Non-AGOSCI AAC Events
Important Notice
These are not AGOSCI events.
AGOSCI is not responsible for information about these events, and may not agree with information in these events.
If you would like to list your event on this website, please email education@agosci.org.au and include your event details.
AGOSCI will decide if your event is suitable for listing on this webpa
PhD project: facilitating non-verbal communication for people with intellectual disability through technology
School of Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Alieh Hajizadehsaffar is seeking expert feedback on a communication prototype designed to provide easy access to images for non-verbal self-expression and social connection, with the goal of better meeting the preferences and needs of target users and their communication partners.
Certified Practicing Speech Pathologists (CPSPs) and Occupational Therapists registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA), with at least one year of experience working with adults with intellectual disability, cognitive impairment, or neurodiverse diagnoses are invited to provide exert feedback. Expertise in communication scenarios, such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) approaches and devices, is required.
Participants may choose to take part in any or all of the following 3-part online study activities:
- Focus group discussion (1 hour)
- Individual trial session (1 hour)
- Clinical trial followed by a feedback survey and interview (up to 1 hour)
Your assistance in connecting Alieh with interested colleagues or sharing this invitation would be greatly appreciated.
Please note that this study has been approved by the QUT Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number 10249).
For any questions, please contact Alieh Hajizadehsaffar PhD Student via email at a.hajizadeh@hdr.qut.edu.au or Associate Professor Laurianne Sitbon Supervisor at l.sitbon@qut.edu.au School of Computer Science, Science and Engineering Faculty Queensland University of Technology.
Success is a Journey: Unlocking the Power of TD Snap for All Ages
Join us for an engaging hands-on workshop exploring TD Snap, our flexible and intuitive AAC software. With multiple Page Sets designed for both children and adults, TD Snap supports symbol-based and text-based communicators, making it suitable for individuals across a wide range of ages and diagnostic groups. Michael Brazil, Solutions Consultant and Assistive Technology Specialist from Tobii Dynavox in Ireland, will guide attendees through practical strategies for using TD Snap to support communication, learning, and independence. With a focus on both technical know-how and real-world application, this workshop will help professionals, educators, and carers unlock the full potential of TD Snap for the people they support.
Lunch and morning/afternoon tea provided.
Presenter:
Michael Brazil is a Solutions Consultant and Assistive Technology Specialist from Cork, Ireland. He works with Tobii Dynavox to support individuals in finding communication solutions that empower independence and accessibility. Alongside helping customers, he trains therapists, teachers and professionals on how to effectively use Tobii Dynavox products.
Michael began his career with Safe Care Technologies, a trusted reseller of Tobii Dynavox, before officially joining the Tobii Dynavox team in 2022. With seven years of experience spanning training, customer support, and technical assistance, he brings a well-rounded understanding of both technology and user needs. Passionate about improving lives through communication and access, Michael combines technical expertise with a people-focused approach in every interaction.
Also joining the event:
Bethany Diener is a speech-language pathologist and the Manager of Implementation Resources for Tobii Dynavox.
Erika Lempke is a speech-language pathologist and the Product Area Lead - Communication Software for Tobii Dynavox.
What attendees will learn/walk away with
- Confidently navigate TD Snap Pagesets and settings
- Explore TD Snap beyond AAC: Visual Supports, Books and Photos, YouTube Player
- Access supports for implementation: Learning Hub, Quick Guides, Training Cards
- Understand dedicated communication devices and their role
- Learn strategies for measuring success in TD Snap
- Discover practical ways to use TD Snap in the classroom
What attendees need to bring:
A Windows Laptop, Tablet, iPad or dedicated TD device with TD Snap installed.
- Speech Pathologists can access TD Snap free via MyTobiiDynavox for Professionals - TD For Professionals-GettingStarted
- Others can access TD Snap as a free trial - How do I start a 60 day trial of TD Snap?
Prerequisites or prior learning required:
- No prior experience with TD Snap is required - just an interest in supporting individuals who use AAC.
- Suitable for Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Educators, Teachers, Carers, and anyone supporting AAC users.
Cost: $125 pp or $315 for three registrations
Locations and dates:
Perth: Monday 10 November 2025
Melbourne: Wednesday 12 November 2025
Sydney: Friday 14 November 2025
Brisbane: Monday 17 November 2025
Auckland: Thursday 20 November 2025
Learn Easy English 2 day writing course
Presented by Access Easy English
Register for our highly interactive internationally recognised award winning 2-day Easy English course.
You develop an understanding of Easy English, review current resources and research, and begin to develop your own Easy English document with the support of Access Easy English staff. This course focuses on all elements of implementing Easy English, including how to plan what to include, specific language choices and use of images. It is an interactive course with numerous opportunities for participants to practise their new skills in activities and in their own document. Website and internet access is explored. Participants also consider the organisational implementation of Easy English.
This course is suitable for anyone who writes information for the public: communications and marketing staff, support workers, planners, therapists, disability advocates, teachers, ethics teams, researchers, local council staff, government department staff, NDIS staff, report writers, My Aged Care staff, access and inclusion team members, Health Promotions staff…and anyone who writes for their own staff - work tasks, safety information, job descriptions, entitlements, work reports.
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Tuesday 2 December and Thursday 4 December 2025
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Melbourne time (AEDT)
Cost: $1,000 + GST
Insights to Literacy for Communications and Marketing webinar
Presented by Access Easy English
Is your message getting through? A 2-hour webinar where you will learn about literacy in Australia and how it impacts your message and how Easy English and a range of accessible formats can help you reach people with low literacy.
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Wednesday 12 November 2025
Time: 11am – 1pm Melbourne time (AEDT)
Cost: $150 + GST
Spot the Difference - Plain Language, Easy English, Easy Read explained webinar
Presented by Access Easy English
A 2-hour webinar where you will learn the differences between Plain Language, Easy English, Easy Read, and discover other accessible text formats.
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 11am – 1pm Melbourne time (AEDT)
Cost: $150 + GST
Digital development: hidden accessibility barriers webinar
Presented by Access Easy English
A 2-hour webinar for anyone who wants to know more about how literacy affects consumers’ use of the internet and digital tools.
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Thursday 27 November 2025
Time: 11am – 1pm Melbourne time (AEDT)
Cost: $150 + GST
Online LAMP Words for Life & the LAMP therapy approach for Aotearoa/New Zealand
Hosted by ATANZ
Presented by Sam Brydon
It is intended that the workshop will be fully participatory, with group discussions, practice elements, small group work, and action plans to put new knowledge and skills into practice. Support will be provided via an online chat thread in between workshops so that participants can give feedback about how they have implemented their action plan, engage in peer support, and receive feedback / guidance from the presenter, Sam Brydon.
Numbers will be capped at 30 per workshop, and workshops will not be recorded.
This workshop will provide comprehensive training about the LAMP therapeutic approach, which was developed by John and Cindy Halloran, and Mia Emerson, and focuses on supporting autistic children to use AAC. This approach can be used across AAC systems, but it is particularly suited for use with the LAMP Words for Life app.
LAMP Words for Life is a communication app that has been specifically designed with autistic children in mind, and is the partner app for the LAMP therapeutic approach, with a focus on learning words through unique and efficient motor plans. This app will be demonstrated and demystified throughout the workshops, with plenty of opportunities for participants to practice and hone their skills at setting up, modelling, and using in a range of activities.
Participants will learn about the theory underpinning the LAMP approach, the importance of multi-sensory convergence, and the 5 elements of the LAMP therapeutic approach, with plenty of opportunities for discussion and practice. At the end of the three sessions, participants should feel that they have a good understanding of the LAMP therapeutic approach, the importance of multi-sensory convergence, lots of ideas about how to engage autistic children in activities that promote communication, and skills to use and edit LAMP WFL as they implement it with children.
Dates:
Day 1, 15 October 2025
Day 2, 29 October 2025
Day 3, 12 November 2025
3 online sessions of 2 hours with additional 15 minutes for questions.
Best Practice in Assessing and Supporting Literacy in Children Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) project
The Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute is collaborating with the University College London to run a research project on 'Best practice in assessing and supporting literacy in children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)'. This project has ethical approval from the UCL Language and Cognition Ethics Chair, project ID 0507.
We are seeking speech pathologists with recent experience of working with children who use AAC to take part in this research. This will involve completing a series of 2-3 surveys, sharing your opinions and experience of assessment and intervention practices for literacy skills within this client population. Please see the attached poster for more information on the study and find the link to the survey below.
Variety – The Children’s Charity of WA: Helping Kids to Communicate
Communication is a fundamental human right and is essential for expressing oneself, developing relationships and contributing to society. Not everyone can communicate through speech alone, and for children with complex communication needs, Augmentative and Alternative Communications (AAC) devices, and knowing how to use them can mean the difference between expressing needs and feelings with loved ones and participating at school.
Variety – The Children’s Charity of WA supports children to communicate using AAC devices through its grants program and a special three-day family camp designed to build AAC skills in a fun, safe and supportive environment.
Made possible through the generous support of Telethon and, more recently, the Morning Sunshine Foundation whose backing will enable an additional camp, the Variety Motor Mouth camp offers children who have limited speech and rely on an AAC electronic communication device/talker to better express themselves.
At the camp, children and families receive one on one support from speech pathologists and occupational therapists, as well as practical training to build confidence in AAC use.
Variety WA Chief Executive Officer Chris Chatterton, said: “We are committed to improving the lives of children, and every child deserves the means to express themselves in a meaningful way through fun, games and interactive learning sessions that are offered at the Variety Motor Mouth Camp.
“This program is only possible through the generous support from Telethon, and our volunteers, mentors and allied health professionals who work together with the participating children and families.
“Families travel from all around the state for this opportunity and we never want to turn anyone away from camp. We are thrilled to be able to expand the program and we are planning an additional Motor Mouth Camp for Western Australia in April 2026, and also one in Queensland with thanks to the Morning Sunshine Foundation.”
The next camp will be held at Point Walter Campsite, Bicton, from Friday 3 October to Sunday 5 October 2025. Applications are being accepted until 1 June 2025 for both participant families and volunteers. Email grants@varietywa.org.au or call 08 9355 3655.
Alternative Access to Technology
Presented by Cerebral Palsy Education Centre
The focus of this workshop is the design features of PODD page sets to suit speech generating devices. The content will build on the information relating to the purpose, design principles, intervention strategies and use of PODD communication books covered in the two-day introductory workshop.
Ever wondered why PODD pages sets for speech generating devices are not direct copies of the corresponding language level of a PODD communication book? This workshop will explain the similarities, differences and variations in vocabulary organisations needed to capitalize on, and accommodate for, the innate differences between paper books and electronic devices.
Where: online via zoom
When: 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th October, 2025
Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm AEST
Cost: $348.91 including GST
Alek: an AAC app that uses AI to predict what you want to say - trial users wanted!
Alek (link: https://alekassist.com) is a new AAC app powered by cutting-edge AI that predicts what users want to say based on the conversation they're having. Available now on iOS and as a web app, Alek is designed to make communication faster, easier, and more intuitive.
We’re looking for AAC users and SLPs to trial Alek and share feedback – your insights could directly shape its future development. All we ask is that you try the app for a few days and complete a short survey via Google Forms.
Interested? Email us at support@alekassist.com. Or, try Alek now on our website (https://alekassist.com), or download the latest version from the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/au/