If your child uses or needs an AAC device — a communication aid that gives them a voice when speech isn't possible — you already know that finding and funding the right one is one of the most important and overwhelming journeys a family can go through.
This article is for you. Written by a dad whose son Theo has cerebral palsy and uses a Tobii Dynavox — but whose journey started somewhere most families don't know about.
Start here — the ACE Centre
Before anything else — before researching devices, before applying for grants, before spending a penny — contact the ACE Centre.
The ACE Centre is a charity specialising in AAC and Assistive Technology, and they were genuinely invaluable to our family. Their free advice line is 0800 080 3115 and I'd encourage every family at the start of this journey to pick up the phone.
We visited for a full day assessment. Not a quick appointment — a proper day. Theo tried multiple devices, because here's something nobody tells you until you're in the room: all AAC devices broadly do the same job, but the eye tracking cameras behave very differently. Some picked up Theo's eyes perfectly. Some didn't work at all. You simply cannot know which one will work for your child until you try them.
The most effective for Theo was a Smartbox. The team looked at mounting options, worked out a plan with us, ordered the equipment, delivered it, set it all up and checked it was working efficiently.
And then — and this is the part that changed everything for us — they lent it to us for twelve months. Twelve months to live with it. To see if it really worked. To understand what Theo could do with a voice before committing to purchasing one privately. That loan period was invaluable. We went on to get our own Tobii Dynavox — but we went into that decision with certainty rather than hope.
The ACE Centre covers the North West and other regions across England through NHS England funding. Use their NHS Service Finder at acecentre.org.uk to find the specialised AAC service in your area.
The NHS route — what you need to know
Here's a statistic that stopped us in our tracks — only 10% of people who need AAC have their needs met by the specialised NHS service. The other 90% go via their local team or find their own route.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't try the NHS route — you absolutely should. Ask your GP or paediatrician for a referral to your local Speech and Language Therapy team and discuss AAC assessment. But go in with realistic expectations and a parallel plan.
Funding your child's AAC device — charitable grants
AAC devices are expensive. A quality eye gaze communication system can cost anywhere from £3,000 to over £15,000. The gap between what the NHS provides and what your child needs can be enormous.
The application — what works for AAC funding
A communication device isn't a piece of technology. It's a voice. It's the difference between a child being able to tell you they're in pain, that they love you, that they want to watch their favourite programme.
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