Speaking up for ourselves, so we can achieve what we want in life, is a skill everyone needs to learn, not just those of us with disabilities. At its simplest level self-advocacy is being able to communicate our needs, but we all know it isn’t always as easy as it...

There’s been a lot in the press and on social media in recent months about AI for speech. It seems artificial intelligence, might offer benefits for many people with communication impairments.  It was a chance remark that made me realise AI for speech has been present in my life for...

On Monday 6 March 2023, Jacob Matthew (Australia) and I had the opportunity to address the 288h UNCRPD committee on communication rights.  We were privileged to once more be representing the International Communication Rights Alliance (ICRA).  I've always believed what gets measured gets done, so I think what we were...

I'd been toying with the idea of an A to Z of AAC for months.  Suddenly October seemed the right time to share my thoughts as it was international AAC awareness month.  I've published every day on social media, mainly Twitter with what's below, and with a bit more explanation...

Being given all the tools to communicate is brilliant.  However, being human there are sometimes unexpected physical and environmental factors that impact our output. Occasionally however hard I try I just don’t seem to be able to make my body support direct input to communicate using AAC.   By occasional I...

Using AAC at home and in the wider community has to be a real goal in my mind.  Schools are reactive environments for many children who use AAC, answering questions in the closed context of the lesson. Or maybe making functional choices at break times. By comparison outside school there...

We live in a society where we supposedly have the right to freedom of speech.  The majority of the population can say what they think, when they want and where they want.  Speech is a privilege that many people take for granted. I’d like to turn this concept on its...