Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

We are very excited to invite you to attend the Neville Cohen Lecture by:

Prof Sarah Douglas, entitled “Communication Partner Training to Facilitate Language and Communication for Children who Require AAC.”

Click on the link to RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLaS6JyySl-OQh4wKy3NbT421SgyiAtqSa756Q-C1YgTFH0w/viewform

Please note that this is an in-person event.

Father's Day will soon be celebrated on Sunday, the 21st of June. To prepare for this special day, we are sharing a Father's Day card making activity that gives children the opportunity to describe their dads, father figures, or male caregivers using picture symbols and text. With support from teachers or therapists, each child's card becomes a personalised message of love and appreciation.

Download the free resource using this link: fathers-day-card-making-activity.zp266262.pdf, or visit our website and access it on the Downloads and Resources tab.

🌟 Youth are the heartbeat of our nation.

Today we commemorate the 1976 Soweto uprising where thousands of students protested against the apartheid regime and discriminatory education policies. We remember the courage and resilience of the youth's role in achieving democracy.

We honour our youth- past and present - who continue to shape South Africa’s future.

👐 Every voice deserves space
📣 Every voice deserves to be heard

✨ We remain committed to a South Africa where all young people can express themselves, participate fully, and shape the future ✨

📢 New publication alert

We are excited to share a new contribution to AAC research from Cathy Flores and Shakila Dada: “AAC assessment experiences and training needs of professionals: Perspectives from South Africa” (2026).

The publication offers insights into how professionals navigate AAC assessment in our local context and what support is needed to promote evidence based professional practice. It adds to the growing evidence base that guides inclusive, responsive AAC services across South Africa and other LMICs.

📄 Download the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2026.2677475

On 29 May, the Centre for AAC proudly celebrated the graduation of three remarkable PhD candidates. The day honoured their determination, resilience, and the years of dedication that brought them to this milestone, all shared in the presence of their loved ones.

✨ Dr Cathy Flores examined how to strengthen professionals’ confidence and knowledge in AAC assessment through a co designed online training programme. Her research compared two digital training methods to identify effective ways of building AAC assessment capacity. She was supervised by Prof Shakila Dada.

✨ Dr Zakiyya Laher investigated how an interaction based communication approach can influence early communication behaviours and brain activity in children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Her study contributes valuable evidence to support more responsive, relationship based communication practices. She was supervised by Prof Shakila Dada, Dr Adele May, and Prof Nerrolyn Ramstrand.

✨ Dr Sheryll Ngwira explored how different ways of modelling and providing augmented input can support autistic children in understanding and following spoken directives that include prepositions. Her work offers important insights for improving AAC intervention approaches. She was supervised by Prof Shakila Dada and Prof Ralf Schlosser.

Each graduate has made a meaningful contribution to advancing AAC research and strengthening the knowledge base that supports children, families, and professionals. We are incredibly proud of these graduates and the impact their work will continue to make in advancing AAC research and practice.

On 29 May, the Centre for AAC proudly celebrated the achievements of our graduates from the Masters in AAC programme. The day was marked by pride and a well-deserved celebration as graduates reached a significant milestone in their academic journeys, surrounded by family and friends.

Through their dedication and perseverance, our graduates have made valuable contributions to research, expanded their knowledge and strengthened their skills to support people who use AAC. We wish them well and look forward to the impact they will make in the years to come.

On 29 May, the Centre for AAC proudly celebrated the achievements of our Honours in AAC graduates. The day was filled with joy, pride, and well-deserved recognition as students celebrated their achievements, surrounded by their loved ones.

Through dedication and hard work, our graduates have deepened their expertise and strengthened their knowledge in delivering quality AAC services. We are immensely proud of each of them and look forward to the meaningful contributions they will continue to make.

On 2 June 2026, students from the BA Honours in AAC programme at the Centre for AAC joined students in Special Needs Education at Mälardalen University in Sweden for a synchronous session focused on case-based discussions.

During the session, students shared their cross-cultural perspectives on AAC intervention, compared AAC practices and learned from each other’s experiences. The feedback from students highlighted their enjoyment of the session, describing it as exciting and insightful. Many expressed appreciation for the opportunity to interact with peers from a different cultural and educational context. We are delighted by the success of this initial student engagement and look forward to more opportunities that promote global online learning and cross-cultural understanding of AAC intervention.

We are very excited about the CAAC successfully applying for a New Generation of Academics Program (NGAP) post.

Kindly read the attached advert and see the section specific to the CAAC. Please share widely with suitably qualified individuals who may be interested in applying.

Please note the closing date is 10 June 2026.

Ms Keamogetse Makena, MA (AAC) student, is recruiting participants for a survey as part of a study entitled: "Determining and validating fringe vocabulary categories and items appropriate for children who require AAC from a Sepedi language background.”

If you are a speech-language therapist (SLT) or speech-language therapist and audiologist who (SLT/A) who;
• is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA);
• has a good knowledge of spoken and written Sepedi;
• has received training in AAC during undergraduate or postgraduate studies and
• has at least 1 year of experience in providing AAC services
..you are invited to take part in this survey.

Please see the attached letter for more information and a link to the consent form and survey: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t4oHjnpY-MjoaPKfR-9QALQF1ia7D4Im/view?usp=sharing
Please contact Ms Keamogetse Makena via email: [email protected] for more information.