#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

Putting AAC Into Action in Inclusive Classrooms

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

Red Cedar

Limited Capacity seats available

Currently, in Michigan, receiving a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is an area focus and considered a key principle of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As more and more students with extensive support and complex communication needs are receiving services and attending programs in general education buildings, educators in these buildings (i.e., Teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and School Social Workers) are tasked with finding ways to support the emerging communicators in their classrooms and on their caseloads, often without additional time or training to support the needs of these learners. According to ASHA, 2018, more than 60% of school-based SLPs report regularly serving students who need Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). While the “why” of the shift to the least restrictive environment is important, educators are in need of evidenced-based strategies to support their students and embed AAC in the general education classroom and environment as a whole.

This session aims to provide a fresh perspective on working with AAC users in inclusive classrooms. It will explore best practices for fostering communication success and integrating AAC into the general education classroom including quick, easily implemented strategies for the teachers, ancillary providers, or support staff. This includes ways to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support students with high support needs, providing training for adults and peers. Participants will gain practical insights into building understanding, creating inclusive communication environments, and ensuring that all students can actively engage, learn, and thrive, developing true communication and friendship skills with their general education peers.

Presenters

Elaina Swartzlander, M.A., CCC-SLP

AAC Coach, Kent ISD

Elaina Swartzlander is a Speech-Language Pathologist with 18 years of experience working in a variety of educational settings including Early On, K-12 general education and self-contained settings; including 4.5 years as an Autism Consultant. As an AAC Coach, Elaina supports center-based... Read More →

DeDe Olthoff

K-2 Resource Room Teacher at Endeavor Elementary, Kentwood Public Schools

DeDe Olthoff is an equity-focused educator with over 15 years of experience. After teaching in general education, she transitioned to an early elementary resource classroom and works in the most diverse district in the state of Michigan. A passionate and innovative educator, she boosts... Read More →

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

General Session

12:00pm EST

Enhancing Communication and Learning for People With Rett Syndrome: A Collaborative Approach

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

Red Cedar

Limited Capacity seats available

Students with Rett syndrome face multiple challenges that impact their ability to learn, participate in assessments and communicate consistently. These may include physical limitations, behavioral difficulties, sensory processing disorders and health-related problems. It’s important that we as educators, therapists, and support staff understand these challenges and their impact on learning and communication. Furthermore, it is imperative that we understand the impact of the learning environment on students with Rett syndrome and how we can create a positive setting that supports their needs. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the secondary challenges faced by students with Rett syndrome and to offer effective strategies for modifying learning materials, creating appropriate assessment strategies, and selecting appropriate communication strategies.

To support students with Rett syndrome, we need effective methods for adapting and creating learning and assessment materials. Allowing the student to express answers in different forms, such as utilizing light tech and high tech AAC supports. Supporting multi-modal communication and learning approaches is imperative when working to make learning inclusive for all of our students. The strategies presented aim to enhance the outcomes of students with Rett Syndrome and promote their participation in the learning process.

Students with Rett syndrome need communication strategies that can be used across all learning environments, home and community. We will cover a variety of methods such as: a least to most prompting hierarchy, aided language stimulation, descriptive teaching methods and access to a robust communication system. These tools, implemented in a consistent and collaborative environment, will bridge the communication and social interactions of students with Rett syndrome with their learning environment.

Although individuals with Rett syndrome face many challenges that affect their ability to learn and communicate, there are effective methods for adapting learning materials, creating appropriate assessments, and selecting communication strategies. By implementing the strategies discussed, participants can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students with Rett syndrome, enabling them to reach their full potential.

Presenters

Brigitte Evariste, M.Ed.

Solutions Consultant, Tobii Dynavox

Brigitte Evariste has been working with students with complex needs for the past thirteen years. Beginning in a traditional classroom setting, she has extended to consulting, contract work, and private practice. She believes EVERYONE has unstoppable potential. Brigitte has experience... Read More →

Elaine Keuning, MA, CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Owner, Williams Speech and Language Pathology PLLC

Elaine Keuning, MA, CCC-SLP, TSSLD, is a speech-language pathologist, AAC specialist, and owner of Williams Speech and Language Pathology PLLC. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with complex communication... Read More →

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

General Session

1:30pm EST

Prioritizing 'Possible' Over 'Perfection': A Real-World, Team-Based Approach to AAC Implementation Planning

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

Red Cedar

Limited Capacity seats available

In the real world of complicated systems, staffing shortages, and high-needs classrooms, the expectation of all-day modeling and seamless integration often feels like an impossible weight. When the gap between "what should be" and "what can be" becomes too wide, implementation doesn't just slow down—it stops. This session describes how one county is striving to meet teachers, families, and SLPs where they are, bridging the divide between clinical ideals and classroom reality.

Participants will learn a specific, team-based framework designed to shift open-ended, overwhelming "all-day" expectations toward high-fidelity, intentional implementation. Focusing on teamwork, the goal is to encourage and develop spaces that prioritize 'possible' over 'perfect.' Rooted in positive, open communication and comfortable problem-solving, the goal is not to create more work, but to better support teams and personalize the AAC teaching process for any given student and environment.

We will discuss how to identify the "possible" windows for communication. By beginning with two specific routines, interdisciplinary teams can move from a "Go Do This" mentality to a "Stumble Together" partnership. We will explore how to balance staff and classroom needs while also planning for positive student impact by identifying simple, actionable steps that any team member can execute with confidence.

This topic is deeply relevant and impactful because it addresses the systemic barriers that prevent consistent AAC use. For educators and therapists, it provides a sustainable workflow that prevents burnout. For family members and communication partners, it offers a clear, non-intimidating entry point into supporting a new AAC user. Most importantly, for the individual who uses AAC, this framework strives to ensure that communication isn’t a special event or a particular lesson, but a strong foundation built through reliable routines that can grow and adjust over time.

Attendees will leave with a practical set of visuals, documents, and resources to bridge the “clinical ideal” to “classroom reality” divide. In addition, participants will walk away with a renewed sense of permission to focus on the quiet, consistent routines that build a foundation for long-term communication, prioritizing what actually works over what is "perfect”.

Presenters

Megan Makowski, MS, CCC-SLP

AAC Consultant, Livingston Educational Service Agency

Megan Makowski, MS, CCC-SLP, is an AAC Consultant with the Livingston Educational Service Agency. Within the public school setting, she empowers teams to move beyond basic AAC selection and into sustainable implementation through collaborative problem-solving. She specializes in supporting... Read More →

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

General Session

3:00pm EST

Step Into Emergent Literacy Implementation for AAC Users

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

Red Cedar

Limited Capacity seats available

Reading and writing are essential skills for individuals who use AAC. Whether you are just beginning your literacy instruction journey or looking to deepen your knowledge and skills, this session is for you. Emergent literacy routines provide the foundation for lifelong literacy while naturally embedding communication throughout instruction.

Participants will explore five key literacy routines: shared reading, predictable chart writing, alphabet knowledge and phonological awareness, independent reading, and independent writing. Through an introduction to Project Core and Building Bridges from Emergent to Conventional Literacy from the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies (CLDS), attendees will discover practical lessons, instructional modules, implementation resources, self-reflection tools, and other supports to strengthen literacy instruction and empower students on their literacy journey.

Presenters

Marlene Cummings

AAC Consultant, Oakland Schools & #TalkingAAC

Marlene Cummings, M.A., CCC-SLP is an Augmentative/Alternative Communication Consultant. She specializes in designing innovative implementation systems utilizing cutting edge professional learning frameworks and dynamic service delivery models to build capacity and sustainability... Read More →

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

General Session

7:00pm EST

Speak Freely with AAC: A Free Social & Networking Evening Event

Thursday November 5, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST

Red Cedar

Limited Capacity seats available

Step through the hidden door into an evening of connection, conversation, and a little Prohibition-era mischief. Show your stamped conference passport (collected from vendor visits throughout the day) to gain entry, then settle in for drinks, sinful sweets, low-lit lounge vibes, a photo booth, games, and prizes. Quiet corner available for those needing a lower-sensory space. Casual and easygoing — just good company to close out the day.
Please add to your scheudle to RSVP for this evening event.

Thursday November 5, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Red Cedar

All Attendees