Award winner (2025)13th June 2025
Hayley’s story reminds us all that not using words to communicate is very different from not having anything to say.
And it shows the power of modern communications aids in supporting a person to live their best life:
Hayley is a 26 year-old Londoner.
She’s autistic, and since learning how to use a VOCA (voice output communication aid) two years ago, she’s become able to make many more choices and gain much greater control over her day-to-day life.
When Hayley used her VOCA to tell her support team that she wanted to learn to swim, we didn’t think twice! It started as a sensory activity but she quickly showed a real talent and began swimming longer and longer distances with support.
Swimming is about more than moving through water. Hayley had to learn etiquette, such as clockwise lane swimming and overtaking. She had to prove herself in numerous different pools including showing that she could understand and follow instruction.
She also mastered supported public transport and became more relaxed on long train journeys and more adept at using the ticket gates in London. Throughout, her VOCA was a crucial tool in enabling this.
All this led up to Hayley entering a supported 1K swim at the London Aquatic Centre. This was extremely busy and we were in with swimmers doing 5k and 10k and at times the huge pool felt like a washing machine! Hayley was also accidently kicked in the face in the swim chaos, and the pool was a swirling splashing place! She also had to go under the lane dividers for the first time to complete the set course.
Hayley took it all in her stride and stoically swam the distance! 1K like we had practised! Her parents and her friends came to watch her and she received her medal and took a good look at it! It is now in her communal lounge with her picture.
