The Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology (KM CAT) Service

We are a regional specialist hub service who work with children and young people (CYP) who have severe or complex communication needs. This could be due to a range of reasons including physical, cognitive, learning or sensory difficulties.
We support these CYP by providing access to a range of specialist Augmentative and Alternative Communication (known as AAC) and Assistive Technology (known as AT).

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a term used to describe the different ways of communicating, either to support speaking (augmentative) or instead of speaking (alternative).
Assistive Technology (AT) supports individuals with disabilities or impairments to help maintain or develop their skills.

Part of our remit as a specialist service is to provide training opportunities. The E-learning available on this page is designed to support parents, teachers, therapists and other professionals to answer common questions about how to support CYP who have communication or physical access difficulties.

We will usually signpost people to this training if they have specific queries, or to support children on our caseload.

If you have not been signposted to this training, but are keen to complete some courses, please be aware that some courses are designed with a key audience in mind. Although we have done our best to make the content accessible to all, some courses may be more appropriate to specific professionals.

An Introduction to the Mental Capacity Act (2005) Code of Practice

ASD and VOCAs. What are the factors for success?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): Little and Often

Beyond Requesting: Extending the Communication of Children with ASD

Eye-Gaze Technology: What you need to know

Inspired Voices Parent Training

When Handwriting or Communication is a Challenge: Exploring Alternatives Using Assistive Technology

Why teach literacy to non-verbal children and young people?

The Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology (KM CAT) Service is provided by Kent County Council.