Speakers: Dr Beth Moulam and Professor Janice Murray

We are excited to host Paralympian and advocate Dr. Beth Moulam, alongside Professor Emeritus Janice Murray, known for her work in augmented and alternative communication. Together, they will discuss how meaningful co-creation in research can lead to better policy and practice impacts, especially for those with disabilities.

Beth and Janice are recognised internationally for promoting change at policy and local levels to support individuals with additional needs. Their work highlights the importance of empowering people with communication disabilities to share their unique stories, helping guide policy and research.

This session will explore how co-creating research with lived-experience co-researchers enhances the entire research process—from identifying gaps to disseminating findings. Practical tips on online and face-to-face interviewing will also be shared. Their discussion will underscore the role of collaborative research in shaping policy, influencing professionals, and driving meaningful societal change.

Beth Moulam

Beth is a lifelong dreamer whose passion is to empower augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users to fulfil their own communication potential. She represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 in boccia. In 2021 she graduated from the University of York in Social Policy, and now continues her studies at post-grad level focusing on communication disability and policy. She is a Doctor of Health (h.c.) for her AAC advocacy work and is an Executive Board member of the International Society for augmentative and alternative communication (ISAAC) representing people worldwide who use AAC. Beth is also Trustee of Communication Matters, the UK Chapter of ISAAC, and Patron of 1 Voice, a UK charity for young AAC users and their families. Beth is also a committee member for the International Communication Rights Alliance. In 2023 Beth was nominated on the Disability Power 100 list (top UK disabled influencers) for her advocacy work, and is shortlisted for the 2024 awards. As a multimodal communicator Beth uses AAC, including eye-gaze, to communicate in everyday life.

Professor Janice Murray

Janice is Professor Emeritus of Communication Disability at Manchester Metropolitan University. She was the lead author for the co-produced Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) AAC guidance, released in 2024.

Among many other things, Janice was chair of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Committee for

the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP); Chair of Council for the international Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Chair of Communication Matters (lead UK charity for AAC awareness). Additionally, she has managed speech and language therapy undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes, and led scientific programme development for national and international symposia. As a clinical academic, her clinical passion has always informed her AAC research, her teaching and her international reputation. Most recently, her research has focussed on clinical decision-making, AAC assessment, language acquisition using aided communication, dementia and supported conversations, and literacy.

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