Augmentative Communication in Practice: Scotland, the network of AAC specialist centres in Scotland, have a small amount of money available to help people who use AAC in Scotland to attend the ISAAC 2012 conference in Pittsburgh, USA. The ISAAC conference is a great opportunity for people who use AAC to find out more about the latest technology and approaches that can be used to support their communication and provides opportunities to meet people in a similar situation from all over the world to compare experiences and develop friendships. The money available from Augmentative Communication in Practice is not enough to pay for any one person to attend, but could provide a useful boost for somebody who has already raised some money towards the cost of the trip.

The simple application form is available from the Augmentative Communication in Practice web site, but must be returned by 31st May.

Issue 3 of the 'ContAACt newsletter' is out now!

Follow the link ContAACt newsletter to find out what's happening with AAC users in Scotland (Spring 2010)

The 'AAC Project Awards' on page 1 may be of interest to people wanting to fund AAC events or active participation by a person who uses AAC.

Barry Smith received part of his funding to give a talk at ISAAC in Barcelona this Summer, using his Lightwriter SL40, from this scheme.

Find out more about Barry's story.

In 'Places We Like' on page 4 , you can find out about the best things to do in Perth from local AAC users, who know best!

We'd love to hear more from people who use AAC about what you have been doing in your local area or any other items you'd like to share in the next ContAACt newsletter, due out in Autumn 2010.

Please send your items to enquiries@acipscotland.org.uk We look forward to hearing your news and sharing it with AAC users across Scotland.

WOW -  I have received two emails this week that make me feel a bit old but massively proud!  Both were from young women in their early twenties who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) - at opposite ends of Scotland - that I have known since they were very young. I've known both since they entered Primary school (one from Nursery actually), when they were referred to CALL for assessment. Both have cerebral palsy and no functional oral speech, and were amongst the first ever Scottish users of voice output communication aids. Both were members of the first ever generation of children with complex disabilities to go through their education from Nursery to Secondary in their local mainstream school.

When I first met and started to work with those wee tots in the late 1980s /early 1990s, it was certainly my vision - but only a distant  dream - that one day technology could help them to communicate freely, so it is really exciting to see it come true in this way.

This sudden burst of pride and excitement prompted a somewhat deeper 'round-up of the year/ decade / century' reflection, and some darker thoughts rose to the surface. I realised that what has been achieved has mainly been through the efforts of these determined young people, themselves. Sadly, in both cases, the girls were rather let down at school. Well, OK, it was all new then to staff in mainstream schools. Individual staff did their best. The curriculum seemed both a straitjacket and a set of blinkers. 'Communication' seemed to mean only 'literacy'. 'Inclusion' all too often meant little more than just being present in the room.

The girls' experiences with FE  in Scotland seem to have been no better, overall. One had to go to England, and one has struggled to access any relevant courses locally, not to mention the battle for funding to allow her to attend at all.

On a positive note, we have now moved a long way from those days and we are committed to getting it right for every child, active learning, pupil participation and listening to the child's voice, and the rest. We are signed up to delivering a Curriculum for Excellence that promises to create effective contributors, successful learners, responsible citizens and confident individuals. Well, clearly none of these outcomes are possible without effective communication skills. Dare I hope that the next generation of AAC users are set to receive an appropriate, child-centred outcome-focused education that recognises the importance of communication skills as a fundamental underpinning of all learning?

I salute the two young women who emailed me with Christmas greetings and offers of voluntary help for younger AAC users coming up behind them. They HAVE turned into effective, successful, responsible and confident individuals - but largely in spite of, not because of, their educational experiences.