Overview

This session will address the journey of inclusion within the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Mo. We will discuss how to achieve a district-wide buy-in for AAC use; identify ways to support parents and their use of AAC in home, and develop and maintain a non-profit to acquire more assistive technology devices.

Session Content Disclosure: This session referenced the experiences of Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Mo., and will not reference the experiences of other groups or school districts.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss at least two methods for achieving district-wide buy in for AAC use.
2. Identify two ways to provide AAC support and training to parents.
3. Describe three necessary steps to develop and maintain a non profit system for device acquisition.

Primary & Secondary Strand

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Target Audience

• Administrators
• AT Specialists
• Caregivers
• Communication Specialist
• Educators
• Family Members
• Government/Non-Profit Agencies
• Instructional Technologist
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Special Education Educators

Experience Level

Introductory

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

Birth - PreK; Elementary - Secondary (K-12); Higher Education

Content Area

Professional Area

Course Schedule

This course was included in the ATIA 2021: AT Connected virtual event education program.

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

ASHA CE Information: 
Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: March 13, 2021

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs. (Introductory level, Professional area.)

This course is also offered for the following CE Provider Credits:

AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.

This course was approved by CRCC for CRC CEUs and was included in the ATIA CRC Augmentative and Alternative Communication Series (2022-2023). This series offering was available from March 7, 2022, through March 6, 2023.

Speaker/s:

Kristen Ponce, M.S., CCC-SLP

Park Hill School District, Speech-Language Pathologist

Biography

Kristen Ponce is a Speech-Language Pathologist for the Gerner Family Early Education Center in the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri. She received her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Rockhurst University in 2013. Kristen has a particular interest in working with preschoolers with autism as well as preschoolers who use AAC devices. Kristen has a passion for teaching her students to become competent and independent communicators. She has piloted several different forms of AAC groups in the preschool setting as well as pushed for increased literacy instruction for AAC learners. Kristen serves on the board of Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis; a foundation that provides communication devices for students in need. She is the author of the blog AAC to the Core describing her experiences working with students with complex communication needs who use AAC. You can follow Kristen’s blog at http://aactothecore.com/ or follow her on Instagram at @aac_to_the_core.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Kristen receives a salary from Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri. She also receives consulting fees from independent contracting work through Chadwick Speech Therapy in Gladstone, Missouri.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Kristen is a member of ASHA and serves on the board of directors for Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis but receives no financial compensation from her role on the board.

Elisa Parker, M.S., CCC-SLP

Park Hill School District, Autism Consultant and Assistive Technology Facilitator

Biography

Elisa Parker is the Autism and Assistive Technology Consultant for the Gerner Family Early Education Center in the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri. She began her 24 year career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in this very same program. Elisa provides consultative services, training to parents, staff, various organizations and various conferences in Missouri. She recently co-presented at Closing the Gap. Elisa serves on the Sophie’s Run board which is a non-profit organization that provides Assistive Technology to individuals in the Park Hill School District attending area. You can find Elisa on Instagram and YouTube @PurposefulParker. Financial and non-financial exposures: Elisa has benefited financially from webinars for PRC/Saltillo; the University of Missouri, Thompson Center; and Missouri Project Access. She receives a salary from Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri. Elisa is an ASHA member and serves on the board of directors for Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis but receives no financial compensation from her role on the board.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Financial Relationship: Webinars for PRC/Saltillo, University of Missouri Thompson Center; and Missouri Project Access. Full time employee for the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Non-Financial Relationship: ASHA member and Board of directors for Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis

Tara Wineinger, MA SpEd, EDS

Assistive Technology Facilitator, Park Hill School District

Biography

Tara Wineinger has spent 27 years in Special Education. She worked as a special education teacher, both in resource and self-contained settings, before serving as a Process Coordinator for 5 years. Tara has always been involved in assistive technology, but the last 10 years has been a full time Assistive Technology Facilitator in the Park Hill School District. Tara provides consultative services, training to parents, staff, and various organizations throughout the state of Missouri. Tara also serves as the moderator for the Kansas City Metro Assistive Technology group. She has presented at Closing the Gap, Power-up and CEC MO. Tara serves on the board of Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis and was recently featured on the podcast Talking with Tech sharing the mission of Sophie’s Run. You can find Tara on Instagram @twineinger or Twitter @TaraWineinger. Tara has benefited financially from webinars for PRC/Saltillo and the University of Missouri, Thompson Center. She received a salary from Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri. Tara is also on the board of directors for Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis but receives no financial compensation from her role on the board.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Financial and non-financial exposures: Tara has benefited financially from webinars for PRC/Saltillo and the University of Missouri, Thompson Center. She received a salary from Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Tara is also on the board of directors for Sophie’s Run at Lake Waukomis but receives no financial compensation from her role on the board.