This presentation explores how Assistive Technology (AT) supports students with disabilities as they transition from high school to postsecondary education, employment, and independent living. Blending professional AT expertise with real student examples, the session highlights how accessible materials, coordinated support teams, and individualized AT decisions shape successful transitions. Participants will learn how AT needs shift across environments and how to strengthen student voice and self‑advocacy. The session reviews legal foundations for AT in transition services and offers strategies for embedding AT into IEP transition plans. Frameworks such as the SETT Framework and QIAT Indicators guide teams in evaluating AT and selecting tools for communication, mobility, computer access, organization, and ADLs to support readiness for adulthood.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the role of AT within transition planning and how it aligns with legal requirements and IEP development.
- Use the SETT Framework and QIAT Indicators to guide AT selection that supports postsecondary, employment, and independent living goals.
- Identify AT tools and strategies that build student readiness, self advocacy, and independence during the transition to adulthood.
For many students, generative AI chatbots have become a regular part of school life, whether as learning supports or always-on homework helpers. While educators likely understand the potential for “chatbot cheating”, these tools can also pose less obvious risks for young learners, including:
- Attention drains from endless chatbot conversations
- Oversharing personal information (which chatbots store in memory)
- Influence by chatbot’s authoritative “voice”, even when it shares misinformation or bias
- Humanlike empathy (“That’s a great idea!”) that encourages interaction like a trusted friend.
AT consultant Shelley Haven will demonstrate chatbot features, settings, and practices that can help educators reduce these risks while supporting more effective student use.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify key safety and trust-related risks students may face when using generative AI chatbots
- Run a “safety audit” of chatbot settings and create guardrails for student use
- Teach students how to improve their fact-checking and sourcing habits
All Students Deserve to Play, Every Ability Included!
Imagine the exhilaration of scoring a goal, the joy of collaborating with teammates, the pure fun of simply being active. Unfortunately, not all students get to experience the magic of play due to complex support needs. This workshop aims to change that.
We believe that every student, regardless of ability, deserves the right to play. This interactive session will empower you to adapt games and sports, integrate assistive technology, and create inclusive environments where everyone can participate and have FUN! Join us to discover practical strategies, innovative tools, and real-world examples that will transform play into an opportunity for connection, learning, and joy for all students.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the benefits of assistive technology in physical education.
- Evaluate and select assistive technology solutions for adapted games and sports
- Discover and implement Do-It-Yourself (DIY) adaptations for games and sports
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is committed to ensuring a seamless travel experience for all passengers through comprehensive accessibility amenities. This presentation highlights the airport’s initiatives designed to support travelers with disabilities and special needs, including wheelchair assistance, accessible parking and shuttle services, ADA-compliant restrooms, and wayfinding systems. Attendees will learn about innovative programs such as the Compassion Cacti lanyard for hidden disabilities, service animal relief areas, and advanced communication tools for individuals with hearing or vision impairments. By prioritizing inclusivity and compliance with federal accessibility standards, Sky Harbor sets a benchmark for equitable air travel. Join us to explore how these amenities enhance independence, comfort, and dignity for every traveler.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the comprehensive accessibility features available at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, including ADA-compliant facilities, wheelchair assistance, tactile wayfinding, and service animal relief areas.
- Explain how innovative programs, such as the Compassion Cacti lanyard, support travelers with hidden disabilities and enhance their overall travel experience.
Join this interactive session led by an AT specialist, an AT user, and an accessibility and content editor. Through the AT user’s lived experience, from high school to university and into the workplace, we will explore common barriers that impact learning, access, and independence. The session will highlight how inaccessible materials create real‑world challenges and limit full participation. After identifying each barrier, our accessibility editor will demonstrate practical, step‑by‑step techniques for remediating documents and improving clarity. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to design content that is accessible, inclusive, and easier for all learners to use.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify common accessibility barriers in learning materials and understand their impact on learners’ independence, engagement, and success.
- Analyze real‑world experiences of an AT user to recognize how inaccessible design affects educational and professional pathways.
- Apply practical document‑remediation techniques to create clearer, more accessible, and more inclusive content for diverse learners.
Even though Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping education at every level, students with disabilities remain an afterthought in most implementation conversations. This session bridges Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and emerging AI tools to help educators, disability service professionals, and administrators critically evaluate, adopt, and implement AI tools in their learning environments. Participants will explore how AI can expand access and reduce barriers for students with disabilities and explore how it can quietly create new ones when implemented without an equity lens. This session draws on research in inclusive education, disability studies, and emerging AI literature to move beyond surface-level AI enthusiasm and offer an honest look at what these tools mean for students with disabilities. Grounded in UDL, participants will gain a practical, student-centered.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify ways AI tools can either expand or limit access for students with disabilities when evaluated through a UDL framework across educational settings.
- Examine current or planned AI tools and policies in their own educational context to determine whether they are proactively designed to include students with disabilities or require modification to meet equity and access standards.
- Develop a practical action step for implementing or revising an AI-related practice, policy, or learning experience in their setting that centers student voice, reduces barriers, and aligns with UDL principles.
Artificial intelligence features are increasingly embedded in AAC systems and educational technology, yet school teams often lack clear guidance for responsible implementation. This session examines how AI-driven supports influence communication, authorship, and student autonomy within school environments. Participants will explore practical decision-making frameworks, identify potential risks and benefits of AI-enhanced tools, and review considerations for aligning AAC and AI supports with IEP development, educational access, and student rights. Emphasis is placed on preserving authentic communication while leveraging emerging technologies in ethically and educationally appropriate ways.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe how AI-enabled AAC tools may affect student communication and participation in school contexts.
- Identify ethical and educational considerations when selecting or implementing AI-supported AAC features.
- . Explain key IEP-related implications associated with AI-enhanced communication supports.
This session explores how emerging technology can support students with disabilities in K–12 education, including AI-powered tools and educational apps. Participants will learn practical strategies for integrating technology to enhance communication, engagement, academic access, and independence, while also saving educators time in planning, instruction, and assessment. The session emphasizes tools that are free, widely available, or easily implemented in school settings. Real classroom examples demonstrate how these technologies have successfully supported learning, expanded participation, and reduced teacher workload. Attendees will gain actionable ideas for leveraging AI features, interactive apps, and accessible digital resources to meet diverse student needs. By the end of the session, participants will leave equipped to empower students, streamline instruction, and create more inclusive, efficient classrooms.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to identify AI-powered tools and educational apps that support student learning, engagement, and communication.
- Participants will be able to apply strategies to integrate technology effectively into classroom routines, enhancing instruction while reducing planning and administrative time.
- Participants will be able to implement examples of AI and educational apps to improve both student outcomes and instructional efficiency.
