dr Jacqui Barfoot and Lachlan Kerley.

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38. Impaired speech and ableism: An exploration of the meanings constructed around coherent speech. Presented by Lesley Champion 

26 September 2022

The ability to speak, and speak well, has been subsumed into our ideas of what it means to be a human being. Speech is governed by ableist norms of coherence and competence, and these norms decide who can be considered a good speaker. Conversely, speakers who fail to conform to these norms are treated as pathological and broken. Within this environment, disabled speakers experience stigma and discrimination.  Their experience of an ableist world effects their self-identity, and they can internalise the low expectations of an ableist world.

Despite these insights there is a paucity of research which looks specifically at the ways in which disabled people think about their speech (and their selves). We invited people with a life-long experience of being a disabled speaker to respond to an on-line survey.   This presentation will draw on data from this ongoing research to explore how ableist norms of coherence and competence are reflected in the ways that impaired speakers talk about themselves, and the ways that these norms, and our failure to live up to them, can result in breaks to our voices. Only after understanding the ways that disabled speakers interact with the often damaging norms that surround them can we attempt to resist them, resistance which is critical for improving practice, policy and inclusion for those with impaired speech.

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39. AAC Space. Presented by Noah Callan

16 October 2022

The AAC Community is growing every day. It is amazing to see families, teachers, speech therapists and device manufacturers coming together to make the world a better place through communication. We are making strides, but there are many steps we still have to take. We may have tools, systems, strategies and even devices to support AAC users; but we cannot fully support users if they don’t know where to find such assistive technologies or the providers.

This webinar will explore a new website called AAC Space, a free platform that allows the community to find AAC device providers and speech pathologists. Come along to gain a better understanding of how this website was developed, what it aims to achieve, and how you may get the best use from it whether you're a provider wanting to list your services, or a person looking for AAC support! Join Noah, creator of the website, as he gives you a personal tour and answers any questions you might have.

My name is Noah, and I am an AAC user. One of my greatest passions is the excitement of discovering new technology and its incredible impact on dramatically improving the quality of my life. I have helped change the angles of accessibility in Apple operating systems, and from that point, I started realising I have a voice. I can create change and advocate for it.

I have always been interested in technology and the power it generates for someone with a disability. AAC is essential as it gives me the voice I never had. If AAC was not a thing, many of the incredible opportunities that have come my way so far in my life would not have been possible. I am the AAC and Technology Coordinator at Kids Plus, a children’s therapy hub in Gee long. I’m also an Associate for Get Skilled Access which Dylan Alcott founded.

I should also say that recently, I launched three platforms, AAC Space, Occupational therapy space and Physiotherapy space. It’s basically yellow pages for AAC device providers, Speech Pathologists, Occupational therapists, and Physiotherapists.

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40. What words do we use to talk about AAC? Survey results. Presented by Alyssa Hillary Zisk and Meredith Prain

20 January 2023

Words are the building blocks of language, and language is how we tell stories. It’s how we tell each other who we are. Words can shape perceptions—calling AAC a “clinical practice” paints a very different picture from saying AAC is “all the ways we communicate.”

In early 2022, AssistiveWare ran an online survey, asking people with a variety of relationships to AAC what they thought about 119 different words and phrases. The first research of its kind, the AssistiveWare survey resonated deeply with the community—in total 556 people participated. One out of every three people who took the survey uses AAC. Of these, nearly a fifth (18%) do not use spoken words.

Hear the outcomes from that survey from lead researcher Alyssa Hillary Zisk, and receive an update on the Communication Access and Inclusion Project still underway in Australia from project lead Dr Meredith Prain.

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41. Creativity and connection: using creative arts to foster relationships and connection. Presented by Claire Fraser

27 February 2023

This 60 minute webinar, with time included for questions will cover a range of concepts and ideas related to creativity and how it can foster connection to self, others, and the world around us. We will explore how the creative arts can form an environment that promotes communication and relationships for people with complex communication needs.

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42. Rule your iPad with your eyes and Hiru eye-tracker. Presented by IRISBOND and Novita

30 March 2023

In this workshop we’ll learn how to leverage Apple accessibility tools to create the best user experience with the Hiru eye tracker.  We’ll explore what’s possible with eye gaze in the iPad, tips for fast success, and apps designed with eye gaze in mind.  Discover the possibilities available to rule the world around you with just your gaze, and your iPad!

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43. Tools2Talk Now: communication aids made easy. Presented by Catherine Wilson

13 June 2023

Tools2Talk Now is an app you can use to create printable communication aids easily and on the go! The app is an enhanced version of Tools2Talk+, featuring the key functions you know and love. The Tools2Talk Now app allows users to create customised communication resources using their own photos from their camera roll or choose from over 35,000 images including Tobii Dynavox Picture Communication Symbols® (PCS) and full Compic image library. This online workshop aims show you key features of the app including how to make communication aids, use the calendar function and the pre-designed templates for quick creation of a range of communication boards.

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44. Parent coaching for successful AAC use in the early years. Presented by Sam Brydon

10 July 2023

What happens when you introduce a 77-cell core board with fringe vocabulary for pre-school children with complex communication needs and then provide truly comprehensive support to the family?

Over the past 4 years, Sam has designed and carried out a year-long intervention as part of a multiple case study, with the intention to provide some evidence towards the use of core boards as an AAC tool.

Once Sam had started this research, she realised that no AAC system can be successful without communication partner support. A large part of her study involved creating a training and coaching package for parents to ensure they knew how to support their child to become a successful AAC user.

Sam continued to collect maintenance data for a year. The results are now in, the data are analysed and Sam is keen to share them with a wider audience! 

This presentation will include an overview of the research, some detail about the training and coaching package, and the results obtained for both children and parents, including some really great videos.

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45. ISAAC Cancun conference reflections and learning. Presented by Jenna O'Brien and Kylie Barsby

16 August 2023

The ISAAC International Conference is always an incredible learning opportunity, bringing together the international AAC community. In 2023, the ISAAC conference is being held in Cancun Mexico, from 24 - 27 July.

Join us to hear from the Aussies who attended and hear them share their reflections and learning. If you also attended and have reflections to share, join us! This will be an interactive, discussion-based zoom meeting and all AGOSCI members are welcome to participate.

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46. How can communication supports help people who do not speak to build relationships. Presented by Sheree Henley and Harriet Korner

3 October 2023

This webinar will be presented by Sheree Henley, founder of The Good Life Builders and mother to Isaac, a 25 year old man that does not use speech to communicate. She will be co presenting with Harriet Korner who is a speech therapist with over 30 years of experience. Harriet runs her own consulting business and provides coaching and mentoring services for people with disability, speech therapists, teachers, disability support workers and families.

When a person does not use spoken words to communicate, building relationships can be challenging. Support workers have an important role in creating environments that encourage communication for the purpose of building relationships.

Unfortunately, support workers sometimes have little experience in alternative communication or in supporting the development of relationships. So how can we families help support workers to do this role better?

In this webinar, Sheree and Harriet will share:

• Mindset beliefs that support workers need to have to do this role well

• Common objections people have to using AAC and how to overcome them

• Building fluency in using alternative communication methods

• Techniques for supporting conversations between your family member with a disability and people in the community that go beyond just saying hi.

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47. Tips for people who use AAC. Presented by Dale Gonelli

6 October 2023

Join Dale for this 30 minute webinar about his lived experience learning of using AAC, including tips on what he's learnt over the years from other people. Dale will share personal experiences over the years and some funny stories as well.  

Dale wants to present this webinar because he sees that people have ideas about best ways to teach AAC. Speech-language Pathologists are fantastic but they don’t live with the communication device.

Dale will be talking about his 10 tips for AAC, that will be helpful for families and professionals to hear. 

Join Dale and AGOSCI for this AAC Awareness Month webinar!

Dale Gonelli is a communication device owner / communicator. He always loves to do drama and putting on plays. Since the age of 8 he has used a communication device in drama activities. He has performed at the Brisbane Powerhouse, with Contact Inc, and has been a mentor at 'Camp Have a Chat' for many years.

In 2021 Dale started working as a Liberator Ambassador, modelling use of the Minspeak Unity program on the Accent 1400 by using a switch at his knee with a scanning program on the communication device. In 2022 Dale was accepted and completed the Queensland Disability Network (QDN) – Emerging Leaders Program and currently volunteers as a local co-peer group convenor.

Dale has been involved with, attended and given presentations at AGOSCI conferences since 2005. In 2022, Dale joined AGOSCI as an AAC mentor, and continues in that role in 2023. This is Dale's first public presentation as an AGOSCI AAC mentor.

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48. Mint slice genius! Nell's tales of the cheeky human spirit! Presented by Nell McMillan

10 October 2023

Dare to dream to dance through life and say it how it is, her way.

Communication is no barrier to be successful in “World Normal”.

Nell would like to share her life tales of her guts and fighting against the odds to make an impact in the world. Believe in self belief.

Join us to celebrate AAC Awareness Month 2023 with Nell. 

Nell is an artist, children's author, ABC writer, advocate and she also has an Order of Australia for her fundraising work for charities such as breast cancer.

Nell lives in a crazy body that has a mind of its own due to Cerebral Palsy. She has never used any communication device in her adult life to achieve what Nell has done so far. Nell uses partner assisted communication to get her messages and thoughts across in "World Normal".

By creating artwork and storytelling, Nell is able to show what non-verbal people are capable of doing. She hopes that this will shift perspectives, change attitudes and contribute to more inclusive practices in businesses and the community. Nell's aim is to help people with disabilities to overcome their limitations and be able to achieve what they want to in life.

Nell has recently begun as the AGOSCI AAC Communicator Co-Rep and the Coordinator for the AGOSCI Mentors Program. She is looking forward to her roles, she hopes that she will be able to grow the AGOSCI vision with her knowledge and help the community to live in a more inclusive world.

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49. AAC: a powerful tool. Presented by Sid Chandran

18 October 2023

In this webinar, Sid discusses his discovery of an alternative system of communication that worked for him. In this webinar he speaks about the way AAC has helped him to access the community. AAC, he says, is powerful. Sid will present on how he has used AAC to advocate for 'non-speakers' and to participate in the community. Sid has produced a book about his lived experience of Autism and his use of AAC. This webinar will explore these topics from Sid's book, and discuss Sid's experience of being an author. The webinar will include some excerpts from Sid's book.

Sid contributes to AGOSCI as an AAC Mentor. This webinar is Sid's first public event as an AGOSCI AAC Mentor. Join us to celebrate AAC Awareness Month 2023 with Sid.

Sidharth is an autistic man who spent his early years without a formal means of communication. During his early school years, he attended autistic schools and completed his schooling at special schools.

He has a great curiosity about the nature of autism and the way it affects him. He says he wants to make a contribution to the understanding of autism. His recently published book An Unspoken Story documents his struggles with the severe communication and sensory challenges of autism. It also deals with his discovery of an alternative system of communication that worked for him. He discusses this at length in his book and in this webinar. He states that AAC made a positive difference to his life. It helped him to connect with the world. Sid is learning to advocate for himself and access the wider world outside his inner circle through AAC.

Sidharth grew up in Sydney where he has spent all of his life. He loves the outdoors and music. He loves sports such as skating, swimming and biking. He enjoys writing and considers writing to be his vocation. Sidharth has a website at Unspokenstory.com.au 

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50. AAC: a journey that takes a lifetime. Presented by Joseph Reynolds

24 October 2023

Everyone’s AAC journey is unique and Joseph’s was too. He has used a variety of different systems over the years, from some low-tech paper based options through to electronic devices. Joseph’s journey with AAC has also coincided with the evolution and development of AAC devices. He also has had some challenges over the years with implementing AAC into schools and the community. Joseph shares anecdotes along with some tips and tricks for the implementation of AAC into everyday life.

Joseph contributes to AGOSCI as an AAC Mentor. This webinar is Joseph's first public event as an AGOSCI AAC Mentor. Join us to celebrate AAC Awareness Month 2023 with Joseph. This session will include time for questions. 

Joseph lives with his parents and two siblings in Hobart, Tasmania. He uses an iPad to do everyday tasks such as communicating with people around him, writing emails and working on projects that interest him. Joseph has Cerebral Palsy, for him it only affects him physically and not his intellectual capacity. His family and community has shown patience with his communication and encouraged him to express his opinion, especially in recent years.

Joseph is active in the AAC space having presented as one of the keynote speakers at the AGOSCI conference in Hobart in 2022. He has been working as an AAC mentor with the Variety Motor Mouth Camps in Tasmania and has recently been employed as a casual Teacher Assistant in the local support school, specifically for his AAC skill set.

Joseph has a keen interest in photo manipulation as well as creating digital art. He likes comedy shows such as Brooklyn Nine Nine and enjoys the occasional Boost Juice.

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51. Voiceitt2 spontaneous speech recognition technology for non-standard speakers. Presented by Rachel Levy

8 November 2023 

Many people in the AGOSCI community prefer to communicate with their natural speech, rather than using speech generating devices. For those with 'non-standard' speech, it can be difficult for unfamiliar communication partners to understand their message. Speech supports might include communication partners and AAC systems to supplement natural speech. More recently, voice to text technologies have also become more accessible as an assistive technology for 'revoicing' natural speech.

AGOSCI has partnered with Voiceitt to provide our members with an update on the Voiceitt spontaneous speech-to-text technologies.

This webinar is designed for health professionals. In this webinar, Rachel explains how individuals with 'non-standard' speech can use this communication tool as a support.

Following this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Describe the communicative functions of the Voiceitt spontaneous speech web app 

• Understand the individuals whom this software is designed to support

• Get information about how to get started with the Voiceitt technology.

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52. Eye-gaze control technology opportunities and service provision: perspectives of people with cerebral palsy and their communication partners. Presented by Sonia Elliot, Avril Parry, and Margaret Wallen 

31 January 2024

In this webinar, the research team will share findings from their recent study about experiences of people with cerebral palsy and their communication partners about eye-gaze control technology.

The research team asked about assessment, trials, ongoing use of the technology, goals, and the range of things people are doing with their technology. The study was supported by the 2023 AGOSCI Research Grant.

With consumer research partner Avril Parry, the research team will discuss participant perspectives on what works well and what does not, and considerations for how to improve eye-gaze technology service provision. They will ask for your perspectives on how they can best share these findings so that clinicians and users can benefit.

Join the conversation to optimise the eye-gaze control technology journey for people with cerebral palsy.

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53. Avaz AAC: an overview. Presented by CEO Narayanan Ramakrishnan

22 February 2024

Avaz is a picture and text-based AAC app that empowers children and adults with complex communication needs to express themselves and learn.

Join this webinar to learn more about the Avaz AAC app, and where it might fit in your AAC toolkit.

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54. The Communication Capability Approach: embedding consumer choice into device recommendations. Presented by Dr. Andy Smidt and Chloe Wine

26 March 2024 

For people who have complex communication needs and are recommended alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), getting the “right” device is an investment of time and money. However, device abandonment remains common, and researchers have attempted to investigate the causes of people abandoning devices. An alternate approach to AAC device prescription is the Communication Capability Approach (CCA) which uses the capability approach from Amartya Sen. This framework supports clinicians to view AAC users choosing how to communicate according to context and environment as a valid choice of the individual rather than viewing this as abandonment. In this workshop, we will unpack the Capability Approach and support attendees to consider the factors needed to create acceptance of AAC and success in communication.

SLIDES ONLY 

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55. Genetic conditions and loss of communication skills - Where does AAC fit? Presented by Lottie Morison

8 April 2024

There are many genetic conditions with paediatric and adult-onset that cause loss of communication skills.

Changes in speech, language and augmentative and alternative communication skills are important for identifying regression. In fact, speech and language features are often the very first signs of a genetic condition.

Changes in speech, language and augmentative and alternative communication skills can be sensitive markers of progression and response to treatment.

Join this webinar to consider how speech pathologists and other clinicians can work with families to support communication and plan for future communication needs for an individual experiencing a loss of skills.

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56. Assessing mental health in people with communication support needs - who does it and how? Presented by Jacinta Pennacchia

26 September 2024

This webinar will present results and learnings from the first two studies of Jacinta's PhD - a systematic review of instruments measuring wellbeing for people with communication support needs, and a mixed methods study about the current practice and future needs of the workforce involved in mental health assessment for people with communication disability.

Jacinta will also update webinar attendees about an ongoing study hearing the perspectives of young AAC-users about mental health.

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57. Driving research forward: the impact of AAC user involvement in the research of the AAC users, the clinician research, and the research itself. Presented by Megan Walsh and co-presented by Shirley Wong

10 October 2024

Our research was about how adolescents with cerebral palsy who use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), communicate about sexuality. The research was participatory, meaning that AAC users with cerebral palsy drove the research. For us, this meant making sure the research with the adolescents followed their lead and that they could tell us what their priorities for the research were. This also meant involving AAC users with cerebral palsy as “consumer research partners” through the whole research process. In this webinar, a clinician-researcher and an AAC user consumer research partner will share how this participatory approach impacted us and the research. We will also discuss how we evaluated our collaboration. 

Throughout the webinar, we will make practical recommendations that will be useful for anyone working with AAC users, whether that be in research, clinically, or on a project.

This research was supported by the AGOSCI 2023 Annual Research Grant.

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58. Supporting client regulation through support worker interaction. Presented by Jane Hunt and Debbie Lobb.

21 November 2024

This webinar addresses the role and impact of communication approaches for people who may become dysregulated, with reference to an adult person with communication access needs and ways of expressing their needs that present as a concern to others.

1. We discuss the need for an approach led by neurobiological, behavioural and social science based lenses that seeks to understand the experiences of people in response to unmet needs, with the aim of reducing their experience of anxiety and stress.

2. We present on how one practitioner/Speech Pathologist utilised this knowledge and approach as a case-study, discussing the integral role and skills of communication partners in supporting a person to regain a sense of regulation when aspects of their life results in significant impact to their wellbeing. 

3. We reflect on this case study and the impact of three communication approaches as applied to a support worker setting that led to an increase in a person’s experience of safety, connection and regulation.

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