Let's keep it simple. There are some painless strategies educators can use to shift the paradigm around how we approach school by rethinking how we design educational experiences in a way that empowers every individual to embrace their passion for learning. This session invites participants to take the opportunity to mesh contemporary educational principles such as Universal Design for Learning, Growth Mindset, Project Based Learning, The Least Restrictive Option, and a Multi-tiered System of Supports with the use of technology to transform practices to help students of all abilities take charge of their own learning in inclusive settings. This interactive experience will provide a roadmap for how to use easy-to-implement action steps with readily accessible and available resources in most schools and educational agencies. Come to the session as an educator, leave transformed as an Educational Experience Designer better equipped with practical strategies to support both educators and students to create a culture of inclusivity.
Attendees can make their own AAC Professional Development from content provided by Stepping Into AAC to create Professional Development of any size, format and for any audience.
Discover innovative ways to utilize generative AI to design personalized, inclusive, and dynamic Designing inclusive, engaging learning experiences and managing the demands of modern educational roles both require time, creativity, and flexibility. This session explores how generative AI can serve as a powerful partner in addressing both challenges simultaneously. Participants will discover practical ways to use generative AI to design personalized, inclusive, and dynamic learning experiences grounded in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), while also leveraging AI to streamline administrative tasks, lesson planning, and professional workflows. Through real-world examples and hands-on strategies, this session demonstrates how generative AI can support multiple modalities while also reducing cognitive load and reclaiming valuable time. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for using generative AI not only to enhance learning experiences for all students, but also to improve efficiency, focus, and sustainability in their professional practice.
Creating engaging writing activities for students who use AAC can be a challenge. Emergent learners need support to learn about writing; conventional learners need guidance to expand their writing. Meet My AAC Literacy Journal from PRC-Saltillo! A new, free, literacy resource designed to meet the needs of both emergent and conventional learners.
This class is for those teams who are still uncertain about "How to Start. It will have handouts and instructions on how to conduct reading and writing evaluations, and what supports are already available and free.It will also show you how to set up a basic AT box of eval supports. This is a beginners class.
In this session about narrative interventions for grades 4 and up, we will examine high priority targets, extension activities, and efficient tools to create custom print-and-reuse materials for a variety of engaging picture books. We will dive into complex language structure and discuss ways to create resources targeting different clauses and conjunctions through the context of children's literature.
How should assistive technology (AT) services be documented in the IEP? How are service minutes and supports determined, and what is the most effective way to describe service delivery?
Allison Schuette is a speech-language pathologist at Spectrum Academy, a charter school for children on the autism spectrum. She is an adjunct faculty member and clinical supervisor at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees at Southern... Read More →
Feeling frustrated with the lack of AAC implementation? Have you provided professional learning only to discover what you've shared is rarely implemented? Training alone does not move the needle with AAC implementation. Coaching is necessary to help communication partners acquire and use the skills to help teach language with AAC. Participants will learn a systematic structure that can be implemented in either face-to-face or virtual learning environments for how to develop and foster skills in others so they can become effective communication partners. Arrive as a trainer, leave as a coach!
Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh computer in 1984. Since then Apple has designed products and programs that help unleash the creative potential in every individual, no matter how they learn and what they love to do. Apple Education is... Read More →
Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh computer in 1984. Since then Apple has designed products and programs that help unleash the creative potential in every individual, no matter how they learn and what they love to do. Apple Education is... Read More →
Whether you volunteered or were volun-told to be a UATT team leader, you can do this! We will discuss foundational principles to help you thrive as a leader, such as: Goals and priorities, Time management, Relationships, Caseload and equipment management, and finding joy along the way. We will give concrete examples and practices you can enact this year. Come prepared to learn and share!!
Did you know that captioning isn’t just for accessibility—it’s a performance booster? This workshop dives into the multifaceted benefits of closed captioning, showing you how to "level up" student engagement and retention. Based on the latest institutional guidelines, you’ll learn why this simple tool is a game-changer for curriculum access and how to integrate it seamlessly into your teaching toolkit.
Discover how our school partnered with the UNC Chapel Hill Center for Literacy and Disability Studies across two different studies to grow our comprehensive tier 1 literacy instruction for AAC users. We will explore the framework’s application and share the practical 'lessons learned' for building successful, classroom-based literacy routines for students using AAC/AT.
When you arrive you will form a team. Your team will be given cards with one feature of a tool or strategy. Examples might include text to speech, speech to text, word prediction, closed captioning, etc. A relevant situation will be displayed on the screen. Everyone will review their cards to choose the one they think best addresses, matches, or otherwise applies to the scenario. A discussion will ensue describing each card selected. Celebrity judges will vote on the feature or strategy that best addresses the situation. At the end, the team with the most winning cards wins fabulous prizes! Learn features, strategies, and tools along with how they can be implemented to support inclusive learning experiences all while having fun!
Children naturally learn through play, using games and playful activities to explore their world, develop problem-solving skills, and build communication abilities. Whether we are young children or adults, play—especially in the form of gaming—offers ongoing opportunities for communicative growth and deeper understanding.
AAC devices don’t work by themselves, teams make them work. This fast-paced SLAM shares real-world strategies for implementing AAC so complex communicators can participate, interact, and communicate throughout the school day.
Allison Schuette is a speech-language pathologist at Spectrum Academy, a charter school for children on the autism spectrum. She is an adjunct faculty member and clinical supervisor at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees at Southern... Read More →
Emily Yorgason is a speech-language pathologist at Spectrum Academy, a school for autistic children. She earned her B.S. from Utah State University and her M.S. from Northern Arizona University and has experience in both the educational and clinical settings. Passionate about utilizing... Read More →
Are you tired of paying too much for pre-made switch toys? Spend some time with us and learn how to adapt toys that you can find at thrift stores or garage sales to make them switch accessible for a fraction of the price.
