1. NHS Dumfries and Galloway Speech and Language Therapy

2. A Right to Speak Supporting Individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication – June 2012 “ Individuals who use AAC are included, free from discrimination, and live in an environment that recognises their needs and adapts accordingly” http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/06/8416

3. Dumfries and Galloway

4. The Project – What we set out to achieve To increase public awareness of AAC To increase the public’s knowledge of how best to communicate with people who use AAC Empower people who use AAC to express their own views Have fun doing it

5. Communication Friends Group Social group High tech users of AAC Facilitated by local SLTs & Education partners Informal opportunities for social communication Peer support

6. The Project – the plan Communication Friends Group would create and star in a short film about how they communicate. Commission Equal Voices Arts Use the short film for awareness raising of AAC

7. A Right to Communicate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= fx338vnATIA

8. The Project -Feedback All participants were thrilled with the online reaction. Rachael responded: “It’s amazing, I feel so proud to be part of getting the message out there.”

9. Sharing the short film Friends and Family Wider Community – within Dumfries & Galloway AAC community Social Media

10. What other people thought Comments : “Genuinely one of the most interesting and moving things I’ve watched in a long time.” (Facebook) “Wonderful video showcasing the value of AAC technology.” (CereProc Text to Speech)

12. What’s happened since Participants have been empowered to use the short film to raise peer awareness Request to use as a training resource for 1 st year SLT students at Strathclyde University

13. Hopes & ideas for the Future To use within the Personal & Social Education curriculum within Secondary Schools in Dumfries and Galloway. Share as training resource with all other SLT undergraduate HEIs Scope to use in Probationary teacher and other training within the region Edited version as a pre movie trailer in cinemas within Dumfries & Galloway Support and encourage peer education

14. The Project – So what did we achieve? Increase public awareness of AAC Increase the public’s knowledge of how best to communicate with people who use AAC Empower people who use AAC to express their own views Have fun doing it!

15. Links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx338vnATIA Or search on YouTube ‘A Right to Communicate’ Follow us on Twitter @SLT-DG@SLT-DG or on Facebook at Speech and Language Therapy adult service:NHSD&GSpeech and Language Therapy adult service:NHSD&G http://www.equalvoices.co.uk/

16. Special Thanks to all members of the Communication Friends Group