The Talking Mats team have been working for several years to realise our vision of setting up a Social Enterprise to improve the lives of people with communication difficulties and those close to them through the use of Talking Mats.
So finally we’ve done it and are on the next stage of our adventure!!

Our new address is:

Talking Mats Centre
2 Beta Centre
Stirling University innovation Park
Stirling FK9 4NF

Tel: + 44(0)1786 479511
Email info@talkingmats.com

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Talking Mats is a low tech communication framework involving sets of symbols. It was originally developed by The AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication) Research Unit to support people with communication impairment. Since its original conception, additional research has taken place and now it is an established communication tool, which uses a mat with pictures symbols attached as the basis for communication. It is designed to help people with communication difficulties to think about issues discussed with them, and provide them with a way to effectively express their opinions.

Talking Mats can help people arrive at a decision by providing a structure where information is presented in small chunks supported by symbols. It gives people time and space to think about information, work out what it means and say what they feel in a visual way that can be easily recorded.

Talking Mats is actively being used across many diverse specialist areas and encompasses people with and without communication difficulties. Individuals using Talking Mats find it enjoyable and easy to use, as it provides them with a simple but effective, non-threatening way of expressing themselves.

A video clip of Talking Mats being used with a man with Aphasia may be viewed here.

A clip of a man with dementia using Talking Mats can be viewed here.

A further video of Talking Mats being used with a child with Learning Disabilities can be seen here on the ASL Stirling website. Click on 'Consulting children and young people' video clip.

To get a PDF version of our Talking Mats brochure please click here

Click here to see other current news and events.

Last updated 30th November 2011

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