ATiA 2023 Conference. Virtual Event.

ATIA 2023 Session Strands

The ATIA 2023 Virtual Event education program is planned around eight Strands and two themes to provide a balanced approach to explore the most important questions and issues facing AT professionals today, allowing you to focus on a specific area of interest or need.  For more information, please visit the Strand page on the ATIA website. Explore the strands and the sessions included.

ATIA 2023 Session Strands

AT for Physical Access & Participation

ATIA 2023 Virtual ATPAP Sessions

Supporting Partners:

Strand Advisors:

• William E. Janes, OTD, MSCI, OTR/L; Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Missouri; Representing Technology Special Interest Section, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA, AT Consultant; Representing Early Intervention & School Special Interest Section, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• Therese Willkomm, PhD, Director of Assistive Technology in New Hampshire, Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (UNH); Representing RESNA
• Contact the AT for Physical Access and Participation Team at ATPAPStrand@atia.org.

Strand Description:

Sessions focus on improving function, access, and meaningful participation by individuals with disabilities or functional limitations through the use of a continuum of assistive technologies including those acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, as well as address barriers related to aging in environments and communities such as school, home, work, recreation, and general public access.

Sessions in this strand will focus on emerging and existing technologies or systems for: Alternate keyboard/mouse, eye gaze, head pointers, scanning, switches, innovative text entry, environmental control units (ECUs), mobile devices and apps, mounting devices, functional seating and mobility, home modification, activities of daily living, adaptive recreation and sports, and improved public access.

Topics in this strand may be of special interest to occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, special educators, engineers, assistive technology professionals, transition coordinators, independent living specialists, Makers, consumers, as well as others who support individuals with disabilities and functional limitations that may impact access, participation, productivity, and achievement.

Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)

ATIA 2023 Virtual AAC Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Amy Goldman, President, United States Society for AAC (USSAAC)
• Angela Standridge, Director, Texas Technology Access Program; Representing ASHA AAC SIG 12
• Carole Zangari, Professor & Executive Director, NSU CARD Satellite, Nova Southeastern University
• Contact the AAC Team at AACStrand@atia.org.

Strand Description:

Children and adults with complex communication needs (CCN) due to developmental or acquired disabilities may benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and services. Sessions in this strand focus on the ways in which existing and emerging technologies, tools, and strategies are used to enhance communication, language, literacy, and independence across the lifespan. All skill levels are welcome; submissions with intermediate or advanced content are strongly encouraged.

Education & Learning: Early Intervention - 12/Higher Education

ATIA 2023 Virtual EDU Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Kelly Fonner, Assistive/Educational Technology Consultant & Special Educator
• Luis Pérez, Ph.D., Technical Assistance Specialist, CAST/li>
• Carolyn P. Phillips, Co-Director of the Center for Inclusive Design & Innovation in the College of Design at Georgia Tech; Director and Principal Investigator of Tools for Life, Georgia's AT Act Program; Representing AccessText Network
• Contact the Education/Learning Team at Education-LearningStrand@atia.org.

Strand Descriptions:

Submissions in this strand should focus on the effective implementation of assistive technology with students in early childhood, K-12 educational programs, higher education settings, including university/community colleges and trade schools. Topics in this strand typically include the implementation of assistive technology, accessible educational materials, and other inclusive technologies within face-to-face, remote, hybrid, and homeschooling environments.

Presentation proposals should be submitted from AT professionals, educators, parents, disability student service providers (DSSP), and/or support staff working with students who have learning disabilities, dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, autism, and/or multiple disabilities (sessions for students with vision and/or hearing impairments should be submitted to the Sensory Strand). Students and pre-service teachers are especially welcome as part of the presentation team.

Submissions involving assistive technology implementation processes, including agency-wide integration strategies are encouraged. This strand will highlight strategies and case studies that have been effective in improving retention, self-determination and graduation rates for students.

Submission of multiple products or systems are preferred over single-product-related presentations. Product demonstrations will be assigned as a vendor session. It is imperative, since ATIA is an assistive technology conference, that your presentation addresses the utilization of assistive technology within Early Intervention-K-12 or postsecondary environments. Sessions that do not include assistive technology will not be considered.

Mainstream & Web Accessible Technologies

ATIA 2023 Virtual MWAT Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Rob Carr, CPACC, Strategic Accessibility Coordinator at WebAIM
• Mike Marotta, ATP, AT Specialist; President, Inclusive Technology Solutions, LLC; ISTE Inclusive Learning Network's 2017 Outstanding Educator Award Recipient
• Contact the Mainstream & Web Accessible Technologies Team at MainstreamWebAccessTechStrand@atia.org.

Strand Description:

Sessions focus on the design and development of accessible technology as it relates to hardware, software, websites, mobile applications, proprietary applications, content, and documents. This includes the application of the inclusive features and functions of mainstream technologies that lend themselves for use by persons with disabilities or those working with persons with disabilities.

Topics in this strand may be of interest to developers, designers, testers, content creators and others involved in the design and development life cycle; managers and executives who support the implementation of accessibility and accessible/assistive technology; and, users with disabilities and the direct service providers working to implement inclusive technology solutions.

Transition & Workplace Accessibility

ATIA 2023 Virtual TWA Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisor:

• Teresa Goddard, Lead Consultant, Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
• Contact the Transition & Workplace Accessibility Team at TransitionWorkplaceStrand@atia.org.

Strand Description:

The Transition and Workplace Accessibility Strand focuses on technological and situation-based strategies for transitioning students and entry-level professionals to employment as well as accommodations for employees an applicant at other levels such as mid-career, returning, and late-career. Transitioning from secondary and post-secondary education to work often requires the successful use of assistive technologies to maximize access to career exploration experiences such as internships, cooperatives, and apprenticeships. Transitioning also requires an understanding of employer-based accommodation processes and technologies. Situation-based strategies matched to these processes and technologies, including innovative employment models, enable and empower young people with disabilities to not only find employment opportunities, but also to sustain employment for the long term. Similarly, applicants and employees with disabilities may benefit from various assistive technologies, strategies, and supports throughout the employment life cycle.

Presentations are given by transition coordinators, transition specialists, transition teachers, speech therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, rehabilitation engineers, educators, AT specialists, job coaches, reasonable accommodation coordinators and/or support staff responsible for preparing transitioning students or entry-level professionals with disabilities. Proposals from talent acquisition staff and employer-based teams working to build and sustain employer talent pipelines are also welcome. Presentations should emphasize the successful use of assistive and employer-based technologies, innovative employment preparation models, and/or case studies for transitioning students and entry-level professionals, or employees and applicants with disabilities at various employment stages.

Vision & Hearing Technologies

ATIA 2023 Virtual VHT Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Rachael Sessler Trinkowsky, Ph.D., CRC, CATIS, Technology Training and Vocational Coordinator, Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches; Representing ACVREP
• Carmelina Hollingsworth, Project Director, Resource Materials and Technology Center: Deaf/Hard of Hearing (RMTC-D/HH)
• Contact the Vision & Hearing Technologies Team at VisionandHearingTechStrand@atia.org.

Strand Description:

Sessions in this strand focus on assistive technology for individuals who are blind or have low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Presentations are related to issues that impact the use of assistive technology in independent living, educational, avocational, and employment settings. Submissions should be considered by teachers, related service providers, SLPs, AT specialists, and other support staff who work with people who have sensory loss.

Leadership

ATIA 2023 Virtual Leadership Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• David Banes, Director, David Banes Access and Inclusion Services UK
• Cynthia Curry, Director of Technical Assistance, CAST
• Contact the Leadership Team at LeadershipStrand@atia.org.

Strand Description:

Leadership develops in many ways whether the leader, as an individual or organization emerges as one who inspires others or is assigned by administration. In today's rapidly changing world, leaders face many challenges such as moving policy to practice, providing equitable services, attending to accountability measures, meeting the demands of new technologies and digital learning materials, addressing learner variability and providing professional development. Leaders at all levels are meeting these challenges with new and innovative approaches so that those who need AT are actively participating and making progress in their academic, employment and life goals.

Research

ATIA 2023 Virtual Research Sessions

Strand Advisors:

• Anya Evmenova, PhD, Associate Professor in the College of Education and Human Development, George Mason University; Representing the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits research journal (ATOB)
• Lori Geist, PhD, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor at the Center for Literacy & Disability Studies, Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Representing the ATIA Research Committee
• Contact the Research Team at ResearchStrand@atia.org.

Strand Description:

Across all strands, research sessions are intended to foster communication among stakeholders about research in the field of AT, including manufacturers, sellers, practitioners, policymakers, consumers with disabilities, family members, and academic researchers. In return, this will help stakeholders advocate for data-driven effective AT devices and services. Presenters in this strand are encouraged to showcase the evidence regarding effective AT use as well as emphasize the practical implications of studies to bridge between research and practice.

All research methods are invited, including exploratory, descriptive, experimental, qualitative, mixed methods, and systematic review. Reviewers will be looking for a clear presentation of the key aspects of your study. All submissions should include a clear purpose statement and/or hypothesis, a description of your research design and methods, your results (or preliminary analysis), and a discussion of implications. Other sections of the submission will depend on what is most applicable to the research approach you used.