Improving communication, improving lives
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Reports

We have carried out a range of projects focusing on communication disability over the last three decades. Details of all our projects and reports are listed below.
If you would like a copy of any of our reports please click on the links below

Me & My Senses Project Report

Laura Holmes – Senior Associate and Foundation Training Lead

Funding for this Project was awarded by the Communication Consortium Grants Programme – funded by the Rayners Special Education Trust.

Me & My Senses Project Report


Making end of life planning accessible – evaluating Talking Mats (TM)

Dr Sally Boa

Head of Palliative Care Education, Research and Practice Development and Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Stirling  

Making end of life planning accessible – evaluating Talking Mats (TM)


Talking Health and Housing Summary Report August 2019

Dr Joan Murphy, Nicki Ewing – Talking Mats; Dr Vikki McCall, Dr Saminda Gunasinghe, Dr Louise Hoyle – University of Stirling; Siobhan O’Connor – University of Edinburgh; Loretto Housing and Care; Jim Eadie – Age Scotland

Funded by Innovate UK

201908 Talking Health and Housing Summary Report 


Self-managing Long Term Conditions Smartly: Final Report incorporating all 3 reports to funder at 6, 12 and 18 months
Funded by Health and Social Care ALLIANCE Scotland

Joan Murphy & Nicki Ewing
April 2018

20180717 Alliance full report

20180717 Alliance Final Short Report


Impact Survey – read what others have told us about the impact of Talking Mats training

Margo Mackay

Impact survey report from practitioners July 2017


Keeping Safe 2: Creating a listening space for people with learning disabilities to think and share how their lives are going

Lois Cameron and Rhona Matthews
Funded by Scottish Government Keys to Life April 2017

Keeping Safe Final report April 2017


Impact Survey on Talking Mats from Central London Community Healthcare

Nikky Steiner
March 2017

Report from CLCH March 2017


‘Small Changes Make a Big Difference’:Empowering families living with dementia to self-manage their lives

Dr Joan Murphy and Nicki Ewing
Funded by Health and Social Care ALLIANCE Scotland

20160727 TM Family Training final report April 2016

20160727 Summary report


“I don’t enjoy food like I used to”: The views of people with dementia about mealtimes

Dr Joan Murphy and James McKillop
Funded by Miss EC Hendry Charitable Trust

Dementia and Mealtimes – final report 2015


Practitioners experience of Talking Mats training: Tiphereth is an independent Edinburgh-based Camphill community for people with learning disabilities and other support needs.

Tiphereth report October 2015


Will anyone listen to us?

What matters to young people with complex and exceptional health needs and their families during health transitions

Dr Joan Murphy and Margo Mackay
Funded by CEN

CEN final report Oct 2015


Seeking feedback on AAC services throughout Scotland: A project to enable people who use AAC to give regular feedback on their services
Dr Sally Boa, Lois Cameron and Rhona Matthews
Funded by NHS Education for Scotland

QI project final report March 2015


Talking Mats Training for Nursing/Care Staff working with older people with communication support needs

Dr Joan Murphy, Jean Alexander & Ann McLinton
Funded by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde “A Right to Speak “Augmentative and Alternative Communication ( AAC) Project

Talking Mats Training for Nursing – Care Staff  Report May 2015


Testing the Reliability and Validity of the Therapy Outcome Measure for AAC
Dr Sally Boa, Dr Joan Murphy and Professor Pam Enderby
Funded by NHS Education for Scotland

TOM AAC Final report Oct 2014


Survivor Scotland and Talking Mats:Supporting people with learning disability to disclose issues of concern.
Lois Cameron
Funded by Scottish Government 2010

Talking Mats and Survivor Scotland final Report 2013


The Development of Quality Indicators for Alternative and Augmentative Communication
Lois Cameron, Sally Boa and Hanna McCulloch
Funding from NHS Education for Scotland

Quality Indicators Final report  2013


A critical appraisal of existing methods of measuring outcomes in relation to Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Final Report

Joan Murphy and Sally Boa 2013 Funding from NHS Education for Scotland AAC Outcome Measures Final Report 2013

AAC Outcome Measures Final Report 2013


Evaluation of the Adapted CARE Measure as an outcome measure for use with Children and Young People’s Services

Joan Murphy and Morag Place (2012) Funding from Scottish Government

Paediatric CARE Measure Final Report Jan 2013

Paediatric CARE Measure Summary Report Jan 2013

For copies of the AHP guidance, PCM forms and information sheets please click below:

PCM Guidance for AHPs

Paed CARE 5Q  Paed CARE 10Q  Paed CARE 10Q Parent

PCM Information sheet 5Q  PCM Information sheet 10Q  PCM Information sheet 10Q Parent


Talking Mats and The World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health Children and Youth(ICF-CY): a unique tool for helping adolescents set targets

Margo Mackay and Joan Murphy (2011) – Funding from NHS Forth Valley

Talking Mats and ICF-CY Summary Sep 2012

Talking Mats and ICF-CY Final Report Sep 2012


Talking Mats®: Extending the reach into goal setting practices for Health and Social Care Staff in Edinburgh.

Murphy, J & Strachan, Y (2011) Funding from NHS Education Scotland

TM and goal setting in Edinburgh Accessible report 2011

TM and goal setting in Edinburgh final report 2011


Decision making with people with dementia

Murphy,J, Oliver,T & Cox, S (2010) – Funding from Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Dementia and Decision Making with Talking Mats JRF Short Findings

Dementia and Decision Making with Talking Mats JRF Full Report


Adapting to Aphasia

Gillespie A, Murphy J & Place M (2010) – Funding from ESRC

Adapting to Aphasia accessible report 2010

Adapting to Aphasia final report 2010


Talking Mats and Dementia Training Project

Murphy,J, Macer,J & Fenge,A (2009) – Funding from Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Talking Mats and Training JRF Short Findings

Talking Mats and dementia training JRF full report


Effectiveness of Talking Mats with People with Dementia

Murphy, J, Gray, C & Cox S (2007) – Funding from Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Dementia and Effectiveness of Talking Mats JRF Short Findings

Dementia and Effectiveness of Talking Mats JRF Full Report


Evaluating the ability of children with social emotional behavioural (SEB) and communication difficulties to express their views using Talking Mats.

Coakes, L, and Murphy J (2006) – Funding from Forth Valley NHS

Children with SEBD final report 2006


The development of a screening tool for adults who are obese and have learning disabilities

McIntosh, P and Cameron, L (2005) – Funding from Forth Valley NHS

Weight Management for obese adults with Learning Difficulties Final report 2005


Goal setting: Symbols to words

Boa, S. (2005) – Funding from Forth Valley NHS

Symbols to Words Final report 2005


The Acute Hospital Experience for Adults with Complex Communication Needs

Murphy, J, Cameron, L, Balandin,S. (2004) – Funding from CSO Priorities and Needs Programme

The Acute Hospital Experience of Adults with Complex Communication Needs 2005


Consultation between GPs and people with a communication disability

Murphy J (2004) Funded by the Scottish Executive.

GP final report


Evaluating the effectiveness of Talking Mats as a communication resource to enable people with a learning disability to express their views on life planning.

Murphy J, Cameron L, Markova I & Watson J. (2004) Funded by the Scottish Executive.

Effectiveness of Talking Mats with people with Learning Disability Final report 2004


Goal Setting for people with a communication difficulty.

Boa, S & McFadyen (2003) – Funded by Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust

Goal setting for people with communication difficulties Final report 2003


Talking Together: Communication Strategies of People with Motor Neurone Disease and their Partners

Murphy, J (2003) – Funded by the National Lottery Charities Board and the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

MND and Communication Difficulties final report 2003


Exploring Perceptions of Quality of Life of Frail Older People During and After Transition to Institutional Care

Tester, S, Hubbard, G, Downs, M, MacDonald, C and Murphy, J. (2003) – Funded by ESRC

TM and Frail Older People 2003


Making Choices at the time of transition for young people with learning disability

Cameron, L and Murphy, J (2000) – Funded by the Viscount Nuffield Auxiliary Fund

Making choices at time of Transition Final report 2000


Enabling people with a communication difficulty, as a result of stroke, to discuss quality of life issues Murphy, J (2000) – Funded by the Scottish Office Department of Health.

Stroke report


Don’t Hang Up: A Training Package to help people with communication difficulties use the telephone more effectively Funded by Communication Matters and Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust.


Telephone use by people with severe communication difficulties Murphy, J (1999) – Funded by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department.



Enabling People with MND to have control of their lives: the development of a Communication Tool Murphy, J (1999) – Funded by The Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Enabling People with MND to have control of their lives – Final Report


Interaction between AAC Users and their Peers in a Residential Environment Murphy, J and Lester-Cribb, M. (1998) – Funded by the Gannochy Trust.

Gannoch Final report


The Development of an Introductory Training Video in AAC Murphy,J and Scott,J (1998) – Funded by the Viscount Nuffield Auxiliary Fund.


Good Practice in the Provision of AAC Services: Processes of Training and Communication Support Networks Collins, S, Lester-Cribb, M, Markova, I, McCall, F, Moodie, E & Murphy, J (1997) – Funded by The Scottish Office Home and Health Department.


The Role of Communication Support Networks in the Training and Use of AAC Systems by People with Cerebral Palsy Murphy, J and Scott, J. (1994) – Funded by Capability Scotland and Liberator Ltd.


The Interactive Strategies of Users of AAC Systems and of their Partners Markova, I, Murphy, J, Collins, S, Scott, J & Boa, S (1994) – Funded by The Scottish Office Home and Health Department.


Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems used by People with Cerebral Palsy in Scotland: A Demographic Survey Murphy, J, Markova, I, Scott, J. & Boa, S (1992) – Funded by Capability Scotland.


Talking Health and Housing Summary Report August 2019

Dr Joan Murphy, Nicki Ewing – Talking Mats; Dr Vikki McCall, Dr Saminda Gunasinghe, Dr Louise Hoyle – University of Stirling; Siobhan O’Connor – University of Edinburgh; Loretto Housing and Care; Jim Eadie – Age Scotland

Funded by Innovate UK

201908 Talking Health and Housing Summary Report 


Self-managing Long Term Conditions Smartly: Final Report incorporating all 3 reports to funder at 6, 12 and 18 months
Funded by Health and Social Care ALLIANCE Scotland

Joan Murphy & Nicki Ewing
April 2018

20180717 Alliance full report

20180717 Alliance Final Short Report


Impact Survey – read what others have told us about the impact of Talking Mats training

Margo Mackay

Impact survey report from practitioners July 2017


Keeping Safe 2: Creating a listening space for people with learning disabilities to think and share how their lives are going

Lois Cameron and Rhona Matthews
Funded by Scottish Government Keys to Life April 2017

Keeping Safe Final report April 2017


Impact Survey on Talking Mats from Central London Community Healthcare

Nikky Steiner
March 2017

Report from CLCH March 2017


‘Small Changes Make a Big Difference’:Empowering families living with dementia to self-manage their lives

Dr Joan Murphy and Nicki Ewing
Funded by Health and Social Care ALLIANCE Scotland

20160727 TM Family Training final report April 2016

20160727 Summary report


“I don’t enjoy food like I used to”: The views of people with dementia about mealtimes

Dr Joan Murphy and James McKillop
Funded by Miss EC Hendry Charitable Trust

Dementia and Mealtimes – final report 2015


Practitioners experience of Talking Mats training: Tiphereth is an independent Edinburgh-based Camphill community for people with learning disabilities and other support needs.

Tiphereth report October 2015


Will anyone listen to us?

What matters to young people with complex and exceptional health needs and their families during health transitions

Dr Joan Murphy and Margo Mackay
Funded by CEN

CEN final report Oct 2015


Seeking feedback on AAC services throughout Scotland: A project to enable people who use AAC to give regular feedback on their services
Dr Sally Boa, Lois Cameron and Rhona Matthews
Funded by NHS Education for Scotland

QI project final report March 2015


Talking Mats Training for Nursing/Care Staff working with older people with communication support needs

Dr Joan Murphy, Jean Alexander & Ann McLinton
Funded by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde “A Right to Speak “Augmentative and Alternative Communication ( AAC) Project

Talking Mats Training for Nursing – Care Staff  Report May 2015


Testing the Reliability and Validity of the Therapy Outcome Measure for AAC
Dr Sally Boa, Dr Joan Murphy and Professor Pam Enderby
Funded by NHS Education for Scotland

TOM AAC Final report Oct 2014


Survivor Scotland and Talking Mats:Supporting people with learning disability to disclose issues of concern.
Lois Cameron
Funded by Scottish Government 2010

Talking Mats and Survivor Scotland final Report 2013


The Development of Quality Indicators for Alternative and Augmentative Communication
Lois Cameron, Sally Boa and Hanna McCulloch
Funding from NHS Education for Scotland

Quality Indicators Final report  2013


A critical appraisal of existing methods of measuring outcomes in relation to Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Final Report

Joan Murphy and Sally Boa 2013 Funding from NHS Education for Scotland AAC Outcome Measures Final Report 2013

AAC Outcome Measures Final Report 2013


Evaluation of the Adapted CARE Measure as an outcome measure for use with Children and Young People’s Services

Joan Murphy and Morag Place (2012) Funding from Scottish Government

Paediatric CARE Measure Final Report Jan 2013

Paediatric CARE Measure Summary Report Jan 2013

For copies of the AHP guidance, PCM forms and information sheets please click below:

PCM Guidance for AHPs

Paed CARE 5Q  Paed CARE 10Q  Paed CARE 10Q Parent

PCM Information sheet 5Q  PCM Information sheet 10Q  PCM Information sheet 10Q Parent


Talking Mats and The World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health Children and Youth(ICF-CY): a unique tool for helping adolescents set targets

Margo Mackay and Joan Murphy (2011) – Funding from NHS Forth Valley

Talking Mats and ICF-CY Summary Sep 2012

Talking Mats and ICF-CY Final Report Sep 2012


Talking Mats®: Extending the reach into goal setting practices for Health and Social Care Staff in Edinburgh.

Murphy, J & Strachan, Y (2011) Funding from NHS Education Scotland

TM and goal setting in Edinburgh Accessible report 2011

TM and goal setting in Edinburgh final report 2011


Decision making with people with dementia

Murphy,J, Oliver,T & Cox, S (2010) – Funding from Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Dementia and Decision Making with Talking Mats JRF Short Findings

Dementia and Decision Making with Talking Mats JRF Full Report


Adapting to Aphasia

Gillespie A, Murphy J & Place M (2010) – Funding from ESRC

Adapting to Aphasia accessible report 2010

Adapting to Aphasia final report 2010


Talking Mats and Dementia Training Project

Murphy,J, Macer,J & Fenge,A (2009) – Funding from Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Talking Mats and Training JRF Short Findings

Talking Mats and dementia training JRF full report


Effectiveness of Talking Mats with People with Dementia

Murphy, J, Gray, C & Cox S (2007) – Funding from Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Dementia and Effectiveness of Talking Mats JRF Short Findings

Dementia and Effectiveness of Talking Mats JRF Full Report


Evaluating the ability of children with social emotional behavioural (SEB) and communication difficulties to express their views using Talking Mats.

Coakes, L, and Murphy J (2006) – Funding from Forth Valley NHS

Children with SEBD final report 2006


The development of a screening tool for adults who are obese and have learning disabilities

McIntosh, P and Cameron, L (2005) – Funding from Forth Valley NHS

Weight Management for obese adults with Learning Difficulties Final report 2005


Goal setting: Symbols to words

Boa, S. (2005) – Funding from Forth Valley NHS

Symbols to Words Final report 2005


The Acute Hospital Experience for Adults with Complex Communication Needs

Murphy, J, Cameron, L, Balandin,S. (2004) – Funding from CSO Priorities and Needs Programme

The Acute Hospital Experience of Adults with Complex Communication Needs 2005


Consultation between GPs and people with a communication disability

Murphy J (2004) Funded by the Scottish Executive.

GP final report


Evaluating the effectiveness of Talking Mats as a communication resource to enable people with a learning disability to express their views on life planning.

Murphy J, Cameron L, Markova I & Watson J. (2004) Funded by the Scottish Executive.

Effectiveness of Talking Mats with people with Learning Disability Final report 2004


Goal Setting for people with a communication difficulty.

Boa, S & McFadyen (2003) – Funded by Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust

Goal setting for people with communication difficulties Final report 2003


Talking Together: Communication Strategies of People with Motor Neurone Disease and their Partners

Murphy, J (2003) – Funded by the National Lottery Charities Board and the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

MND and Communication Difficulties final report 2003


Exploring Perceptions of Quality of Life of Frail Older People During and After Transition to Institutional Care

Tester, S, Hubbard, G, Downs, M, MacDonald, C and Murphy, J. (2003) – Funded by ESRC

TM and Frail Older People 2003


Making Choices at the time of transition for young people with learning disability

Cameron, L and Murphy, J (2000) – Funded by the Viscount Nuffield Auxiliary Fund

Making choices at time of Transition Final report 2000


Enabling people with a communication difficulty, as a result of stroke, to discuss quality of life issues Murphy, J (2000) – Funded by the Scottish Office Department of Health.

Stroke report


Don’t Hang Up: A Training Package to help people with communication difficulties use the telephone more effectively Funded by Communication Matters and Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust.


Telephone use by people with severe communication difficulties Murphy, J (1999) – Funded by the Scottish Office Home and Health Department.



Enabling People with MND to have control of their lives: the development of a Communication Tool Murphy, J (1999) – Funded by The Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Enabling People with MND to have control of their lives – Final Report


Interaction between AAC Users and their Peers in a Residential Environment Murphy, J and Lester-Cribb, M. (1998) – Funded by the Gannochy Trust.

Gannoch Final report


The Development of an Introductory Training Video in AAC Murphy,J and Scott,J (1998) – Funded by the Viscount Nuffield Auxiliary Fund.


Good Practice in the Provision of AAC Services: Processes of Training and Communication Support Networks Collins, S, Lester-Cribb, M, Markova, I, McCall, F, Moodie, E & Murphy, J (1997) – Funded by The Scottish Office Home and Health Department.


The Role of Communication Support Networks in the Training and Use of AAC Systems by People with Cerebral Palsy Murphy, J and Scott, J. (1994) – Funded by Capability Scotland and Liberator Ltd.


The Interactive Strategies of Users of AAC Systems and of their Partners Markova, I, Murphy, J, Collins, S, Scott, J & Boa, S (1994) – Funded by The Scottish Office Home and Health Department.


Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems used by People with Cerebral Palsy in Scotland: A Demographic Survey Murphy, J, Markova, I, Scott, J. & Boa, S (1992) – Funded by Capability Scotland.


Awards
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