Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

12/06/2026

On 29 May, the Centre for AAC proudly celebrated the graduation of three remarkable PhD candidates. The day honoured their determination, resilience, and the years of dedication that brought them to this milestone, all shared in the presence of their loved ones.

✨ Dr Cathy Flores examined how to strengthen professionals’ confidence and knowledge in AAC assessment through a co designed online training programme. Her research compared two digital training methods to identify effective ways of building AAC assessment capacity. She was supervised by Prof Shakila Dada.

✨ Dr Zakiyya Laher investigated how an interaction based communication approach can influence early communication behaviours and brain activity in children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Her study contributes valuable evidence to support more responsive, relationship based communication practices. She was supervised by Prof Shakila Dada, Dr Adele May, and Prof Nerrolyn Ramstrand.

✨ Dr Sheryll Ngwira explored how different ways of modelling and providing augmented input can support autistic children in understanding and following spoken directives that include prepositions. Her work offers important insights for improving AAC intervention approaches. She was supervised by Prof Shakila Dada and Prof Ralf Schlosser.

Each graduate has made a meaningful contribution to advancing AAC research and strengthening the knowledge base that supports children, families, and professionals. We are incredibly proud of these graduates and the impact their work will continue to make in advancing AAC research and practice.

11/06/2026

On 29 May, the Centre for AAC proudly celebrated the achievements of our graduates from the Masters in AAC programme. The day was marked by pride and a well-deserved celebration as graduates reached a significant milestone in their academic journeys, surrounded by family and friends.

Through their dedication and perseverance, our graduates have made valuable contributions to research, expanded their knowledge and strengthened their skills to support people who use AAC. We wish them well and look forward to the impact they will make in the years to come.

10/06/2026

On 29 May, the Centre for AAC proudly celebrated the achievements of our Honours in AAC graduates. The day was filled with joy, pride, and well-deserved recognition as students celebrated their achievements, surrounded by their loved ones.

Through dedication and hard work, our graduates have deepened their expertise and strengthened their knowledge in delivering quality AAC services. We are immensely proud of each of them and look forward to the meaningful contributions they will continue to make.

09/06/2026

On 2 June 2026, students from the BA Honours in AAC programme at the Centre for AAC joined students in Special Needs Education at Mälardalen University in Sweden for a synchronous session focused on case-based discussions.

During the session, students shared their cross-cultural perspectives on AAC intervention, compared AAC practices and learned from each other’s experiences. The feedback from students highlighted their enjoyment of the session, describing it as exciting and insightful. Many expressed appreciation for the opportunity to interact with peers from a different cultural and educational context. We are delighted by the success of this initial student engagement and look forward to more opportunities that promote global online learning and cross-cultural understanding of AAC intervention.

01/06/2026

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.

25/05/2026

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.

22/05/2026

🎓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!

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

21/05/2026

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.

20/05/2026

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.

18/05/2026

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!