9:00 - 10:30 Plenary - Martine Smith

Building Bridges: Families, Practice and Research
This presentation will focus on the bridging roles played by families, by research, and by practice in interventions with children who use AAC. Taking literacy as a focus, the session will explore: (1) how research and practice can influence each other; (2) the important role of families in informing and questioning both our practice and our research; and (3) the supports needed to build effective bridges.
» Handout   [PDF, 46k]

10:45 - 12:00 Concurrent Session - Susan Moore

"Unfiltered Voices" Family Perspectives on Current Practices in AAC
This interactive session will explore parental perspectives focused on reported benefits and challenges about use of AAC systems with children. Parental reactions regarding the impact of commonly held myths and misperceptions will also be discussed. Information shared is intended to inform current practices by providers and influence preparation of professionals involved in AAC services and supports.
» Handout   [PDF, 248k]

10:45 - 12:00 Concurrent Session - Janet Sturm

Fostering Interactive Learning Environments for Beginning Writers Who Use AAC
Beginning writers optimize learning when drawing upon personal experiences, interacting with peers and teachers, and writing about topics that are personally motivating. This presentation will provide a framework that can be used to support students who use AAC in participating in interactive, authentic literacy learning environments that draws upon personal background knowledge. School-based research examining topic choice and vocabulary of beginning writers will be presented. Case examples highlighting parent participation will also be shared.
» Handout   [PDF, 160k]

10:45 - 12:00 Concurrent Session - Sarah Blackstone

Keeping Solitude at Bay Requires a Sea Change in AAC
Are we adequately preparing children who rely on AAC for their future realities and challenges as adults? Participants in the session will (1) learn about social networks as a general paradigm for thinking about persons with complex communication needs and their communication partners, (2) gain knowledge of Social Network: An Assessment and Intervention Planning Inventory and (3) learn how these constructs and tools can result in improved AAC outcomes over time.

1:15 - 2:45 Plenary Session - Pati King-DeBaun

Literacy for Everyone!
Opportunity and Access continue to be the number one reason students with severe disabilities struggle to become literate adults. This presentation will address student stories and case examples of how both light and high technology provided a bridge to literacy. Video samples will be the highlight of this session. Content is appropriate for professionals and/or parents who have students with cognitive disabilities, autism, severe speech and physical disabilities, and other associated disabilities.
» Handout   [PDF, 1.7MB]

2:45 - 4:00 Concurrent Session - Marilyn Buzolich

AAC Intervention with Infants and Toddlers
Infants, who are at risk for severe communication impairment, benefit from early intervention (Cress & Marvin, 2003). Working in partnership with families the AAC Specialist (1) develops the infant and toddler's natural resources for communication (2) designs simple and accessible AAC systems and (3) introduces the computer as a tool for learning, exploration, and play. This presentation will use video to illustrate the importance of environmental engineering, adaptive play, and families in the successful integration of communication systems and strategies.
» Handout   [PDF, 77k]

2:45 - 4:00 Concurrent Session - Beth Foley

Read To Me! Shared-Reading Strategies for Students Who Use AAC
Shared-reading experiences provide opportunities for children with complex communication needs to develop language and literacy skills in rich, natural contexts. In this session, participants will learn to use effective, research-based strategies to increase comprehension and vocabulary development in children who use AAC. Adaptations of strategies to use before, during, and after reading will be described. The session will feature examples of adapted narrative units as well as videos of children using AAC during shared-reading experiences.

2:45 - 4:00 Concurrent Session - Caroline Musselwhite

OUT AND ABOUT! AAC in the Community
This presentation describes a heterogeneous community group of people who use AAC and their communication partners (family members, teachers, facilitators, friends). We will discuss issues such as: WHY a community group is helpful, WHO might come, WHERE groups can go, and HOW to scaffold goal-setting to maximize communication interaction. A framework will be presented for organizing a community group, or using school-based community outings to supplement interactive use of AAC devices.
» Handout   [PDF, 146k]