Laura Hrastelj is a PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is a speech and language therapist working with children who have complex communication needs. Her PhD is concerned with hearing the perspectives of school-aged children with SEND, specifically those who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. Her research forefronts the skills and achievements of children who are learning to become aided communicators and explores the viability of using co-creative and participatory approaches in the everyday special education setting.