Name: Become a Keyguard Creator: A Beginner's Walk Through of 3D Printing
Start: 2026-11-06T08:30:00-0500
End: 2026-11-06T09:45:00-0500

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

Become a Keyguard Creator: A Beginner's Walk Through of 3D Printing

Friday November 6, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EST

Auditorium

Limited Capacity seats available

Let’s design a keyguard in real time!! Many learners are not able to access more robust vocabularies due to current motoric & visual abilities. Keyguards are a tool that sustains direct access instead of deviating to alternative access methods when fine motor and visual motor coordination are interfering. They support learners to have fewer mis-hits, better confidence, reduced cognitive load, and overall communication success. They allow us to keep a larger vocabulary with a sustained motor plan. 3D designs can even be created for temporary button masking for explicit motor plan teaching within direct instruction moments. These tools have become easier to obtain and trial due to 3D printing. Customizations and individualizations are now easier to design and print on your own. You don’t have to be super techy or know how to code to realize a 3D print keyguard solution

This session will take you from a keyguard idea to a downloadable file for 3D printing. We will walk through using screenshots and measurements to create a design that best fits an AAC user’s needs. A clear introduction to powerful, free tools like Volkswitch, InkScape, OpenSCAD, and MakerWorld will be presented. Follow along to learn the method to print your design on paper before you send it to the printer. We will also consider when to use Gemini AI as a creative partner to co-create and troubleshoot designs and printing.

Don’t have a local 3D or laser printer? No problem - we will end with specific resources for taking your files to get them generated and in student hands. Leave with additional resources to continue advancing your 3D creation and printing skills.

Whether a permanent solution or try before you buy, 3D printing a custom keyguard is a readily available AAC accessory that can dramatically improve an individual’s independent access to a robust dynamic communication system.

Presenters

Tracie Schanen, OTR/L, ATP

Assistive Technology Consultant, Livingston Educational Service Agency and #TalkingAAC Board Member

Tracie is an Assistive Technology Consultant with Livingston ESA in Howell, Michigan. She supports both center-based and county-wide district teams with the AT and AAC consideration process and implementation across ages 0 - 26. She is a registered Occupational Therapist and RESNA... Read More →

Makenzi Farmer, M.A., CCC-SLP

Augmentative & Alternative Communication Consultant, Eaton Regional Education Service Agency

Makenzi Farmer is an AAC Consultant with Eaton RESA in Charlotte, Michigan. She supports local districts and the center-based programs with AAC considerations, tool implementation, training, coaching, and more. As a Speech Language Pathologist she has experience with ECSE, K-12, and... Read More →

Friday November 6, 2026 8:30am - 9:45am EST
Auditorium

General Session

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#TalkingAAC 2026

Tracie Schanen, OTR/L, ATP

Makenzi Farmer, M.A., CCC-SLP

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Success you have shared X tickets.

#TalkingAAC 2026

Tracie Schanen, OTR/L, ATP

Makenzi Farmer, M.A., CCC-SLP

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