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Promoting participation: Adapting and using Talking Mats for children with sensory impairments

  • Type: Event
  • Date: 01/12/2026 at 4:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Location: Online, via Microsoft Teams
    • Apply Online
Colourful graphic of a group of children.

Webinar exploring how Talking Mats can transform communication and puts children's voices at the heart of decision-making.

This free online session on Talking Mats hosted by the Scottish Sensory Centre will cover:

  • The background to how Talking Mats began and how it works.
  • Key findings from Professor Laura Lundy’s research on participation.
  • The evidence base behind this approach and what effective participation actually looks like.
  • Case studies of participation in action.
  • How children and young people with sensory support needs have used Talking Mats to share their views and influence decisions.
  • How services are embedding Talking Mats into their practice.
  • Practical tools to get started and what you need to implement Talking Mats in your own environment.

Target Audience

  • Teachers of Complex Needs
  • Specialist teachers
  • Support assistants
  • Speech and Language therapists

Presenters

Margo Mackay is CEO of Talking Mats, a social enterprise dedicated to giving voice to those with communication support needs. She has 23 years of experience as a Speech and Language Therapist in the NHS where she worked with children and young people with diverse communication difficulties across multiple sectors, including education, early years services, and the criminal justice system. Throughout her work, she has remained a passionate advocate for children’s rights.

Deborah Little is a Speech and Language Therapist and became a licensed Talking Mats trainer in 2023. Deborah has worked within the NHS in Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist roles and as Clinical Lead for both Paediatric Dysphagia and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Children and Young People. Deborah currently works in Independent practice, focusing on provision of AAC support to children and adults as part of a specialist team and is passionate about improving access to AAC for all, with a particular interest in embedding AAC support as part of communication supportive environments within school settings.

Find out more and register for your free place here.

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