#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

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

8:30am EST

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

10:00am EST

United for AAC: Law, Advocacy, and Action

Friday November 6, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EST

Auditorium

Limited Capacity seats available

The saying, “It takes a village” is a fundamental truth for professionals who are dedicated to supporting individuals with complex communication needs. They must work within multidisciplinary teams, navigate complicated systems, and use advanced clinical expertise to ensure individuals have a voice. Professionals and caregivers bear the full weight of assessing and implementing AAC while also addressing the many advocacy needs around AAC. They are tasked with constantly championing AAC representation in schools, health systems, and in the community. Professionals who support individuals with AAC are constantly faced with systemic barriers that affect access to care, cause ethical dilemmas, and can impact interprofessional care. Hurdles include battling with insurance after multiple denials to have devices approved, facing limitations for funding and staffing within their organizations, and supporting complex family systems. Often, these barriers are related to national and state laws that govern systems that AAC users interact with daily.

This session will empower professionals in understanding the specific special education and health care laws that impact AAC care delivery. Participants will examine common barriers across settings, including schools and medical arenas, and discuss current legal frameworks that should guide decision making regarding access to AAC devices and services. Avenues for advocacy and systems change will be explored during the session. Moving beyond identification, participants will explore collaborative strategies to support interprofessional practice within education, health care, and administration. Finally, participants will evaluate their current service delivery models to identify "friction points" and ways to address these barriers to ensure that, despite different approaches and professional limitations, the advocacy efforts are re-centered on the individual AAC user. The ultimate objective of this presentation is for participants to generate a concrete, actionable roadmap that is informed by current laws and policies to support the provision of best practices in AAC.

Presenters

Ashley Robinson, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist, AAC Consultant, ABility Consulting

Ashley is a speech language pathologist with 15 years of dedicated clinical experience in AAC. Her career has spanned multiple states and the full developmental spectrum—from early intervention through young adulthood—with a specialized focus on supporting students with complex... Read More →

Brittany Shupe-Sawyer, LMSW

Social Worker, Advocate, ABility Consulting

Brittany is a clinical social worker with over a decade of experience with children, adults, and families with disabilities in a variety of settings. She began her career as a medical social worker, where she supported pediatric and adult patients and joined forces with rehabilitation... Read More →

Friday November 6, 2026 10:00am - 11:15am EST
Auditorium

General Session

12:15pm EST

Rethinking Our Role and Response to Communicative Behaviors

Friday November 6, 2026 12:15pm - 1:30pm EST

Auditorium

Limited Capacity seats available

When a student "acts out," what are they truly telling us? For students with complex communication needs, behavior is often the most powerful—and sometimes only—tool available to express unmet needs. This interactive session challenges educators to shift their perspective from seeking compliance to fostering connection and understanding.

Participants will begin by reflecting on how their own beliefs, biases, and reactions shape their responses to student behavior. We will explore the neuroscientific link between anxiety and regulation and introduce the concept of interoception—the "eighth sense" that helps students recognize internal body signals like hunger, pain, or distress. By moving toward an interoceptive approach, educators can support a student’s unique inner experience rather than forcing them to mask it.

To support this shift, we will discuss a variety of strategies to utilize Augmentative and Alternative Communication to support student regulation, autonomy, and communication needs, especially in moments of communication breakdown. We will explore how robust modeling provides students with the essential vocabulary for self-advocacy and emotional expression before an escalation occurs. Furthermore, we will examine how to use AAC to validate a student's autonomy—honoring "no" or "stop" through their device to reduce the need for physical resistance. By providing a reliable voice during high-stress moments, we can decrease the communicative breakdown that often leads to dysregulation.

Through hands-on practice, attendees will learn to use a Communicative Behavior Inventory framework to attribute meaning to specific behaviors and plan adult responses that prioritize co-regulation over control. Together, we will walk away with concrete strategies to support students in communicating even in their toughest moments.

Presenters

Megan Hojnacki, MA, CCC-SLP

AT/AAC Specialist, Alt+Shift

Megan Hojnacki is an SLP by training and currently an AT/AAC specialist for Alt+Shift. After a transformative experience at Camp Alec (as seen on Disney+) and 20 years of experience in public education, Megan is a firm believer that literacy and AAC are inseparable rights for all... Read More →

Kelsey Brewer, MA

AT/AAC Specialist, Alt+Shift

Kelsey Brewer, M.A. is an assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) specialist with over nine years of experience in special education. Her primary expertise lies in Early Childhood Special Education, specifically supporting students ages 3–5. Kelsey’s... Read More →

Friday November 6, 2026 12:15pm - 1:30pm EST
Auditorium

General Session