Access to Communication and Technology
Training
ACT works with people with complex disabilities to enable them communicate and interact, assisted by the use of electronic equipment.
ACT Training
If you are not yet on our email list for alerts around what we hope to offer, please sign up to our 2025 mailing list.
We have produced a training guide video, Introduction to ACT, presented by two members of our team for those who may not have referred to ACT before, or those who feel they need a refresher.
This training will provide:
- An overview of the team, our referral criteria, and the remit of the service.
- How to refer and the information required to make a referral.
- Things to consider before referring and how to prepare your client.
ACT has a project to restart offering training to those in the West Midlands interested in the service we provide to the West Midlands. We have been doing various things to progress this.
ACT has a project to restart offering training to those in the West Midlands interested in the services we provide. We have been working to progress this through the provision of training for local universities and the creation of social media content to offer bitesize training content.
Bristol AAC West has a wide range of training content that is available to access in-person as well as on its website including video sessions on topics such as: modelling AAC, an introduction to AAC vocabularies, and communication partner training. While ACT is currently unable to resume our in-person training, these sessions may prove valuable.
Survey results
In June 2024, ACT carried out a survey with people on our mailing list, to explore what training these colleagues across the West Midlands region would like and how they would like it delivered. We had lots of suggestions and have prioritised the most popular options which were:
- Using and adapting mainstream equipment: for example, commercially available smart speakers, phones, tablets for Environmental Control Systems and internet access. Likely delivered face to face.
- Pathways to Augmentative and Alternative Communication/Environmental Control Systems and Computer access assessment with NHSE services. This would be about navigating the pathways to our service depending on the profile of the client and their environment. Likely delivered online with restricted audience numbers to ensure a quality learning experience.
While we do not yet have 2026 dates for these courses, information about using mainstream equipment can be found on our Information page, and the Introduction to ACT training video highlights how to access our service.
Clinical Excellence Network
The West Midlands Augmentative and Alternative Communication Clinical Excellence Network (WMAAC CEN) held a meeting on Tuesday 10 February 2026. This was hosted by Access to Communication and Technology to a positive reception. We are currently working towards the next event on Tuesday 9 June 2026. This event will be primarily aimed at our SLT(A) colleagues working with adult acquired cases. Please be aware spaces are limited, as the room we have in the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre holds 40 people.
We remind you that the ACT referral and helpline is just that, and you are welcome to call us to talk a query, idea, real or "hypothetical" client through Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., on 0121 466 3028.