Over time, I’ve been invited to deliver many presentations, been interviewed and featured in various audio and video resources. Every time I’m asked to take part, my contribution is personalised and different. I’ve not recorded these myself, so this isn’t a comprehensive bank of what I do. Instead, the event host or someone attending has chosen to record and publish them, so I thought I’d provide a few links for you to watch now:
January 2025: Interview by BBC Radio York.
The result of being awarded by the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 the Number 1 spot as Grassroots and Community Advocate in the UK. It was lovely to meet Joanita Musisi to discuss all things AAC. You can listen here to our discussion, which includes first getting AAC, school experiences, delivering presentations and workshops, being a Paralympian, an advocate and juggling life. We also touch on the speed of spontaneous speech using AAC and identity around the choice of AAC voices.
November 2024: Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 Acceptance Speech
I didn’t know I’d won the Grassroots and Community Advocate category until it was announced. Fortunately, I’d been asked to prepare an acceptance speech ‘just in case’. This award also saw me enter the rankings as the #10 most influential disabled person in the UK, what an unexpected honour! You can catch my speech (bar the first few seconds!!)
July 2024: Presentation of Honorary Doctor of Health by Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University absolutely blew me away with its award of an honorary PdD for my advocacy work and as a Paralympian. It was my privilege to address the graduating class of 2024 at ceremony 8. (You can watch my speech from 28.05 mins).
Joanna Holmes (MummyvsAAC) and I have been doing lots of work around communication partners and multimodal communication. This interview with Chris focuses on our views on family magic, which often involves non-verbal communication that occurs when you know people well. Then on how long it can take to learn to use AAC. How important it is to recognise that there are always 2 people in a conversation, and both are communication partners, including the AAC user. This means the importance of then developing the skills to be an equal partner in interactions. You can listen to Jo and I from 16.05 mins)
Summer 2024: Assembly at Evelina’s Children’s Hospital, London
What a privilege it was to meet the children attending Evelina’s hospital school, talk with them about dreaming big, working hard, and being resilient, and then take Boccia onto the ward.
October 2023: Interview with Mel of the ‘Scottish Geeks’ for ISAAC International Awareness Month
It was lovely to share with Mel all things AAC, in celebration of AAC Awareness Month 2023. This included discussing my AAC journey and the importance of communication partners. Because there were initially some connection issues please hold on a couple of minutes for this one to start so you can listen to our chat.
Summer 2023: UP The Cerebral Palsy Hub – Self-Advocacy Workshop
It was an unexpected delight to be invited by Miriam and Emma of UP, the Cerebral Palsy hub, to run an interactive workshop on self-advocacy.
May 2023: Communication Works South Keynote
It was a pleasure to be invited to deliver the keynote speech at Communication Works South in 2023, which was then repeated at the North event a week later. The conference theme was ‘Get Seen’. This is so important, I absolutely believe that when we get seen, whoever we are, we thrive.
Autumn 2022: Interview by Khamani at CENMAC
Khamani is an award-winning student ambassador for CENMAC. This great interview discussed multimodal communication, advice for young people, the importance of technology in life and much more.
Summer 2021: Student Orator at the University of York Graduations
What a privilege this was to be asked to speak on behalf of the graduating students in 2021. It was even more special as I was sitting in bed at the Tokyo 2020 (delayed) Paralympics due to the time difference when it was broadcast!
October 2020: ISAAC Pathways to Leadership
As part of a series of Leadership webinars, I was asked by the ISAAC LEAD committee to talk about my thoughts on leadership. This includes my leadership inspiration. How I went about approaching my leadership dreams and goals. Gaining the important skills for leadership, and for 2021 onwards, where next for me.
2016: Living Independently as an AAC user
This was an invitation from the ISAAC Chapter in Israel to talk about living independently. This includes my views and experiences on first leaving home and being supported by a team of personal assistants.
Summer 2009: 1 Voice Weekend talking about the difference professionals can make for AAC users
I’m now a Patron of 1 Voice who, as a charity, were instrumental in my AAC journey. This was a family weekend when I was 15 and asked to talk about working with professionals.
July 2007: 1 Voice Network Weekend ‘Listen to me’
Making this music video with a group of friends at the 1 Voice Network weekend was such fun. It is so important that others know how to talk with AAC users. I hope you enjoy.
Please enjoy watching and listening to these resources: video and audio recordings. There are links across my website to other videos including Types of AAC, blog pages on UNCRPD addresses March 2023 ‘What gets measured gets done‘, and August 2022′ International Communication Rights Alliance’.