Aruma attends the AGOSCI Conference

Aruma attended the AGOSCI Conference, where our staff and participants shared their expertise on decision-making, communication and enabling risk.

March 25, 2025

At Aruma, we champion inclusion, access, and meaningful participation for people with complex communication needs.

Our team recently presented at the AGOSCI Conference, an event that brings together AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) users, families, and professionals to share knowledge and promote innovative practices in communication. AGOSCI supports people who may not rely on speech alone to understand or be understood by others.

At the conference, Aruma shared our expertise on supported decision-making, early AAC journeys, and enabling risk, all while amplifying the voices and stories of our customers, like Olivia, who co-presented with our team on her journey to autonomy and self-advocacy.

“We wanted to share some great outcomes achieved by customers of Aruma Therapy, learn from people with lived experience, researchers and experts, and bring back what we learn to our team,” says Marissa Carlyon, Aruma’s Regional Manager NSW/Queensland for Therapeutics.

She was joined at the conference by Speech Pathologist, Jess Preston, and Speech Therapist, Kimberley Robson, from our Queensland team.

“Aruma walk alongside many people who have complex communication needs, so we need to be at the forefront of developments in communication.”

The conference was not only an opportunity to learn and share, but it also reinforced Aruma’s commitment to inclusion, supporting autonomy, and giving individuals the tools and resources they need to make decisions about their own lives.

Marissa and Olivia’s session on “Enabling Risk” explored how decision-making, including decisions that involve risk, plays a vital role in building autonomy and independence for individuals with complex communication needs. Olivia, a passionate advocate for her own voice and choices, made a big impact on the audience.

“It was fabulous to experience Olivia sharing her story to an auditorium full of people. This was by far Olivia’s biggest audience, and it is sensational to see her voice and story reaching more people,” says Marissa.

“Olivia’s story is powerful, as it exemplifies how people can take charge of their life, when they have good decision supporters around them.”

To learn more about Olivia’s journey, watch her story.