I find this an interesting question: Who is a professional? Am I a professional? What makes someone a professional in their own eyes and in the eyes of others? In my mind, I often have imposter syndrome; how is it possible that I can be doing the things I’m doing? ...

Allies are essential for us all, and they can come from every part of life. A great ally wants to ensure they are inclusive of you. But more than this the best allies want to create a level playing field for everyone. They listen to AAC users, they help identify...

First, there was Stephen Hawking, the physicist. Then came Lee Ridley, comedian, also known as ‘Lost Voice Guy’. Now we have Rob Burrow, an ex-rugby league professional and an advocate for motor neurone disease (MND). It is heart-warming to see the mainstream media airtime around using augmentative and alternative communication...

We hear and read daily about how the government wants disabled people to work. This week we know they are not valuing nearly a quarter of the population. The move to replace the Minister of State for disabled people with a junior minister makes this clear. Long-term strategy? Downgrading the...

Back in September 2023 a friend, Joanna Holmes (aka MummyvsAAC) and I got together to speak at the annual Communication Matters conference in Leeds.  We had met at the 2022 conference and immediately discovered we had a lot in common. We had shared views about AAC users, communication partners and...

I was chuffed to make it into the Disability Power 100.  This is the annual list of the most influential disabled people in the UK. It was such an honour to discover that I'd been nominated as a top 10 finalist in the community advocate category for 2023.  This surprise...

September in England marks the return to school, colleges and higher educational establishments for a new academic year. It might feel daunting to have an AAC user in your sessions.  Here are my 9 top tips around access and communication that may support a Happy AACademic New Year when you...