AAC Talks 2026—Designed for Success: AAC for Every Voice

Welcome to AAC Talks Spring 2026 Web Conference!

AAC Talks Spring 2026 Conference Designed for Success: AAC for Every Voice logo Event is May 8, 2026


8:45 am - 10:00 am

Keynote: Designed for Success: Learning, Living, and Advocating with AAC in the Real World
Speakers: Chris Sawka and Beth Christianson


10:15 am - 11:15 am

2A: AAC in Action: Building Staff Capacity and Confidence Through Intentional Training
Speakers: Rachael Smolen and Kelly Doyle

2B: Symbol Supported AAC in the Classroom and Beyond 
Speakers: Mark Sauka, Ana Martinez, Dana Ulakovic, Macy Marturano, and David Dugan

2C: Ethical AAC Practice: Designing Communication for Every Voice
Speaker: Beth Speaker-Christensen


11:30 am - 12:30 pm

3A: Profile, Plan, and Put AAC into Practice
Speaker: Kendra Bittner

3B: Applying a Developmental Model to Preliterate Vocabulary Selection
Speaker: Cathy Binger

3C: Building Language and Literacy Through Shared Reading: A Science of Reading Approach for AAC Users
Speaker: Beth Poss

 

12:30-1:30
Lunch


1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

4A: AAC Devices: Technology to Support Successful Communication
Speaker: Alexandra Reiner

4B: Guiding AAC Growth: A Stepwise Plan for Student Communication
Speakers: Stephanie Ekis and Vicki Clarke

4C: AAC and ABCs: Best Practices in Reading Instruction
Speakers: Rachel Young and Valerie Chapman‑Jones

2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

5A: The Magic of Connection: Using Multimedia Resources and Other Tools to Inspire Communication
Speaker: Joseph Ahuna

5B: The Language of Learning: AAC Core with Tier Vocabulary
Speakers: Beth Waite‑Lafever, Rebecca Hoke, Amanda, and Lucy Iannamorelli

5C: Making Evidence‑Based AAC Practices Practicable in the Schools to Build Capacity
Speakers: Matthew Baud and Jill Senner