Communication Aid Service East of England (CASEE)

‘AAC’ refers to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods. For some individuals it can be difficult to communicate verbally with those around them; for example due to limited or unclear speech, learning disabilities or physical limitations. This can limit the individual’s ability to engage in personal relationships, leisure, hobbies, education and employment and may significantly impact their independence and quality of life.

AAC refers to resources or equipment which can support such individuals to communicate effectively with those around them and engage more fully in their environment. AAC ranges from ‘low-tech’, such as paper-based symbol or alphabetic systems, to ‘high-tech’ electronic voice output communication aids (VOCA) which speak messages for the individual. These may be operated in a variety of ways including directly via a touchscreen, head pointer, or eye gaze or via switches to overcome physical limitations, and may be mounted on to wheelchairs or seating systems. 

CASEE is one of 13 Specialised AAC Services in England. CASEE aims to assess and provide Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solutions for children and adults from the East of England region that meet the criteria for assessment by a Specialised AAC Service. We recommend contacting us via email* or phone (01223 349401) prior to making a referral so you can discuss the referral to ensure the person meets the NHS England criteria for assessment by a Specialised AAC Service.  A downloadable version of our referral form is available below.

We provide assessment and recommendations which may include the provision of electronic voice output communication aids (VOCAs) alongside training in the use of any VOCA provided for the client, family and their local support team. We also aim to support the establishment, training and development of local AAC services and provide regular training sessions offered free of charge to professionals supporting people who use AAC (Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Teachers, Therapy Assistants, Technical Team Members, Teaching Assistants etc.).

You can find a link to our training programme here. We also provide free downloadable resources, self-help guides and helpful video clips for professionals and family members/others supporting people who use AAC.
We are involved in several national projects to improve service provision in the field of AAC and are also engaged in research to further the evidence base in this area please see our Twitter feed for more info.

*Please note that patient information should not be sent by email unless it is from another secure email service or with prior consent to do so.

The CASEE team are available to support with any technical difficulties with the equipment we provide. If you are experiencing any difficulties with your equipment, please call us on 01223 349 401 or email us: enquiries.casee@nhs.net. We may be able to help over the phone, but sometimes we may ask you to contact the product supplier for further support. You will find the suppliers contact details on your equipment loan form or as a sticker on your device. If you cannot find this information, please access useful links on our resources page or contact us. Please note, you may need to be connected to the internet to allow support to be provided remotely from the suppliers.

We have plenty of advice and resources available. Please contact the CASEE team on 01223 349401 or email us: enquiries.casee@nhs.net to discuss this further so we can provide you with what you need. Meanwhile, please access our resources and training page here where you may find more information from other services/suppliers.

We would also like to draw your attention to this website, set up and provided by the NHS England Specialist AAC and EC (environmental control) services across the UK, providing a wide variety of resources.

We continue to provide training to AAC professionals in our region; we currently do all our training remotely via Zoom. Please see this link to view current training courses offered.

For any other enquiries, please contact us on 01223 349401 or email us: enquiries.casee@nhs.net.