The 6^th ECE-AACC brought together 110 participants from 15 countries, including Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Poland Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, USA and UK. The official language was English, with simultaneous translation available in Czech. Some participants brought their own interpreters. Many of the countries represented at the conference are only just beginning to use to AAC.

Lucie Laudova, the conference convenor, introduced a sign and gesture performance to open the conference. A representative of the Ministry of Special Education, Youth and Sports in the Czech Republic welcomed delegates.

In the past, ISAAC had supported some of the participants in gaining an international perspective and this forum provided a locally affordable, valuable networking experience. For example, several years ago Alina Smyczek from Poland received a Bridge School International/ISAAC Scholarship and Lia Kalinnikova from Russia received financial assistance to attend the 2006 ISAAC conference in Düsseldorf. Both of these individuals presented papers in Prague.

Alina gave an impressive account of the development of AAC in Poland, which began 20 years ago with a Bliss centre in Warsaw. University lectures commenced 10 years later, followed by AAC post-graduate studies seven years ago. To date, 2,000 people have received Bliss training. Makaton training started just three years ago, yet 5,000 have already been trained. Books on AAC have been translated into Polish, one of the first being Anne Warrick's Communication Without Speech (ISAAC 1998; Warsaw 1999), as well as Introduction to Alternative and Augmentative Communication by Herald Martinsen and Stephen von Tetzchner (Warsaw 2001).

People in Poland are now writing about their own experiences in teaching and using AAC, and an online bulletin has been created. A families program has been developed and AAC technology is available in 55 special schools.

Poland's Speaking Without Words association started with 11 members and has now grown to 107. Poland also has an ISAAC chapter.

 Lia Kalinnikova is the only Russian ISAAC member from Arkhangelsk near the White Sea. She will be hosting the 7^th Eastern and Central European AAC Conference in early July 2009. Check ISAAC's website for further details as they become available.

Several large institutions of 500 people and more are located in Lia's geographical area. She is helping to establish AAC in Minsk and Belarus as part of a project funded by the Eastern European Committee in Sweden, the Swedish Institute and Pomor State University. Initially 60 participants will be introduced to AAC and AAC strategies. The second stage will be the creation of a course and a resource centre involving 30 specialists and Special Education teachers. The course will commence in May 2008. Lia is hoping to present some preliminary results in Montreal at ISAACs August 2008 Biennial Conference.  

Ania Kazimierczak and Maja Adamczyk, both of whom rely on AAC, gave a moving presentation about how Ania's evolving use of a voice output aid led to her friendship with Maja, a young woman her age who programs in her own voice. Maja is the daughter of Ania's speech-language pathologist, Aldona  Mysakowska-Adamczyk. In her presentation, Ania made special mention of Meredith Allan, an Australian ISAAC member who inspired her on a visit to Poland.

Attila Pal .Pager and Richard Faher from Hungary focused their joint session on Richard's use of AAC in his presentations to secondary school students. Richard pointed out that he had to be carried up the stairs in his wheelchair when he arrived at the school.

A highlight of the conference was dinner at a lovely restaurant, complete with entertainment by an accordion player.

Dorothy Fraser, an ISAAC member from Scotland, attended the conference along with her colleagues from a school in Romania. They are hoping to form an ISAAC group using the 5 and 5 program. (Note: ISAAC gives five free memberships for every five paid memberships in a country where AAC is in an emerging state.) Dorothy has bought a house in Transylvania and is offering accommodation to anyone interested in visiting or supporting the project.

Thanks in particular to Lucie Laudova and Jana Sarounova for their amazing organization and hospitality in Prague.

Please support our emerging AAC nations when you rejoin ISAAC in 2008. Your donations make a real difference.

Hilary Johnson
Chair, ISAAC Board