Overview

In this presentation we will highlight and openly discuss both current issues and future developments to address the dire need for diversity within AAC systems. Attendees will engage in a live panel discussion with leading AAC developers as well as pre-recorded interviews highlighting their current and ongoing efforts. Attendees will be provided access to an array of video tutorials for current “work arounds” to personalize and diversify AAC devices along with a crosswalk outlining an up-to-date list of more than fifteen apps/SGD’s and their ability to accommodate diversity for our AAC users.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify one or more current capabilities and needs in diverse representation of AAC users and future developments in AAC apps.
2. Describe one or more ways to individualize two or more AAC apps given strategies and solutions from a crosswalk table of apps and "workaround" videos.
3. Describe the one or more devices and the capabilities and differences between devices to accommodate dialect and multilingualism and the accessibility of these accommodations.

Primary & Secondary Strand

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Target Audience

• Accessibility Professional
• AT Specialists
• Caregivers
• Communication Specialist
• Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
• Consultants/Trainers
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Disability Services
• Educators
• Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education
• Family Members
• Occupational Therapists
• Paraprofessionals
• Physical Therapists
• Rehab Therapists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Special Education Educators
• Vocational Rehabilitation

Experience Level

Introductory

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

All

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 1, 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:

Alma Partida, MA, CCC-SLP

Santa Cruz City Schools, Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist

Biography

Alma M. Partida is an ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist licensed in California. Alma is a school-based Bilingual SLP specializing in AAC for students in elementary school. She focuses on literacy needs for bilingual and ELL students and helps bridge the gap using AAC. She has experience in the outpatient clinical setting where she has assessed multiple clients of all ages for speech-generating devices. Her previous role as a behavior therapist has allowed her to see the benefits of providing augmentative communication to help manage behaviors. Alma runs the Instagram account: @AACForYouAndMe where she provides resources to make AAC accessible to all students regardless of their ethnicity, method of receiving funding, and native language use. In her free time, Alma enjoys cuddling with her new baby, going to the beach and spending time with family.

Alma M. Partida is an employee of Santa Cruz City Schools (California), where she is the Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and AAC consultant.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Alma M. Partida is an employee of Santa Cruz City Schools (California), where she is the Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and AAC consultant.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship:  Yes
Alma runs the Instagram account: @AACForYouAndMe where she provides resources to make AAC accessible to all students regardless of their ethnicity, method of receiving funding, and native language use.

Christina Royster, MA, CCC-SLP

Christina holds a Master’s Degree as an ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and is licensed in Maryland and Washington, DC. She is a Certified Autism Specialist and a member of the Maryland Speech-Language and Hearing Association (MSHA), DC Speech-Language-Hearing Association (DCSHA), and the National Black Association of Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH). Christina specializes in AAC- she works on an AAC team in Montgomery County Public Schools and owns a private practice, Play on Words Therapy, LLC, which primarily serves children and young adults with complex communication needs. Christina is a doctoral candidate in Arizona State University’s EdD Leadership and Innovation program. She is completing her dissertation on the use of adapted preschool curriculum materials with AAC users. Christina enjoys hip hop spin, volunteering, trying new restaurants, and collecting way too many toys that support language development!

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Christina Royster is an employee of Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland), where she is a Speech-Language Pathologist on the AAC team. In addition, Christina is the owner/sole proprietor of Play on Words Therapy, LLC.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship:  Yes
Member of the Maryland Speech-Language and Hearing Association (MSHA), DC Speech-Language-Hearing Association (DCSHA), and the National Black Association of Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH).

Jill D'Braunstein, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist, OC Development Center

Biography

Jill holds a Master's Degree as a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She is a member of the ASHA, USAAC, and IDA (International Dyslexia Association). Jill is the owner of OC Development Center a private practice which provides clinic based services along with subcontracting to non-public schools which specialize in serving students with complex communication needs. Practicing for over 25 years and based out of California, she is passionate about working with students with complex communication needs. She specializes working with AAC and challenging behaviors. Providing individuals with the ability to freely and effectively communicate and engage within their community is amazing! As an AAC Specialist, In her free time, Jill enjoys hanging out with her family and friends listening to music, eating good food or planning for the next adventure.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Jill D'Braunstein is the sole owner/operator of OC Development Center, Inc. 

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
 OC Development Center is not directly affiliated nor has financial relationships with any of the products discussed in this presentation.  Jill is a member of the ASHA, USSAAC, and IDA (International Dyslexia Association).