Beth Moulam DH, BA (Hons), PLY

she/her
Advocate and retired Paralympian

Award category:

Grassroots Community Advocate

At the age of 4 I received my first electronic communication aid and knew from that first day I wanted other children to be heard, listened to, and understood. My passion for empowering others who need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to fulfil their own communication potential has never changed, although now I want to include people of all ages, because children grow up. Being able to speak, including with a digital voice, is a privilege not to be taken for granted.

When I was 18, I attended a weeklong leadership course with the European Network for Independent Living where we got to present our findings to MEPs at the European Parliament. This opportunity crystalised my passion to advocate for people with complex communication impairments who need to use AAC, the importance of lived experience, but crucially the need to be able to effectively understand and use policy to influence and deliver change.

Retiring from elite sport in early 2022, having represented GB at the Tokyo Paralympics, gave me a platform to raise awareness of around AAC. The last 18 months have been a whirlwind of continuing full time study for a MA in Social Policy and in my spare time advocating for those who use AAC through my voluntary work as a Trustee with Communication Matters and being Patron of 1 Voice. A highlight has been working alongside professionals at the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy as a supporting author on new clinical guidance for practitioners. The greatest buzz is influencing and educating others about high expectations, possibilities, potential, and inclusion. Whether I am attending a board meeting, delivering a lecture, leading a workshop, or talking at a school assembly I’m achieving my aim of creating greater awareness of AAC and engaging allies for AAC users.

In July 2024 I was privileged to be awarded an honorary doctorate in health by Manchester Metropolitan University for my Paralympic achievement and for my advocacy work around AAC. It is humbling to be rewarded for doing something you love with a passion!

I never forget the privilege I have of being able to speak out on behalf of others who use augmentative and alternative communication. There can be no greater reward than being acknowledged by your peers and allies for doing something you love.

Q&A

Beth Moulam DH, BA (Hons), PLY
Dream big. Be authentic so know yourself and what you want. Work hard, be yourself always, and never give up.
It can be easy to assume people with complex communication disabilities have nothing to say, yet the opposite is true, our heads are full of ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Having a platform first in person through lecturing, public speaking, delivering training and workshops, then online by blogging and using social media to share what can be achieved with the right resources, and ongoing support. This means raising expectations for success through empowering all AAC users to fulfil their own potential, and supporting their families, particularly through my work as Patron of 1 Voice, a charity supporting AAC users and their families. Empowerment is a two-way street which means raising awareness around high expectations, possibilities, potential, and inclusion through continuing to challenge assumptions and create allies in health, education, social care, and the community. I’m delighted as a Trustee of Communication Matters, the main AAC charity in the UK who support AAC users, families and professionals, we have chosen empowerment as the theme of the annual conference this year. This year has also seen a colleague and I set up a new, thriving Facebook group, The AAC Connection, for all communication partners, providing a safe space to discuss anything related to communicating with AAC.
In our fast moving digital world to ensure anyone who needs AAC receives the tools they need to communicate. AAC should not be seen as a last resort, but an essential resource for anyone with little or no voice. This means ensuring early intervention, removing the postcode lottery of provision for assessment and to receive resources, and providing ongoing support throughout life.
If the weather is good enough go for a drive on the beach, if not do a craft project in the warm or take time to write.
Seeing the lightbulb moment in the eyes of young AAC users when they realise that they too can communicate.
Dogs
The disability umbrella assumes 16 million disabled people are a homogenous group, yet as individuals we know we are all different. However, we need to work together as a disability community to combat ableism around the wider societal assumption any disability means cognitive impairment. The issues experienced by many people are not unique to those with physical disabilities, sensory, or communication impairments but common across different conditions and disabilities.
1. Without doubt attitude, created by ableism, would be top of my agenda. Most people don’t intend to be rude or patronise, but it rankles that every day that people think they need to shout at me to be understood, that my powerchair and communication equipment means they should treat me as a 3 year old, or that my personal assistant is my carer who speaks for me. 2. Research, design and development all need to be co-produced with the disabled people that will be the end beneficiaries of the specific work. 3. Labour have made a commitment to co-production of policy with disabled people, they need to be held to this at every level and within every department of government.
Beth Moulam, key note speaker seated at front of hall projecting presentation onto screens. Audience of seated and standing people.

Areas of expertise

Charity, social enterprise, Children and young people, Community, Disability Advocacy, Education, Employment, Equality, Health and wellbeing, Politics

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Image credits: julesrogersphotography
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