Course Level: Intermediate

Course Runtime: 1 hour.

Course Format: e-learning – text and video.

This course is a video recording of a conference talk from Smartbox’s 24 Hours of AAC virtual conference held on 6–7 May 2026.

Description

This panel discussion explores how AAC users can be supported to communicate across all areas of life, from home and education settings to community environments and online spaces. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, the presenters examine what "AAC everywhere" means in practice, highlighting the importance of communication choice, multimodal communication, and respecting AAC users as the experts in their own communication.

The session discusses common barriers to AAC use beyond the therapy room, including challenges relating to communication partners, community accessibility, technology, vocabulary, and service provision. Through practical examples and personal experiences, the panel shares strategies for supporting AAC use in everyday situations, building communication partner confidence, promoting self-advocacy, mentoring, and helping AAC users participate meaningfully in the environments that matter to them.

This talk is an intermediate course, suitable for anyone with basic understanding of AAC.

Course outline 

• Why Discuss AAC Everywhere? Communication choice, multimodal AAC, and participation across environments. 
• Challenges: Barriers related to communication partners, community access, technology, vocabulary, and service provision. 
• Strategies and Key Principles: Person-centred goal setting, self-advocacy, and meaningful participation. 
• Communication Partners: Supporting families, support staff, and other communication partners. 
• Direct Work: Preparing AAC users for real-world communication situations. 
• Technology Features: Tools and features that support AAC use across settings. 
• Online Community and Mentoring: The role of peer support, mentoring, and online connections.

Content disclosure: This course may use examples predominantly from Smartbox Products, other products will be included in a limited format.

Learner outcomes 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

• List at least two challenges faced when extending AAC use at home and in the community. 
• Identify at least one strategy that can be implemented to support AAC users at home and in the community. 
• Name at least one way that AAC users may choose to adapt their use of AAC depending on the environment. 

Completion requirements: You must complete all course content including reading all text and watching all video content. This course is assessed via a multiple-choice, five-question knowledge check at the end of the course. The pass score is 80%. You can take the knowledge check multiple times. 

Instructor bios

Francesca Sephton BMed Sci, MSc | Clinical Manager at AT Therapy.

Kate Laws BSc (Hons), mRCSLT | Clinical Manager & Speech and Language Therapist at AT Therapy.

Megan Glynn, BSc SLT (Hons) | Clinical Lead at AT Therapy.

Gregor Gilmour | Co-manager of the AT Mentors and Highly specialised Mentor at AT Therapy.

Deborah Little, BSc SLT (Hons) | Speech and Language Therapist at AT Therapy.

View full instructor bios on AT Therapy’s website. 

Disclosures 

Financial disclosure: Francesca Sephton, Kate Laws, Megan Glynn, Gregor Gilmour, and Deborah Little all receive a salary from ATtherapy which is part of the Smartbox family. 

Non-financial disclosure: Francesca Sephton, Kate Laws, Megan Glynn, Gregor Gilmour, and Deborah Little all do not have any non-financial disclosures.