Ace Centre

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Ace Centre A UK charity supporting communication & access to technology for people with disabilities.

Great AAC support doesn't happen by chance. It happens when there is a shared understanding of why AAC matters, how it w...
20/10/2026

Great AAC support doesn't happen by chance. It happens when there is a shared understanding of why AAC matters, how it will be supported and who is responsible for making it happen.

An AAC policy can help educational settings create that shared vision. It can celebrate existing good practice, identify areas for development, provide consistency for staff, and ensure families and professionals understand the support available.

Rather than providing a one-size-fits-all solution, Ace Centre's AAC Policy guide helps educational settings develop a policy that reflects their own learners, staff, values and provision. The guide explores key areas including defining AAC, roles and responsibilities, training, transition, funding and creating environments where AAC can thrive.

This , why not take the first step towards creating or reviewing your AAC policy?

Download the AAC Policy guide and create a policy for your educational setting: https://acecent.re/4zGptCK

Occupational Therapists bring a unique perspective to AAC. Alongside communication goals, they consider access: how some...
19/10/2026

Occupational Therapists bring a unique perspective to AAC. Alongside communication goals, they consider access: how someone is positioned, how they move, how they interact with equipment and what might help them communicate more effectively in everyday life.

Whether it's exploring eye pointing, switch access, scanning, mounting, alternative access methods or adapting environments, Occupational Therapists ensure that a communication system isn't just available in theory but can be accessed effectively and comfortably in real-life situations.

At Ace Centre, our Occupational Therapists lead the development of access-focused training and practical guidance, helping families and professionals explore different ways of accessing AAC and Assistive Technology.

This , discover how small changes to access can make a big difference to communication.

See some of our access resources here: https://acecent.re/4yCpSWd

Every successful switch access journey begins with understanding the person behind it 📝Our updated Framework for Switch ...
19/10/2026

Every successful switch access journey begins with understanding the person behind it 📝

Our updated Framework for Switch Assessment for People with Physical Disabilities provides a practical roadmap for assessing, planning and reviewing switch access, helping multidisciplinary teams work together to achieve meaningful, personalised outcomes.

Download for free here 👉 https://acecent.re/475esig

Finding the right service can sometimes be one of the biggest challenges for individuals, families and professionals.Ace...
18/10/2026

Finding the right service can sometimes be one of the biggest challenges for individuals, families and professionals.

Ace Centre's NHS Service Finder brings together information about AAC services, Environmental Control Services and Wheelchair Services, helping people identify what support may be available and where to find it.

Whether you're looking for communication support, ways to access your environment more independently, or specialist wheelchair services, the Service Finder makes it easier to understand what NHS provision exists and how to take the next step.

This , take a few minutes to explore the services available in your area.

Explore the NHS Service Finder: https://acecent.re/4hWpQSz

We often talk about the importance of modelling AAC, but what does modelling look like when someone is learning to commu...
17/10/2026

We often talk about the importance of modelling AAC, but what does modelling look like when someone is learning to communicate using eye pointing, encoding, coded access or listener mediated scanning?

The principle is exactly the same. AAC users need to see their communication system being used by the people around them.

When someone uses an alternative access method, modelling should demonstrate the route to the message as well as the message itself. For example, if someone uses encoding or listener mediated scanning, model the access method as well as the vocabulary so they can see how messages are found and constructed.

Remember, modelling is about chatting, not testing. It helps learners understand both the vocabulary available and the route to accessing it. People need to see how AAC works before they can be expected to use it independently.

This , take some time to explore how modelling can be adapted for different access methods.

Explore our free eBook for practical guidance and video demonstrations of eye pointing, encoding, coded access and listener mediated scanning: https://acecent.re/3VG1dSJ

It's easy to think that literacy should come later. That learners need to master symbols first, or that we need to becom...
16/10/2026

It's easy to think that literacy should come later. That learners need to master symbols first, or that we need to become literacy experts before we can support AAC users to engage in literacy activities.

But literacy isn't something we wait for. It's something we provide opportunities for whenever we can.

For AAC users, literacy means having access to letters, words, books and pencils. You don't need to be a literacy specialist to get started. Sharing books, exploring letters, drawing attention to print and creating opportunities to engage with written language are all valuable ways to support literacy development.

Learning to use the alphabet can lead to an unlimited AAC vocabulary, allowing learners to communicate words they choose for themselves, rather than being limited to words others have programmed for them.

This , why not challenge the idea that literacy is something for "later" and explore how you can start supporting it today?

Learn more here: https://acecent.re/3TQgXSD

An AAC system needs useful everyday vocabulary, but it also needs the words that reflect the personality of the individu...
14/10/2026

An AAC system needs useful everyday vocabulary, but it also needs the words that reflect the personality of the individual using it.

Names of important people and places. Favourite activities, hobbies and interests. And the jokes, banter and phrases that captures their humour and individual style. Personalising vocabulary helps create opportunities to talk about the things that matter to the AAC user, not just the things we think they might need to say.

Our free Identifying Vocabulary to Personalise AAC worksheet provides prompts to help families, professionals and communication partners think beyond the obvious and identify vocabulary that personalises and expands an AAC system.

This , take a fresh look at the vocabulary available to the learners you support.

Download Identifying Vocabulary to Personalise AAC: https://acecent.re/4sdRWh3

AAC learning doesn’t always need to happen around a table or during a structured activity. Start with something that bri...
13/10/2026

AAC learning doesn’t always need to happen around a table or during a structured activity. Start with something that brings joy.

Playing with bubbles, singing a favourite song, reading together or joining in with a favourite game can create natural, motivating opportunities to communicate.

Our free Symbol Charts start with fun, motivating activities and offer core and activity specific vocabulary providing lots of opportunities to communicate: “BINGO!” “I LIKE to WIN!” “OH NO!” “YOU LOSE!”

And there’s no pressure to get it right. Model the symbols, respond to communication attempts and learn together through play and interaction.

This , why not start with something that brings a learner joy and add AAC into the experience?

Explore our free Symbol Charts: https://acecent.re/4zmzyVt

Got questions about AAC or Assistive Technology?Our free online Information Appointments give you the chance to have an ...
12/10/2026

Got questions about AAC or Assistive Technology?

Our free online Information Appointments give you the chance to have an informal conversation with two members of Ace Centre’s clinical team.

Whether you’re new to AAC/AT, looking for next steps or supporting someone else, we can help you explore your questions and access up-to-date, unbiased information.

Free. Online. Informal. Available twice a month.

Find out more and book: https://acecent.re/4hpTMaI

A well-designed communication book is much more than a collection of symbols. It gives AAC users access to vocabulary th...
10/10/2026

A well-designed communication book is much more than a collection of symbols. It gives AAC users access to vocabulary that helps them express what they want to say, across different people, places and situations.

Ace Centre’s Developing and Using a Communication Book (DUCB) approach provides practical guidance for creating personalised communication books. It explores how to:

- choose an appropriate stage for the individual
- select and organise useful core and topic-based vocabulary
- personalise vocabulary around the learner’s interests, needs and environments
- organise pages so vocabulary is easier to find
- develop the communication book as the learner’s communication grows
- support communication partners to model symbols and scaffold communication.

Want to develop your skills and put these principles into practice?

Sign up for the How to Develop and Use a Communication Book course starting 4th of November.

Learn more: https://acecent.re/4yCyJYK

Address

Hollinwood Business Centre, Albert Street, Hollinwood
Oldham
OL83QL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441613580151

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