Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication We focus on research, education and advocacy in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) What do we do?

The Centre for AAC at the University of Pretoria aims to provide research and training to improve the lives of persons with severe communication disabilities and their families. The Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication was founded in 1990 by Prof Erna Alant in conjunction with Prof Lyle Lloyd from the USA. The impetus to start the Centre came from concerned parents requesting better and more coordinated service delivery for their children with severe disabilities and little or no functional speech. The activities of the Centre quickly expanded from direct service delivery to training and education through degree and non-degree courses. Research was also added to provide evidence-based services appropriate to the South African context, and to mobilise support for persons with little or no functional speech by providing credible evidence of the challenges they face. Today the Centre functions as a postgraduate educational entity at the University of Pretoria, while also maintaining the status of a non-profit organisation, owing to various community projects and commitments. Most of the CAAC main activities are focussed on research, teaching and training is the fields of Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Early Childhood Intervention. The training are conducted in various settings including preschool, primary and secondary levels as well as other institutions and health care settings to support inclusion of children and adults with severe disabilities into the educational, health and employment context. Activities focus on training as well as material and technology development to support inclusion of children and adults with severe communication disabilities into communities. Training

In the over 30 years of the existence of the CAAC, staff has trained over 10 000 persons who use AAC, parents, teachers, and therapists in enhancing communication with individuals with severe disabilities. Follow-up visits to contexts confirmed that the CAAC has reached over eight thousand children, youth, and adults through training of families, community leaders and other professionals. Activities include training in communities as well as five post-graduate programs in the fields of early childhood intervention, severe disabilities and AAC. Leadership and advocacy

The CAAC recently embarked on a national project to assist youth with severe disabilities in getting access to communication and information technology, called the Fofa Project. This project assists young people to "speak for themselves" and facilitate their access to employment. Research

The CAAC staff and students are engaged on an ongoing basis in research in the fields of AAC, severe disabilities and early childhood intervention.

As Human Rights Day approaches, this week we will focus on a truth at the heart of dignity, inclusion and participation:...
16/03/2026

As Human Rights Day approaches, this week we will focus on a truth at the heart of dignity, inclusion and participation: Communication is a human right.

The Communication Bill of Rights, developed by the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities (NJC), is a foundational document in AAC that outlines the basic communication rights every person is entitled to, regardless of disability, communication method, or support needs. It reminds us that every person, including those who use AAC, has the right to express themselves, be heard and be understood.

The Communication Bill of Rights is both a practical guide and a moral compass for AAC practice. It sets a universal standard for ethical, rights-based communication support and guides clinicians, educators, and families in creating inclusive environments. It also challenges assumptions about who can communicate and, in alignment with global disability rights frameworks, ensures AAC users are treated as autonomous and capable individuals.

Read more about how the Communication Bill of Rights was developed and access NJC the document at: https://www.asha.org/njc.

You can also visit the CAAC website to access the Communication Bill of Rights adapted for AAC users in the official South African languages: https://www.up.ac.za/centre-for-augmentative-alternative-communication/caac-downloads-resources





đź’š March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month đź’šCerebral Palsy is the most common childhood physical disability, but children...
12/03/2026

đź’š March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month đź’š

Cerebral Palsy is the most common childhood physical disability, but children and families still face attitudinal, environmental and systemic barriers.

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month calls us to action. This month serves as a reminder that real progress happens when we work together to support families and caregivers, advocate for research and policy improvements and promote and support inclusion

When educational, medical and rehabilitation professionals work with families, they create a shared plan that is coordinated and centred on what truly matters to the child and their family

This month let’s commit to real inclusion by advocating for accessible services, early support and meaningful participation for all.




The second year MA (AAC) cohort recently returned to campus for an intensive week of lectures, discussions and supervisi...
09/03/2026

The second year MA (AAC) cohort recently returned to campus for an intensive week of lectures, discussions and supervision sessions as they advanced their mini dissertations. The students immersed themselves in literature reviews, grappled with methodological decisions, screened articles, piloted data extraction processes, and provided one another with support. With such diverse and meaningful topics, the projects promise to generate valuable and insightful findings. We trust the week offered clarity and a strong push forward. We wish every student continued success as they move toward completing their research.




The month of Ramadaan has begun and Muslim people around the world observe a time of fasting, prayer and reflection. The...
06/03/2026

The month of Ramadaan has begun and Muslim people around the world observe a time of fasting, prayer and reflection. The Centre for AAC wishes all those observing this month a blessed and peaceful Ramadaan.

To support inclusive communication, we are sharing a communication board about fasting during Ramadaan. This is a free resource developed by the Centre for AAC. Follow the link: https://www.up.ac.za/centre-for-augmentative-alternative-communication/caac-downloads-resources to download this resource and share it with someone who can benefit from using the communication board.

For families of people who use AAC, rituals and traditions are a time to honour communication in all its forms.

As service providers, we can make these rituals and traditions more accessible by:
- Identifying key vocabulary with family and communication partners
- Adding related vocabulary to AAC systems
- Modelling phrases during shared routines
- Inviting AAC users to express their hopes, reflections and choices

Everyone deserves to participate fully in the traditions that matter to them and their loved ones.




✨ Join us for a special presentation from Prof. Erna Alant, the founder of the Centre for AAC at the University of Preto...
04/03/2026

✨ Join us for a special presentation from Prof. Erna Alant, the founder of the Centre for AAC at the University of Pretoria.

She will share “Making‑Meaning Across a Lifetime,” a powerful reflection on connection, change and what it means to truly “be with” and “do with” others across different stages of life.

đź“… 27 March 2026
🕒 14:00–16:00
đź“Ť CAAC Lecture Hall, UP
đź“© RSVP by 23 March by following this link: https://forms.gle/jjRyoF653cDz8H5g7

Don’t miss this chance to learn from a global leader in AAC and the visionary who founded the CAAC community.

The CAAC recently welcomed the first-year Master’s students in Early Childhood Intervention to their first on-site week ...
04/03/2026

The CAAC recently welcomed the first-year Master’s students in Early Childhood Intervention to their first on-site week (16–20 February). The programme introduced them to the theoretical foundations of early childhood intervention applied to the local context, diving into the multisystem realities faced by young children and their families and the importance of fostering stronger team collaboration. During the week, the students connected with their teammates, who they will collaborate with throughout the two-year program, gaining hands-on experience working in diverse, multi-professional teams.




Our BA Honours in AAC class of 2026 recently attended their first onsite week. Students were introduced to the theoretic...
02/03/2026

Our BA Honours in AAC class of 2026 recently attended their first onsite week. Students were introduced to the theoretical concepts related to AAC, severe disabilities, research methodology and AAC assessment. One of the highlights of the week was a collaborative resource-making activity where students worked in groups to develop their own paper-based AAC resources. Creativity, teamwork and practical problem-solving were on full display!

The students appreciated a talk by Ms. Constance Ntuli, Disability Advocate at the Centre for AAC, about how she uses her Speech Assistant AAC app every day. In between the academic sessions, students received information on using the UP library and understanding the principles of academic writing. They also enjoyed getting to know each other as they begin this exciting academic journey together.


We recently welcomed the first year Masters students to the M(AAC) programme. The students had a stimulating on-site wee...
28/02/2026

We recently welcomed the first year Masters students to the M(AAC) programme. The students had a stimulating on-site week covering the theoretical foundations of AAC and their application to the field of AAC. They also explored academic reading and writing skills, referencing programmes and got acquainted with the beautiful UP campus. The students enjoyed support from UP postgraduate services, including the information specialists and writing centre. They engaged in rich, critical discussions that brought together reflections from clinical work and research.



The CAAC recently welcomed the 2nd year Master of Early Childhood Intervention (MECI) students for their first on-site w...
27/02/2026

The CAAC recently welcomed the 2nd year Master of Early Childhood Intervention (MECI) students for their first on-site week of the year. The week explored the foundations of participation research globally and its application to the local context, with a focus on the challenges faced by children with disabilities. The students also unpacked the theory behind assessment and intervention in ECI, applying it to their own work contexts and the broader service delivery landscape. The students found the week engaging and enjoyed reconnecting with their classmates.



The PhD programme at the CAAC featured an onsite week from 26 to 30 January, during which students participated in const...
25/02/2026

The PhD programme at the CAAC featured an onsite week from 26 to 30 January, during which students participated in constructive, critical discussions with their peers and supervisors to refine their research studies.

Prof Sarah Douglas (Michigan State University, Michigan) joined the sessions, offering students valuable feedback and sharing her expertise in Qualitative Meta-Syntheses.

The students had the opportunity to gain insights from Dr Chitrali R. Mamlekar (Communication in Healthcare and Assistive Technology (CHAT) Lab, Misericordia University, Pennsylvania), who shared practical, evidence-based guidance on conducting sound AAC research in the field of Aphasia.

Saba Sedegi, a visiting PhD student from University of Ottawa (Canada) also joined the onsite week. The students had the opportunity to engage with Dr Cathy Flores, a CAAC PhD alumna, who shared reflections on her doctoral journey and offered guidance on navigating the PhD process.




Ms Hannah Vogler, a speech-language therapist from Germany, is conducting an academic visit at the CAAC. Hannah has a s...
23/02/2026

Ms Hannah Vogler, a speech-language therapist from Germany, is conducting an academic visit at the CAAC. Hannah has a specific interest in AAC for persons with post-stroke aphasia. As part of her 2-year Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Science (with a major in Augmentative and Alternative Communication) at the University of Cologne she has conducted research into the design of electronic AAC tools to provide appropriate access to core vocabulary and pragmatic functions for persons with aphasia. During her time at the Centre, she is involved in research and teaching support, while also visiting various health and education institutions where AAC is implemented.




Ms Sheryll Ngwira recently successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled: “The effects of varied modes and levels o...
20/02/2026

Ms Sheryll Ngwira recently successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled: “The effects of varied modes and levels of augmented input on the accuracy of following directives that contain prepositions in autistic children.”

Sheryll’s doctoral thesis was completed under the supervision of Professor Shakila Dada and with Professor Ralf Schlosser, an Extraordinary Professor at the CAAC, as co-supervisor.

We are delighted to celebrate this achievement with Sheryll and wish her continued success in her academic and research journey.



Address

University Of Pretoria, 2 Lynnwood Road
Pretoria
0020

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:00
Thursday 08:00 - 16:00
Friday 08:00 - 16:00

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