1.2 million Australians suffer from a communication disability, with the majority made up of children and older people. Hosting a Silent Morning Tea on 10 October (Key Word Sign Awareness Day) can raise awareness about alternate methods of communication and helps create an inclusive society.

Here are the top 6 tips to host a memorable Silent Morning Tea using Key Word Sign.

1. Invite people with complex communication needs to your event

Include people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication in your morning tea! Scope’s Community Educators have lived experience of disability, and they share their story with school groups, services and corporate clients so that they “see the person, not the disability”.

2. Give people a chance to join in virtually

The world has gone hybrid! So why can’t this year’s Silent Morning Tea? By using technology, you can make it more accessible and get more people to attend the event. Start by getting them excited by sending out an invite and link to attend it.

3. Make sure you have plenty of yummy food to enjoy

You can’t have a Silent Morning Tea without the morning tea part! Make sure all your food is organised for the day, especially if you are hiring caterers. If you are hosting a virtual event, try to encourage everyone to make their own morning tea on the day. You could even make a game out of it and decide who has made the most creative snack.

4. Don’t forget to add fun and games to the menu

There are many games that can be enjoyed using gestures or signs or just pen and paper. Think Bingo or Rock Paper Scissors or even Dumb Charades. All you need to do is to think out of the box. Here are some free downloadable communication resources to make the event rock!

• Silent Morning Tea Key Word Signs and additional Key Word Signs
• Communication Board with images
• Communication Board with text
• Alphabet Board
• Rock Paper Scissors instructions
• Odds and Evens instructions
• My Favourite Thing – gesture and mime activity
• Celebrity Heads instructions
• Bingo blank grid
• Bingo with pictures
• Bingo with pictures child version
• Bingo list
• Bingo instructions
• Bingo grid text version
• Bingo grid text version option

5. Give out prizes to all the winners

Nothing beats winning against friendly competition. People love to know they can get a prize from a quick game. If you are hosting your event online, you can always organise a small gift to get delivered to someone’s house if they win. Send them a coffee mug, flowers, chocolates or just a card and make their day.

6. Don’t forget to share photos!

Make sure you take plenty of pictures or screen grabs of people enjoying the event. It makes for great social media participation and also helps spread the word about this important day. Remember to tag us at @scopeaust on social media, and use the hashtag #SilentMorningTea

Have a great Silent Morning Tea, and a happy Key Word Sign Awareness Day!