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NEW FOR 2024!

  1. Pre-Conference Workshops - Select ONE 4-hour Pre-Conference workshop that will be held IN-PERSON on Wed, November 6th, 2024 from 12 pm - 4 pm at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, MI. To attend all 3 days of the conference, you must purchase BOTH one Pre-Conference Workshop ticket and one IN-PERSON 2-day conference ticket. (Please note Pre-Conference Workshops will not begin until 12 Noon on Wednesday, November 6th to provide out-of-areas additional travel time to East Lansing.) Pre-Conference Workshop Registration $80
  2. Networking Event - For those attending a Pre-Conference Workshop or arriving in East Lansing early, please join us on Wednesday, November 6th, at 7 pm EST in the auditorium at the Kellogg Center for a free viewing party of the film This is Not About Me sponsored by AssistiveWare. This documentary follows the story of Jordyn Zimmerman who shares what it is to be autistic and non-speaking. Light snacks will be provided with time to connect with the #TalkingAAC community.
  3. ON-DEMAND Content - A new, separate asynchronous learning option has been added this year with FOUR (4) ON-DEMAND 75-minute, pre-recorded sessions. BONUS: All IN-PERSON attendees will also receive access to this recorded content included with their 2-day conference registration! The ON-DEMAND sessions will be accessed through the Sched registration portal. Recordings will be available beginning at the end of the conference on November 8, 2024 through December 31, 2024. There will be NO live-streaming of sessions in 2024. On Demand Content Registration $60
  4. Swag - #TalkingAAC merchandise will be available on-site for purchase.
  5. Streamlined Registration - Conference registration, ticket sales, and your in-person 2-day conference session planning guide will all occur in one platform this year - Sched. Below, click the green "log in" box if you have a Sched account already or click the green "sign up" box to create a new Sched account, then proceed to purchase ticket(s). 2-Day In Person Conference Registration $265
MEALS, PARKING, & LODGING FOR 2024!
1. Breakfast - a light continental breakfast will be available on Thursday and Friday at no additional charge.
2. Lunch - participants will receive a lunch and drink on Thursday and Friday at no additional charge.
3. Parking - is expedited and included with your registration fees.
4. Lodging - for lodging information, view the 2024 #TalkingAAC lodging options document for a list of hotels with blocks reserved and discount lodging codes for this conference. For those attending a Pre-Conference Workshop, please note sessions will not begin until noon on Wednesday, November 6th to provide out-of-town/state attendees additional travel time to East Lansing.

As the date for this conference approaches, you will receive updates from #TalkingAAC and SCHED.  Stay tuned for additional session information!

In late October, you will select your sessions and plan your conference agenda.  

Questions? Check out www.talkingaac.org or email info@talkingaac.org

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ON DEMAND thru 12/31/2024: See Your Way to Robust AAC for Children with CVI
Friday November 8, 2024 4:00pm - 5:15pm EST
ON DEMAND ASYNCHRONOUS
Presenter: Amanda Soper
All non-speaking students deserve access to a robust augmentative alternative communication device.  By its definition, robust refers to a system with hundreds, if not thousands, of words, flexibility in word forms (e.g., plural “s,” tense endings), access to the alphabet (i.e., a keyboard), and a thoughtful organization/ structure that supports growth and motor plans.   The field of speech-language pathology has made strides in “presuming competence” and removing barriers such as “prerequisites for AAC” for many students.  However, for students with vision impairments, particularly brain-based vision impairments such as Cerebral Vision Impairment (CVI), many barriers exist due to misconceptions and well-intentioned but misguided recommendations.  

Every individual with CVI has a unique visual profile.  Understanding how visual behaviors and characteristics affect learning will help speech language pathologists (SLPs) better support their students who use AAC.  There are many buzzwords in the field about CVI but many don’t truly help SLPs and educators understand how CVI is impacting their particular student(s).  It is essential that they understand how the location, extent, and timing of the brain-based vision impairment helps us understand an individual’s CVI and how we can better support them.

In addition, it is imperative that everyone understand that the purpose of AAC is to provide individuals with a way to communicate using language.  Current buzzwords surrounding CVI have seemingly reinstated a visual symbol hierarchy for children with CVI. Romski and Sevcik (2005) referred to the visual representation hierarchy as a myth that has limited individual's access to AAC.   It is essential that SLPs understand that to support linguistic competence, students do not need to master steps on a visual hierarchy before accessing abstract symbols on an AAC device.  Instead, specific intervention strategies can be used to support language learning with a robust vocabulary on an AAC device.  

This presentation will focus on building a common language that SLPs and other educators can use to discuss their students’ visual behaviors and how they may impact language learning and AAC use.  This session aims to provide SLPs with language they can use to help others understand how expressive language learning with AAC works, why abstract symbols are a necessary component of AAC systems, and why it is imperative that students with CVI are provided with access to a robust AAC system.  
Presenters
avatar for Amanda Soper

Amanda Soper

SLP & TCVI, AACreATively Communicating
Amanda Soper (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) based in Washington, DC. Amanda owns a private practice, AACreATively Communicating and recently co-founded a nonprofit organization, The Infinite Learning Foundation, where she... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 4:00pm - 5:15pm EST
ON DEMAND ASYNCHRONOUS
  On-Demand Asynchronous

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