"Just use your words"...
...5 ways to actually connect and communicate with your non-speaking children.
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If you want to learn more about
The AACademy, read on below...
The AACademy is for parents, educators, therapists, teaching assistants and support staff, who want to create meaningful communication opportunities for children and young people with complex communication needs.
It is for people who believe communication is a human right, who want to move beyond compliance-based approaches, and who are looking for practical, neuro-affirming ways to support AAC users every day.
Whether you are just beginning your AAC journey or have years of experience but want fresh ideas, confidence, and support, The AACademy is a place where you can learn, ask questions, and grow alongside others who truly understand.
I believe communication is the foundation to support all areas of needs.
I’m Sammie, a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD teacher, of non-speaking autistic children. My passion for supporting communication for all begun before I was a qualified teacher, back when I was a teaching assistant, supporting in mainstream and in special schools, communication has always been a focused interest of mine.
The AACademy was born from years of supporting children who were underestimated because they communicated differently. I saw dedicated professionals and families desperately trying to do the right thing, but often feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice, expensive training, and a lack of ongoing support. There had to be a better way.
I believe a neuro-affirming, individualised, modelling approach is best.
When I speak to parents, carers, teachers, speech and language therapies, and other people supporting non-speaking children, there seems to be a gap in holistic, child-led, neuro-affirming support. Especially for our non-speaking autistic children.
I noticed a real disconnect with support, guidance and training, between schools, parents and outside professionals. As an autistic adult, I can see the gap. I see the waitlists and I see the struggles. This is why I knew I had to do something to bring all of these people supporting non-speaking children together, to create cohesive support.
Want to know more about The AACademy, and if it's right for you?...
The AACademy will be a community of people who want to learn and share their AAC journey’s with their child. The AACademy will be a practical, supportive, neuro-affirming membership that helps people turn their AAC knowledge into AAC action.
There will be no need to justify or explain if you have nothing in place yet, if you haven’t had the time, energy or resources. The AACademy is a safe space and a judgement-free zone.
Parents, carers, teachers and professionals always want the best for their children. I see teachers doing their best. I see parents and carers doing their best. I see professionals doing their best. We all want children to feel safe, understood and able to communicate their needs effectively, in a way that works for them.
I believe you are already doing your best
You don’t need judgement, you need support.
I believe everyone deserves a voice.
Maybe you are arriving here feeling that you need support with your non-speaking child. You may be a parent, struggling to implement communication at home, or a professional, who is unsure about how to meet the communication needs of each learner in your class.
You may feel overwhelmed by all the options, unsure of where to start, isolated, worried about starting and getting it wrong, frustrated with lack of support you are receiving, and you feel you need practical ideas and support.
The AACademy is being developed in a supportive way to help build your confidence, ensure you feel equipped and empowered to try new approaches.
I speak from experience, give yourself permission to start before you feel ready, because you will learn along the way. I know AAC can seem overwhelming, but if you need somewhere to start, I can help you with that.
We will challenge outdated practices, we will ask questions, without judgement, and we will prioritise communication and connection over compliance.
As an experienced teacher who trains and supports other teachers and professionals, there is a real inconsistency when it comes to training and support. By creating a hub that can be accessed by all, I am aiming to create a consistent platform for a shared community of people who want the same as I do - accessible and neuro-affirming communication support for all.
Accessibility and neuro-affirming practice are 2 things that I value the most.
Accessibility - Communication is not one size fits all, some aids need adaptation, some systems need individualising to meet the individual needs of the child. I can help you with that.
Neuro-affirming practice - I believe we should model and offer a wide range of communication supports, for the child to discover what their preferred method is, leading with their interests and validating all communication attempts. Unsure of how that looks? Here is where I can help you.
But, what's in The AACademy?
The AACademy will contain:
Training courses
Training videos
Support for modelling and using AAC systems
Implementation support for different AAC systems in real life situations
Support guides
Exclusive access to a private Facebook group for community discussions, sharing struggles and wins
Live training sessions and more!
By signing up to the waitlist now, you will:
Receive a free AAC guide with clickable support links
Get early access pricing
Be the first to hear about any updates
Access founding member benefits
