#TalkingAAC 2026: Full Schedule

Act now! We reach capacity and sell out every year. Registration closes Wednesday, October 28, 2026 — or sooner if capacity is reached.

Ticket Options

#TalkingAAC: Pre-Conference Workshop
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 12:00–4:00 PM
Kellogg Center, East Lansing, MI
- Choose one 4-hour workshop
- Cost: $100
- Full details click here
#TalkingAAC: Two-Day Conference
Thursday & Friday, November 5-6, 2026
- Build your schedule for this two-day event
- Cost: $300
- Price includes breakfast, lunch, & parking
- Full details click here

NOTE: To attend all 3 days, you must purchase both a Pre-Conference Workshop ticket and a Two-Day Conference ticket.

Registration & Session Planning

All registration and session planning will be handled via Sched:

Click the green Log In or Sign Up button below to access Sched.
Then proceed to purchase your ticket(s).
After you’ve purchased your ticket(s), you can plan which sessions you’d like to attend.
New to using the Sched app? To take a tour click here
Need to update your app to this year’s conference? In the Sched app, go to My Account > Change Events> type in the name of the event #TalkingAAC 2026
A new Guest Buyer option lets you purchase tickets for others without creating a SCHED account. Once ticket(s) are selected, choose Continue as Guest.

Ticket Purchase - Error Message

If you receive an error message when purchasing your ticket, please contact TalkingAAC at [email protected] or 517-299-5200 for assistance.

⚠️ Please do not attempt to purchase again, as this may result in duplicate tickets.

Refunds & Ticket Transfers

Refunds available up to 10 days before the event. Sched & Stripe fees are non-refundable.
Ticket transfers (e.g., to a coworker) may be approved before October 28, 2026.

Stay Informed

Watch for updates from #TalkingAAC and Sched with session details and reminders as the event approaches.

Questions?

www.talkingaac.org

[email protected]

517-299-5200

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9:45am EST

From Babble to Buttons: Early AAC in Action

Thursday November 5, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EST

Auditorium

Limited Capacity seats available

The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how a systems-level approach to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) builds capacity across children, families, and professionals while creating sustainable pathways for long-term communication success.

Grounded in early intervention practice, this session will outline how AAC can be meaningfully introduced during the birth to three years, even for our youngest and most complex communicators. Presenters will share practical strategies for embedding AAC into daily routines, supporting communicative intent (e.g., requesting, commenting, and social interaction), and coaching caregivers to confidently model and respond using AAC systems. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the Primary Service Provider (PSP) model in building family competence and ensuring AAC is not a “special activity,” but a natural part of everyday life.

Participants will also learn how our team builds internal capacity through ongoing coaching, collaborative problem-solving, and access to an AAC lending library. The lending library process will be outlined as a key mechanism for trialing tools, reducing barriers to access, and informing data-driven decision making for funding. In addition, we will discuss how partnerships with AAC companies enhance team knowledge, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and support successful device implementation.

A critical component of this work is ensuring smooth transitions from early intervention to preschool. This session will provide actionable strategies for preparing teams, aligning communication systems, and advocating for continuity of AAC supports across settings.

This topic is highly relevant for SLPs, educators, early interventionists, administrators, AAC consultants, and families. Attendees will leave with replicable systems, practical tools, and a clear vision for how to move from early vocalizations to robust communication systems—ensuring that every child has access to a voice, from babble to buttons.

Presenters

Heather Giguere, MA, CCC-SLP

Early Intervention Speech-Language Pathologist, Lapeer County ISD

Heather Giguere, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist with Lapeer ISD, where she has dedicated the past 25 years to supporting children with complex communication needs. During the first decade of her career, she worked in center-based programs serving students with the most significant needs, specializing in supporting complex communicators.For the past... Read More →

Sara Androyna, MS, OTRL

AAC/AT Implementation Coach and Occupational Therapist, Lapeer County ISD

Sara Androyna, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and Assistive Technology/Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AT/AAC) implementation coach with Lapeer Intermediate School District, where she has supported students and educational teams since 2013. She brings over a decade... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 9:45am - 11:00am EST
Auditorium

General Session

12:00pm EST

Language and Communication Sample Analysis for Everyone

Thursday November 5, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm EST

Auditorium

Limited Capacity seats available

Do you dread doing language samples? Dread no more! Not only are they a legally mandated part of school-based assessments in the state of Michigan, language sample analysis provides detailed information about all 3 domains of languages: syntax, semantics, and pragmatic language. They can also provide culturally sensitive information for individuals who are often not reflected in standardized assessments-bilingual students, students with sensory difficulties, students with difficulties pointing etc. However, collecting and analyzing language samples can often feel overwhelming and deeply time consuming. Additionally, many of the tools used to collect language samples are not designed for complex communicators.

This presentation will address these difficulties by providing detailed information about when, where, how to collect language and communication samples for AAC users. It will discuss how to choose the correct task to collect your language sample. For example, when is it appropriate to do a play-based task and when is a more complex narrative retell task necessary. This presentation will also demonstrate and show a variety of different tools to get the information you’re looking for. Luckily, many tools used to collect language samples are free and available to professionals at no charge. Attendees will be provided with access to links to many free language sample analysis tools, including one made by the presenter. Attendees will practice using these tools with students at a variety of different language levels. At the end of the session, individuals will walk away with the tools to confidently gather and analyze language samples across a variety of different contexts and settings.

Presenters

Christel Ciolino, M.A. CCC-SLP

Preschool Speech-Language Pathologist, Wayne-Westland Community School District

About meChristel Ciolino is a preschool speech-language pathologist at Stottlemyer Early Childhood Center. Her favorite professional activity is introducing students to AAC devices. When not at work, she loves running, cooking, singing with a choir, horseback riding, and reading... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm EST
Auditorium

General Session

1:30pm EST

Organizing Your AAC Toolkit: Digital Resources for the Modern SLP

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EST

Auditorium

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation provides speech-language pathologists with a comprehensive framework for organizing essential augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) resources into an accessible digital toolkit. Attendees will discover a curated collection of practical resources spanning the full spectrum of AAC implementation—from initial assessment through ongoing learning, intervention, and engagement.

The session begins by exploring structured evaluation tools and protocols that guide appropriate AAC selection and implementation planning. These resources help clinicians conduct thorough assessments while documenting critical information about communication needs, motor access, language abilities, and environmental factors. Participants will learn how to digitally organize and customize these evaluation materials for efficient clinical use.

A portion of the presentation focuses on light-tech AAC solutions that offer immediate classroom application without requiring extensive technical expertise. Attendees will explore printable communication boards, visual supports, and core vocabulary systems that can be quickly deployed across educational settings.

For high-tech interventions, the session showcases user-friendly manuals and quick-start guides for popular AAC applications and devices. These resources demystify complex systems for both clinicians and communication partners, reducing implementation barriers and increasing confidence.

Communication partner training receives special emphasis, with ready-to-use materials that empower educational teams and families to support AAC users effectively. These resources include modeling strategies and solutions to common barriers designed for diverse communication environments.

The presentation highlights literacy resources designed specifically for emergent readers using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. These materials support reading activities and resources that build literacy alongside AAC proficiency.

Additionally, attendees will discover engaging games and interactive websites that motivate communication through play and natural reinforcement. These resources make practice meaningful and enjoyable for AAC users across developmental levels.

Throughout the session, SLPs will access and explore these diverse resources, organized in a personalized digital system that enhances clinical efficiency and ultimately streamlines their practice while supporting seamless collaboration across educational teams and settings.

To get the most out of our time together during this session, please bring a laptop or tablet if possible. We'll be exploring some fantastic online resources live during the session and having your device connected to WiFi will let you follow along, bookmark useful sites, and dive deeper into the tools we discuss. You will leave this session with a robust digital resource!

Presenters

Mary Giunta, MA, CCC-SLP

AAC Consultant, AAC Tech Solutions, LLC

Mary Giunta brings over three decades of experience in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), during which she served diverse populations across multiple settings, including hospitals, schools, adult day programs, outpatient clinics, and early intervention programs. Since... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm EST
Auditorium

General Session

3:00pm EST

A Panel Discussion: Building Capacity From the Ground Up: Empowering Districts Through Collaborative AAC Frameworks

Thursday November 5, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST

Auditorium

Limited Capacity seats available

This 60-minute panel discussion explores how educators and specialists in two Michigan school districts are creatively expanding access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and building sustainable capacity from the ground up. Panelists will share practical strategies for overcoming universal hurdles such as high staff transience, funding constraints, and speech-language pathologist (SLP) shortages. By examining the shared experiences and unique approaches of these two districts, attendees will learn how localized AAC coaching models and lending libraries can be leveraged to rapidly deploy individualized training, support new staff, and get assessment tools into classrooms quickly.

The panel will detail the high-impact initiatives and collaborative frameworks that have successfully shifted communication cultures across their respective school communities. Presenters will share insights on establishing and/or accessing specialized lending libraries of "partner devices" and explain how putting these tools directly into the hands of teachers and support staff drives unexpected student growth. Additionally, the discussion will break down the essential administrative and legal mechanics of their successes, focusing on how clinical decision-making is prioritized to write flexible yet legally robust AAC provisions into Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that ensure continuous student access. By highlighting real-world examples this session provides a replicable roadmap for any district looking to build inclusive AAC capacity against the odds.

Presenters

Michelle Awesome, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist, Detroit Public Schools Community District

Michelle Awesome is a speech-language pathologist who completed her Bachelor's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Eastern Michigan University (2007), and her Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University (2010). She discovered the field of speech-language... Read More →

Dr. Adrima Caesar, Ph.D

Senior Director of Assistive Technology/Curriculum/Assessments/Professional Development, Detroit Public Schools Community District

Dr. Adrima Caesar’s passion for serving all students, particularly those with exceptionalities, was sparked at an early age. She attended Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings for her sibling, who has multiple disabilities, including severe cognitive impairment, autism, hearing... Read More →

Nikki Stempien, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist and Augmentative and Alternative Communication Coach, Branch Intermediate School District

Nikki Stempien, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist with 10 years of experience in the school setting, specializing in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She currently serves as an SLP and AAC Coach for the Branch Intermediate School District. In her dual... Read More →

Molly Moran

Speech Language Pathologist and Augmentative and Alternative Communication Coach, Branch Intermediate School District

With over a decade of experience in the field, Molly Moran, M.A., CCC-SLP specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for students with complex communication needs. In her dual role at Branch ISD, she provides direct clinical support to elementary students in self-contained... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Auditorium

General Session