Communication Matters International AAC Conference

13-17 September 2021, Virtual



Thank you for your interest in submitting a paper for the CM2021 Conference. Please read the below information carefully and follow the guidelines on the next page before completing an Abstract Submission Form. We look forward to receiving your abstract submission by the closing date of 30 April 2021 (midnight BST).


Submission Formats

  • Platform Presentations - these sessions are 30 minutes long, including up to 10 minutes for questions, and are presented by groups or an individual presenter. Submissions for platform presentations that are not selected may be offered poster presentations.
  • Poster Presentations - You will need to be available to answer questions from delegates about your poster.
  • Lightning Talks - these "lightning presentations" will offer delegates the opportunity to present ideas in a short, concise way. This format requires the presenter to write 15 slides, each of which automatically advances after 25 seconds. Each Lightning Talk presentation will be allocated 6.25 minutes. If you’ve got a thought, something you’ve designed, or even just a topic you feel passionate about, come along and share it with our delegates in this concise, fast-paced ideas forum! AAC users will be allocated 100% extra time (12.5 minutes in total) and double the number of slides (30 slides).

Organisation of Papers

We have based our topic areas on the three aspects of evidence-based practice, which constitute improved outcomes for all. These aspects are:
  • Best Research Evidence - Papers submitted under this heading are carried out by independent organisations such as education, social or health services and universities. Papers should foreground description of methodology and results.
  • Clinical & Professional Experience - Papers submitted under this heading may include service development, audit or implementation projects, as well as practice reports. Typically, these papers will be presented by health or education professionals or those working for other organisations for people who use AAC.
  • Personal Stories & Preferences - Papers submitted under this heading would include personal experience stories, single case studies and examples of AAC in the wider community.


Read Guidelines