Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 conference. We hope you had a meaningful experience and that you will join us again in the future!
Tuesday, June 23 – Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Preconference Workshops – Monday, June 22, 2026
Wild Horse Pass Resort, Chandler, AZ
Come learn, grow, and connect at our in-person 2026 disability conference!
Topics
Assistive Technology
Innovative Practices in Disability Disciplines
American Indian/Alaska Native Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Speakers
Listen to keynote speakers Daniel Wendler, PsyD and Pamela Rae Schuller
Choose from 60 breakout sessions focused on today’s hottest topics in disability and assistive technology
Learn from nationally known speakers & local experts
Sessions
Delve into Neuralink Brain-Computer Interface, Smart Home Technology, Exoskeleton Use, Generative AI, and Disability Advocacy & Policy in eye-opening breakout sessions.
Participate in roundtable discussions, poster presentations, and (optional) preconference workshops.
Development
Visit our vibrant Exhibit Hall, featuring 40+ assistive technology companies, government agencies, and disability organizations
Earn up to 16 CE Credit Hours (12 contact hours for the general conference; up to 4 contact hours for a preconference workshop)
Customize the program to match your interests, have fun learning alongside 300+ participants, and win prizes too!
Affordable Pricing
- $339: General Conference (Tuesday-Wednesday, June 23-24, 2026)
- Preconference Workshops (Monday, June 22, 2026)
- $99: Workshop A: Artificial Intelligence and AAC: Preserving Intent and Identity (June 22, 1:00pm – 4:00pm)
- $599: Workshop B: Baby Bug Advanced Maker Workshop (June 22, 1:00pm – 5:00pm), *includes all materials/supplies
- SAVE when you bundle Preconference Workshop + General Conference (Monday-Wednesday, June 22-24, 2026)
- $389: Preconference Workshop A + General Conference
- $889: Preconference Workshop B + General Conference
NOTE: For those who cannot attend both days of the conference, or who are interested in a specific conference strand, single-day registration is available for $199.
All registrations include breakfast and snacks on Tuesday & Wednesday, CE certificates, networking reception, and door prize tickets. Lunches are on your own.
AIVRS staff are also invited to join us for an TVR in Action Workshop which will take place in the same venue on Thursday, June 25, 2026. There is no charge for this program.
Special discounts are available for school-based staff, consumers/family members and full-time college students. See the registration page for details.
Room rate is $113/night until June 1, 2026 (inclusive of resort fees). Get Hotel Information
Featured Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Daniel Wendler, PsyD
Dr. Daniel Wendler is a clinical psychologist, internationally recognized keynote speaker, and a proudly autistic advocate for neurodiversity.
Dr. Wendler is a bestselling author (most recently of “Neurodiversity and the Myth of Normal”) and his TEDx talks about his life with autism have been viewed over 750,000 times. He consults on autism and neurodiversity for leading organizations including Google, Harvard, and Blizzard Entertainment, and his expertise has been featured by Bloomberg Magazine, the American Psychological Association, and the Great Place to Work Summit.
Daniel Wendler holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from George Fox University. In addition to his the keynote presentation, “Strength in Neurodiversity: How to Create a Community Where Everyone Can Belong,” he will lead a breakout session, ”From Burnout to Thriving: Building a Burnout-Proof Disability Community” at our conference.
Closing Speaker
Pamela Rae Schuller
Pamela Schuller was once diagnosed with the most severe documented case of Tourette Syndrome in the country. She spent years depressed and wishing her differences away. Over time, she started looking at her life differently, turning her challenges into the very fuel that propels her.
Now a recognized disability and mental health advocate as well as a professional stand-up comedian, Pamela’s stories of growing up in a body she had no control over are powerful, heart-wrenching, and unapologetically funny. She holds a BA in Psychology and Youth Outreach Through the Arts, an MA in Child Advocacy and Policy, as well as certificates in Executive Coaching and Leadership in the Digital Age.
Pamela has performed internationally and throughout the US. She can be seen on Netflix, Buzzfeed, Doctor Mike Videos, and NBC, and has worked with companies such as Disney, Google, Wells Fargo, and United Airlines.
Pamela doesn’t just “tolerate” what makes her different; she embraces it, loves it, and finds the funny in it! Her closing presentation is aptly named ”What Makes Me Tic: Comedy, Community, and Inclusion.”
Preconference Workshops
Brenda Del Monte
Arizona’s own Speech-Language Pathologist, Assistive Technology evaluator and facilitator, author, non-profit co-founder, and international speaker brings her expertise to lead a 3-hour workshop delving into the quickly evolving field of AAC in the age of AI.
Michael Buckley
AzTAP’s Assistive Technology Specialist will lead a ½ day advanced AT Maker workshop making a powered pediatric mobility device using electronics, 3D printed parts, and a curated collection of purchased hardware and materials.
Other Featured Speakers
Bradford Smith
The first ALS patient to receive the Neuralink Brain-Computer Interface implant will share his personal experience with this innovative emerging technology.
Teresa Giardina
Coordinator of Educational Practices and Adapted PE Teacher at the HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy and a proponent of DIY Assistive Technology and Playful Exploration.
Jon Meyers
The Executive Director of the Arizona Developmental Disability Planning Council is leading a full day, 4-session, strand about today’s hot button issues of Disability Advocacy and Policy.
Featured Sessions and Strands
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), introducing new opportunities — and new clinical responsibilities. This session examines how AI-driven features influence communication, authorship, and user autonomy for individuals who rely on AAC.
Participants will explore practical examples of AI integration, differentiate between supportive and intrusive system behaviors, and develop frameworks for evaluating when technology enhances versus constrains authentic expression. Emphasis is placed on ethical implementation, preservation of user intent, and strategies that reinforce competence, identity, and communicative agency.
This workshop is led by Brenda Del Monte, MA, CCC-SLP, author, AT and AAC evaluator, and non-profit co-founder, who is becoming a recognized expert and beta tester in AAC and AI.
Location: Ocotillo B/C
NOTE: While this course is not pre-certified with ASHA, it does meet the requirements, and Brenda Del Monte is an ASHA certified instructor. You will receive the course description, objectives and the CE Certificate required for ASHA if audited.
A unique advanced AT maker workshop targeted primarily at pediatric services organizations, this is a workshop to make a powered pediatric mobility device – an item that is difficult to find on the market and, when found, is very expensive.
The project includes the use of electronics, 3D printed parts, and purchased hardware. Hand tools will be provided and used. All materials will be made available at no additional cost. It should prove to be a challenging and fun afternoon. Pediatric service organizations only need to register one participant but are encouraged to send up to 2 additional team members to participate in building their baby bug for no additional charge.
This preconference workshop is led by AzTAP’s AT Specialist Michael Buckley, MCSE, ATP, who brings 25+ years in the assistive technology field and electronics expertise first learned in the US Navy.
Location: Ocotillo A
NOTE: Space is limited. Only 5 Baby Bugs will be constructed during this workshop.
Developed in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Education – Exceptional Student Services, this 2-day stand consists of 8 sessions curated specifically for SPED personnel (educators, service providers, administrators, etc.). The strand consists of four assistive technology (AT) sessions and four sessions focused on transition.
The four AT sessions will take place on Tuesday, June 23 (from 10:30 am until 5:30 pm); the four transition sessions will take place on Wednesday, June 24 (from 8:00 am until 3:15 pm).
Four sessions focused on the fundamentals, and unique attributes, of public policy, legislative proceedings, and agency actions that affect the disability community. Sessions will provide an update on the latest developments, challenges and opportunities within the current public policy environment and give guidance to attendees about how to effectively engage in policy advocacy.
This strand is organized by Jon Meyer, Executive Director of the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
All four sessions of this strand will take place on Tuesday, June 23 (from 10:30 am until 5:30 pm).
This 4-session strand is focused on sharing information about the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation journey to showcase the traditional and culturally appropriate and responsive services provided to enrolled Tribal members with disabilities. Sessions in this strand include:
- Beyond Placement as Continued Resiliency: Post Employment Services in TVR
- Pre-Apprenticeships: Individualized, Creative Workforce Development for Tribal and Rural Communities
- Out-of-the-Box Outreach: Critical Connections and Collaboration with Tribal Communities
- Seeing the Whole Picture: Introducing TVR PATH and How to Use It
This strand is especially beneficial for AIVRS staff members. All four sessions will take place on Wednesday, June 24 (from 8:00 am until 3:15 pm).
Having been successfully launched last year, the rapid roundtable forum is returning this year!
The format provides participants with the opportunity to gain insights into a variety of disability-related topics in a small group, more informal setting than our usual breakout session format. During this session there will be a number of different roundtables, each discussing a specific topic. Participants will rotate tables every 20 minutes (speed-dating style) and will each have the opportunity to participate in three different roundtable discussions during the breakout session.
Roundtable Topics
- Shopping, dining, doctor’s appointments, and more… Know your ADA rights when visiting places of public accommodations (Sobie / Dietrich)
- The Supporting College Access, Learning, and Employment (SCALE) Approach: Building College Readiness for Students (Carver / Baglione)
- The Power of Inclusion – We Shine Brighter Together (Nahle / Barrett)
- AzLAT- Independence Is Priceless; We Make It Affordable (Meyer / Knox)
- Scanning: New Ideas You Can Use Tomorrow! (Jackson)
- AZ ABLE Accounts: How to Protect Benefits and Save Money (Chipley)
“I liked how it was just a positive experience. There wasn’t a day or a situation where everyone was not happy to be there.”
2025 Attendee