Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

We are very excited about the CAAC successfully applying for a New Generation of Academics Program (NGAP) post.

Kindly read the attached advert and see the section specific to the CAAC. Please share widely with suitably qualified individuals who may be interested in applying.

Please note the closing date is 10 June 2026.

Ms Keamogetse Makena, MA (AAC) student, is recruiting participants for a survey as part of a study entitled: "Determining and validating fringe vocabulary categories and items appropriate for children who require AAC from a Sepedi language background.”

If you are a speech-language therapist (SLT) or speech-language therapist and audiologist who (SLT/A) who;
• is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA);
• has a good knowledge of spoken and written Sepedi;
• has received training in AAC during undergraduate or postgraduate studies and
• has at least 1 year of experience in providing AAC services
..you are invited to take part in this survey.

Please see the attached letter for more information and a link to the consent form and survey: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t4oHjnpY-MjoaPKfR-9QALQF1ia7D4Im/view?usp=sharing
Please contact Ms Keamogetse Makena via email: [email protected] for more information.

🎓You may have seen all the wonderful graduation celebrations this month at the University of Pretoria 🎓

Are you also thinking about postgraduate studies in 2027? Now is the perfect time to apply!

Our graduates compiled this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rqT8DIFpOQ&feature=youtu.be) to share information about the different programs, the impact studying has had on their work and how they balanced work, families and studies. Listen to the end to get a glimpse of Ms. Constance Ntuli's reflections on the importance of professional training and how it has made a difference to her life.

Applications are open to the exciting courses offered by the Centre for AAC at the University of Pretoria. Our flexible, blended learning programs are ideally suited to working professionals. A strong focus on the local context ensures that learning is relevant to practitioners working in the fields of early childhood intervention and AAC.

Visit our website for more information about our courses: https://www.up.ac.za/centre-for-augmentative-alternative-communication/centre-aac-study-programmes

If you are interested in applying, please email the relevant course coordinator at [email protected] for further information:
- BA Honours in AAC: Dr Adele May
- Master of Arts in AAC: Prof Kerstin Tönsing
- Master of Early Childhood Intervention (MECI): Prof Alecia Samuels
- Doctor of Philosophy (AAC, ECI or Severe Disabilities): Prof Shakila Dada

Applications close on 30 September for students with South African qualifications, and on 31 August for students with international qualifications. Apply early to avoid disappointment!

Student testimonials Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

On May 19th, Ms Anna Tyranes successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled: "The effect of curriculum-integrated cognitive education on the academic performance of children with learning delays: A mixed method study". Anna completed her thesis under the supervision of Prof Juan Bornman.

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

On 15 May, the Centre for AAC proudly celebrated the achievements of our Masters of Early Childhood Intervention (MECI) graduates. It was a joyous day filled with pride and well-deserved recognition as students marked a significant milestone in their academic journeys, surrounded by their loved ones.

Through dedication and hard work, our graduates have expanded their expertise and strengthened the skills needed to work in teams to support children, families, and communities.

We are incredibly proud of each of them and look forward to the positive impact they will continue to make in the years ahead.

Today we celebrate a very special achievement! 🎓✨

Congratulations to Gloria Gkikas, our incredible counsellor at Autism South Africa, on obtaining her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Intervention, at the University of Pretoria. We are incredibly proud of this remarkable accomplishment and the dedication, compassion, and hard work that made it possible.

Gloria is not only a tremendous asset to Autism South Africa, but also a true blessing to the many, many families of autistic children whose lives she touches through her support, care, and advocacy. Her commitment to making a meaningful difference shines through in everything she does.

Well done, Gloria — your Autism SA family celebrates with you today!

🌐🌍Strengthening special education teaching in Africa and beyond🌐🌍

We’re proud to see the collaboration between the UCL Institute of Education and the Centre for AAC highlighted globally. Dr Daisy Loyd, who works in inclusive education in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at the UCL Institute of Education (UCL IOE), is working in collaboration with Professor Zachary Walker. This partnership with the CAAC is helping to deepen our understanding of what teachers need to support learners with disabilities and how we can build more inclusive education systems.

The project highlights both the strengths and systemic barriers in special education in South Africa, drawing on information from surveys, school visits, teacher interviews, and knowledge exchange workshops. The work is now expanding to ensure that inclusive education moves beyond a policy ideal to be implemented for all learners.

Read the full story here: 🔗 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/global/case-studies/2026/may/strengthening-special-education-teaching-africa-and-beyond

Strengthening special education teaching in Africa and beyond Following a project that started in the Middle East, Dr Daisy Loyd (UCL Institute of Education) is working across the world to improve education for diverse learners.

🎓Applications for the BA Honours in AAC, offered by the Centre for AAC at the University of Pretoria, are open for 2027🎓

Our flexible, blended learning programs are ideally suited to working professionals. A strong focus on the local context ensures that learning is relevant to practitioners working in the field of AAC.

Want to know more about the program? Read some testimonials from our alumni and the course brochure. You can also watch Ms Constance Ntuli talk about the important role AAC has played in her life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYQXRyMOdy4

If you are interested in applying, please email Dr Adele May at [email protected].

Closing dates: International students need to apply by 31 August and SA students by 30 September of the year preceding the study.

Closing dates: International students need to apply by 31 August and SA students by 30 September of the year preceding the study.

Do you know of a family member of a person living with dementia?

Please see below an invitation for a research study.
The aim of this study is to understand the communication challenges family members experience when interacting with a person with dementia. The insights gained from this study will guide the development of a person-centered AAC training programme for families of people with dementia.

Please share the research invitation with family members who may be interested in participating. To access the survey, scan the QR code in the attachment or click this link: https://pretoria.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3az6WSP1ZcLVTlY

For questions about this study, feel free to email Dr May directly at [email protected].

A core part of our postgraduate training at the Centre for AAC is ensuring that research outputs are useful and accessible to the communities they serve.

We’re excited to share these posters in English & Sepedi, created by an MA (AAC) graduate, to support understanding of language development in preschoolers. The poster offers practical guidance on early communication milestones and how to nurture language-rich environments.

🌱 Designed to support families, ECD practitioners, and anyone working with young children.