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2021 AAC Awards Winners
We celebrated the achievements of those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and the people who support them. The main aim of the awards was to raise the profile of AAC and the power it has to allow those who use it to take part in all aspects of life. The recipients of these awards demonstrate this power by showing us all they have achieved. Many congratulations to all the worthy winners!
Group of the Year
An award for a setting or context that has promoted AAC in a particularly creative or inclusive way.- Winner: 1Voice - 1Voice celebrated its 21st birthday this year, and many of the young AAC users supported over the years are now capable and engaged members of the AAC community. The pandemic demanded a radical rethink of 1Voice’s successful model of national residential weekends and regional events and delivered an inclusive and creative response to supporting members and promoting AAC online.
- Highly Commended: CALL Scotland
The Alan Martin Award
An award presented to a person who uses AAC who has made a significant contribution to the arts. This award is dedicated to the memory of Alan Martin, who championed the arts and creative inclusion through his work as a dancer, a musician and comedian.- Winner: Becky Tyler - Becky or EyegazeGirl, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and directs most of her life using Eyegaze Technology. Becky is a familiar face with several TV appearances and interviews, and events that have showcased what can be achieved with Eyegaze with a constant focus on her art.
Outstanding Community Inclusion
An award for a person or community who have shown exceptional awareness and support for AAC users and their needs.- Winner: Oli Cunningham - As a DJ who uses AAC, Oli Cunningham is well placed to understand the power of music to bring people together and the unique issues of people who use AAC. His DJ work during lockdown has provided a key support for people who use AAC to stay connected.
- Highly Commended: Dan Cooper
The Jamie Munro Award
An award for an inspiring individual, whose work has had impact across the entire field of AAC. This award is in memory of Jamie Munro, who inspired all he worked with during his career as an AAC supplier and developer.- Winner: Jamie Preece - Jamie has continued support to other AAC users during lockdown. Despite the lockdown challenges of keeping himself and his family safe, working from home and having young children to keep busy, Jamie embraced the world of remote meetings to continue his many previous commitments and take on many more!
- Highly Commended: Stephanie Stollery
The Rising Star Award
A newcomer to the world of AAC who has made particular impact over the past year.- Winner: Lisa-Marie Eastwood - Lisa-Marie has cerebral palsy, is blind and uses a communication device. During the Covid pandemic Lisa-Marie has been promoting herself as a model and an Instagram Influencer. Lisa-Marie chooses her outfits after listening to a description and creates the captions to add to the photos. Her team of PAs assist with her hair and makeup.
- Highly Commended: Kelly John
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is presented to a dedicated individual who has made an outstanding and continued contribution to the AAC community.- Winner: Sally Connor - Sally's career has been characterised by total dedication to the needs of her patients and their families, prodigious creativity, and generous collegiality. It is difficult to overstate the influence Sally had on the development of dynamic screen language software. Sally has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the field.
