Name: Protecting Students' Legal Rights to Effective Communication
Start: 2026-11-05T12:00:00-0500
End: 2026-11-05T13:15:00-0500

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

Protecting Students' Legal Rights to Effective Communication

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

Lincoln

Limited Capacity seats available

Effective communication is a fundamental human right and a foundational aspect of learning and participating in the community. Access to communication supports is protected by the IDEA, ADA, and Section 504.

Too often, however, students may be shut out of access to robust AAC. Students may be presumed incapable of benefiting from AAC; may be forced to try ineffective alternative interventions before AAC is provided; or may be offered AAC that does not actually enable the same range of rich communication that other students enjoy. Schools may also offer an AAC device without committing adequate time and resources to teaching the student how to use it or adapting AAC supports to students' needs.

This presentation will help participants better understand schools' obligations to provide effective communication and AAC supports under federal laws.

Presenters

Sam Crane, J.D.

Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy, CommunicationFIRST

Sam Crane, JD (she/they), is CommunicationFIRST’s Director of Policy & Legal Advocacy. She is an attorney and disability advocate with over ten years of policy advocacy experience and is licensed to practice law in Washington, DC. Sam’s advocacy work has included promoting access... Read More →

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

General Session

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#TalkingAAC 2026

Sam Crane, J.D.

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#TalkingAAC 2026

Sam Crane, J.D.

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