Smartbox AAC

Start the Chat: The AAC Podcast

Society EN ↓ 5 episodes

Start the Chat: The AAC Podcast is hosted by Speech-Language Pathologists Chris Gibbons, Melanie Gylling, and Alicia Alverson. Together, the hosts explore the world of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), sharing stories, insights, and lived experiences from AAC users, their families, and the professionals who support them. Each episode offers meaningful conversations about communication, connection, and inclusion, exploring what matters most in the AAC community, demystifying complex subject matter, and sparking conversations that lead to greater understanding and belonging.

Author

Smartbox AAC

Episodes

Literacy, part two 15.06.2026 56:47

In part two of our literacy theme on Start the Chat, we hear from Emily Cowen, an AAC user and advocate, as she shares her literacy journey and the barriers she faced along the way. Together, we reflect on the importance of inclusivity, the role of belief in supporting people who use AAC, and how assumptions and bias can limit opportunities for learning and self-expression. We then meet Jamie...

Literacy, part one 23.03.2026 53:23

In this episode of Start the Chat, we explore literacy with early childhood education expert Maureen Donnelly, Director at Building Wings – an organisation dedicated to creating engaging instructional materials that support a wide range of learners. Maureen shares her passion for a supportive, student-centred approach to reading and writing, highlighting how giving learners space to explore and ex...

Supporting aphasia 20.02.2026 50:52

In the second episode of Start the Chat , we explore aphasia and how AAC can support people living with this condition. Chris and Melanie speak with Michael, who uses AAC part-time after it helped him through rehabilitation following a stroke. Now known as his “buddy”, AAC is a tool Michael uses when he needs it, supporting both his communication and his memory. The episode also features insights...

AI, Voice and Identity 08.01.2026 54:28

In our first episode, Melanie and Chris meet Deanna, a person with ALS/MND, to hear her lived experience with AAC. She shares what it was like to lose her natural speaking voice and how an AI-generated voice has helped her reclaim an important part of her identity. We then speak with Specialist Speech Therapist Richard Cave, who is a leading voice in the field of voice banking. Richard explains ho...

Welcome to Start The Chat: The AAC Podcast 07.01.2026 5:03

Welcome to Start The Chat, The AAC podcast, from Smartbox. In this short trailer, your hosts - Speech-Language Therapists Chris Gibbons, Melanie Gylling, and Alicia Alverson - share what this series is all about: communication, connection, and the stories that matter to people who use AAC and those who support them. We explore the rapidly evolving world of AAC - an emerging technology with enormou...