Funding Options
Last updated
Last updated
To support AAC development, learners must have access to AAC systems, which cost money. Many education settings will have access to symbol software for the creation of paper based AAC systems but high tech devices can be much harder to come by. Some settings may have a loan bank or shared classroom devices, which are a great place to start. However, for a learner to reach their full potential they must have access to a system that is personalised and specific to them. They must have access to their system throughout their day, outside of school as well as beyond their years in education.
Since the NHS England Specialised AAC Services were established, it has become apparent that there is significant variation across regions in the provision of local AAC services. Based on the data offered in the Shining a light on Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Communication Matters: an AAC Evidence Base research project – final report (April 2013), local AAC services are responsible for meeting the need of 0.5% of the population in their region. In some areas, it is recognised that there are long established and commissioned local AAC services, which meet the requirements as suggested in the NHSE document however, in many areas there is no commissioned local AAC service at all. To learn more about this and find links to the supporting documentation click or visit acecentre.org.uk/services/nhs/laaces
As we discussed in the section, within England of the population who require AAC, 10% will have their needs met by the Specialised NHS Service and the other 90% via their local team. However, local Speech and Language Therapy input is an important part of considering funding at both levels.
To be eligible for a Specialised AAC Service assessment learners must reach criteria specified by NHS England. Referrals for an assessment are only accepted when submitted by a publicly funded health, education or social care professional who can give evidence as to the skills being demonstrated.
To be eligible for the NHS England Specialised AAC Services, a person must:
Be resident in England
Be registered with a GP practice in England
Have a severe/complex communication difficulty associated with a range of physical, cognitive, learning, or sensory deficits
Have a clear discrepancy between their level of understanding and their ability to speak
Be able to understand the purpose of a communication aid
Have developed beyond cause and effect understanding
Link ideas/ semantic categories and syntactic functions beyond basic requests.
For the learners who have not yet reached the criteria for Specialised AAC Service assessment, seeking funding for an AAC device via a local service is the next avenue to explore. AAC device could be commissioned by the local NHS Integrated Care System (formerly known as Clinical Commission Groups) or local education service.
To learn more about NHS England guidance for commission and referral criteria click or visit communicationmatters.org.uk/resources/publications/#national-aac-standards
To learn more about Specialised Service throughout the UK click or visit communicationmatters.org.uk/what-is-aac/assessment-routes/specialised-services.
Use the Ace Centre NHS Service Finder to find contact information for the Specialised AAC Service in your are by clicking or going to acecentre.org.uk/nhs-service-finder.
Information and support varies greatly from location to location, making it difficult to signpost to one place as the font of all knowledge. We suggest starting by getting in touch with your local NHS Speech and Language Therapy team to discuss putting together an individual funding request (IFR). You can learn more about IFRs or by visiting england.nhs.uk/publication/individual-funding-requests-for-specialised-services-a-guide-for-patients/.
Explore local SEND offers, which should include support for AAC and assistive technology, including short and long term loans of devices and equipment. You can explore a list of local service by clicking or going to communicationmatters.org.uk/what-is-aac/assessment-routes/local-services/ however this list is not exhaustive so we encourage you to do further investigation.
You can seek funding through avenues such as charities. These can differ from having a large national remit, to small local community interests, as well as having a focus on a specific condition or disability like Rett Syndrome. There is a small list of this alternative means of funding which you can find or by going to communicationmatters.org.uk/what-is-aac/assessment/. It can also be worthwhile to ask the AAC supplier(s), whose systems you are looking to purchase, for links to charities and organisations who can help with funding.
