Overview
The promise of AAC has been for an improved quality of life, but for that truly to happen outcome individuals with disabilities require expressive communication technology and interventions that result in optimized communication. This means symbol speakers want to collaborate with researchers, manufacturers, clinicians, and assistive technology specialists.
This panel discussion will be led by three symbol speakers that are all at different stages of life and their AAC journey. They will speak about what is important to them, and how they all desire to collaborate with everybody to help achieve more independence.
Learning Objectives
- Describe two things that symbol speakers want assistive technology teams to know.
- Identify one or more resources you can direct symbol speakers to so they can learn how to collaborate.
- Discuss one or more ways to give symbol speakers' a bigger platform throughout the industry.
Primary & Secondary Strands
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC); Leadership
Target Audience
- Accessibility Professional
- ADA Coordinator
- Administrators
- AT Specialists
- Alternative Media Specialist
- Caregivers
- Communication Specialist
- Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
- Consultants/Trainers
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Disability Services
- Educators
- Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education
- Family Members
- Government/Non-Profit Agencies
- Instructional Technologist
- Media Specialist
- Occupational Therapists
- Paraprofessionals
- Physical Therapists
- Rehab Therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Special Education Educators
- Transition Coordinator
- Vocational Rehabilitation
Experience Level
Introductory
Primary Life Cycle Addressed
All
Session Delivery Format
In-person presentation with recording
Course Schedule
This course was given at the ATIA 2022 Conference on Thursday, Jan 27: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM (EST)
Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Learning Center CEUs
This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; 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 2022 Virtual Event series. The ATIA 2022 Virtual Event CRC series offering was available from January 25, 2022 through January 24, 2023.
ASHA CE Information: Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: October 14, 2022
End date of ASHA CEUs offering: November 30, 2023
Speaker/s:
Chris Klein, MDIV
ImpAACt Voices, Board Member
Biography
Chris Klein is a voice to those that have none and helping hand to those with disabilities, even though he was born with cerebral palsy and uses augmentative communication to help him interact with the rest of the world. Chris used his first augmentative communication device when he was 6 years old. This allowed him to be mainstreamed starting in third grade, and opened doors that nobody thought were achievable. He graduated from Hope College with a degree in Kinesiology, which is the study of body movement. He went on to get a Masters of Divinity at Western Theological Seminary. Chris has recently embarked developing an online church community called Device Verses. It is a church community for all abilities with an emphasis on assisting symbol speakers. This is a place where all abilities are welcomed and everybody has a voice.
Relevant Financial Relationship: No
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
As a board member of ImpAACt, the non-financial relationship will be the increased awareness for this non-profit. As a board member of Halakah, there will be increased awareness for the work of this non-profit. Chris is an augmentative communication device communicator.
LJ Seiff
Biography
Lewis Seiff, also known as LJ, is a twelve year-old boy who lives in northern Virginia. He has Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). LJ uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and sign language to interact with people. LJ has used an AAC device for the last 10 years. He is currently enrolled in a general education in the sixth grade classroom in his local public school. LJ loves to play baseball, basketball, and soccer. He also enjoys skiing with his family and baking cookies.
Relevant Financial Relationship: No
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Lewis Seiff, also known as LJ, is a twelve year-old boy who lives in northern Virginia. He has Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). LJ uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and sign language to interact with people.