This project is run BY AAC users FOR AAC users because AAC gives us the power to do that.
The Unspoken CIC is a Community Interest Company which was set up in 2014 by Kate Caryer to highlight the voice of people with communication impairments, especially those that use technology and other means to talk.
Kate has athetoid cerebral palsy with no speech. She is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication aid and wheelchair user. She has written and starred in Speechless The Musical and produced The Voice Monologues at The Soho Theatre. Most recently the film Kate wrote, directed and acted in, Whose Voice is it Anyway won the Judges Choice award for best film at Superfest Festival, Berkeley, California, USA.
Unspoken is a Theatre/Film company focusing on disabled talent, especially those using AAC. They aim to highlight an otherwise, largely ignored, group of writers and Actors.
You Have Been Muted will be a brilliant platform for a fantastic group of young disabled people (15-30yr) to showcase what they are able to achieve given the right opportunities.
Stay tuned for updates on here where we will introduce you to some of the team!
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), refers to methods and tools used to support people who have difficulty with verbal communication. AAC includes various techniques, from low-tech tools like picture boards to high-tech solutions such as speech-generating devices. AAC is a way for those with communication disabilities to express their thoughts, feelings, needs and desires effectively. This is a basic human right and allows for independence, social interaction, and inclusion in society.
You may be shocked to hear that simply being unable to use your biological voice does not automatically make AAC devices available to you. It's shocking to us! Currently there are many hoops potential AAC users have to jump through in order to be provided with appropriate devices and training. Communication = easier participation in society. Therefore the systems in place at the minute are exclusionary and limiting. Not a lot of people know that this is an issue and assumptions are made that some individuals do not want to learn or are simply unable. This is most often not the case. We want to raise awareness of this injustice and hope to facilitate change!
In a world where speech suddenly disappears, leaving everyone 'speechless,' an extraordinary twist emerges. The so-called non-verbal citizens, often unheard and unseen, become the sole bearers of communication. As the rest of society struggles to adapt and find alternative ways to express themselves, a group of young disabled college students rise to the top and grab the opportunity to reshape the world.
Along the way they discover the mystery behind the lost voices and what has to be done to restore them… But will they? The tables are well and truly turned and a revolution full of comedy ensues.
You Have Been Muted is a tale of unexpected heroes, a reflection on the nature of communication and a showcase of the importance of inclusive voices.
This project successfully funded on 13th August 2023