ATiA 2024 Conference. Virtual Event. Live Jan 25-27 + recordings thru April 30th.

ATIA 2024 Session Strands

The ATIA 2024 Virtual Event education program is planned around nine 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 ATIA 2024 Strand page on the ATIA website. 

Learn about each strand below and click the button within each strand's description to view all Virtual Event sessions included in that strand once the education program is released in mid-September.

ATIA 2024 Session Strands

Aging & AT - NEW!

ATIA 2024 Virtual AGAT Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Jeannie Krull, MS/CCC-SLP, ATP, CAPS; Assistant Executive Director, North Dakota Assistive; Representing ATAP
• Wendy A. Rogers, PhD, Khan Professor of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Strand Description:

These sessions concentrate on Assistive Technology devices and services for aging adults to be independent, safe, age in place, and thrive at home, at work, and in their communities. Assistive technology to support aging includes a range of activities and domains such as fall/wandering prevention, kitchen safety, medication management, home monitoring, social engagement, telework, and much more.

This strand will also focus on assistive technology (AT) delivery systems for aging in place; AT funding mechanisms; research including the return on investment of AT for Aging; reducing caregiver burnout with AT; home modifications for aging in place; and other Aging and AT-related systems.

Who would benefit from this strand? All stakeholders and service providers in the Aging in Place movement as well as anyone helping those who are aging to thrive in their communities no matter where they live. These include nurses, Money Follows the Person Transition Coordinators, Medicaid Waiver case managers and other social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, rehab engineers, assistive technology professionals, aging researchers, certified aging in place specialists, state government Aging services and Area Agencies on Aging, those who support aging adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and consumers and their loved ones, including family care partners such as spouses and adult children of aging parents.

AT for Physical Access & Participation

ATIA 2024 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, AOTA
• Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA, AT Consultant; Representing Early Intervention & School Special Interest Section, AOTA
• Therese Willkomm, PhD, Director of Assistive Technology in New Hampshire, Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (UNH); Representing RESNA

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 2024 Virtual AAC Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Amy Goldman, President, USSAAC
• Angela Standridge, Director, Texas Technology Access Program; Representing ASHA AAC SIG 12
• Carole Zangari, Professor & Executive Director, NSU CARD Satellite, Nova Southeastern University
• 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

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.

Education & Learning: Early Intervention - 12/Higher Education

ATIA 2024 Virtual EDU Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Kelly Fonner, MS, Assistive Technology Consultant/Special Education Teacher
• Maggie Pickett, Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, CAST
• Cynthia Curry, Director of Technical Assistance, CAST

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.

This strand will highlight strategies and case studies that have been effective in improving retention, self-determination and graduation rates for students. Presentations will addresses the utilization of assistive technology within Early Intervention-K-12 or postsecondary environments.

Mainstream Accessible Technologies

ATIA 2024 Virtual MAT Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Rob Carr, Strategic Accessibility Coordinator, WebAIM
• Mike Marotta, ATP, AT Specialist; President, Inclusive Technology Solutions, LLC; ISTE Inclusive Learning Network's 2017 Outstanding Educator Award Recipient

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 2024 Virtual TWA Sessions

Supporting Partners:

Strand Advisors:

• Teresa Goddard, Lead Consultant, Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
• Luis Perez, Disability and Digital Inclusion Lead, CAST

Strand Description:

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.

Technologies and situation-based strategies matched to these processes, 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 will 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 2024 Virtual VHT Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• Rachael Sessler Trinkowsky, PhD, 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)

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 2024 Virtual Leadership Sessions

Supporting Partner:

Strand Advisors:

• David Banes, Director, David Banes Access and Inclusion Services UK
• Cynthia Curry, Director of Technical Assistance, CAST

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.

Topics include but are not limited to Leadership Principles and Sustaining Practice such as strategic approaches to addressing needs; developing improvement plans, using data, and assessing impact; thought leadership; and using research-based methods of systems change.

Research

ATIA 2024 Virtual Research Sessions

Strand Advisors:

• Anya Evmenova, PhD, 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

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.