ACE Centre

An ACE Centre (Aiding Communication in Education) is a centre for assisting the education of children with complex disabilities. Two such centres exist in Great Britain.

The ACE Centres provide a child centered, multidisciplinary, independent assessment, advice and training service to the parents and carers of children with complex disabilities who require assisted/augmented communication aids in order to communicate and to learn.

To this end they influence the development of new products which meet the needs of children and young people who need assistive technology in order to communicate and to learn. They also seek to influence policy makers and funding organisations with regard to the importance of inclusive policies and standards for children and young people with communication difficulties to enable them to achieve enhanced quality of life through access to education.

They also work in R&D partnerships with equipment and software manufacturers and suppliers, concentrating on children and young people and the enhancement of their access to education.

The ACE Centres are based in Oxford and Oldham, and provide assessment services to England and Wales and are non-profit making independent organisations with charitable status.

The Centres employ qualified and experienced teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and assistive technologists.

The Centres involves the child and their family, local therapists, carers and teaching staff in the assessment process, and provides a platform for these individuals to meet and discuss issues concerning the welfare of the child face to face and in a relaxed yet focused forum.

Employees of the Centres are involved in research and development programmes both within the UK and the EU, ensuring that new technology is centred on the user. This in turn ensures that the staff benefit from opportunities for continual professional development.

The Centres operates a loan bank which means that any individual child together with their parents and carers can try out specialist equipment.

The Centres provides a comprehensive range of professional training options, information services and networking opportunities to carers and parents to support and inspire them, recognising that their input is an essential component in creating successful outcomes for the children.

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