This presentation provides professionals with a practical overview of smart devices that support accessibility, safety, and independence for people with disabilities across the lifespan. Participants are introduced to key categories of smart home technologies, assistive devices for daily living, and mobile apps and wearables commonly used in residential settings. The session emphasizes person-centered device selection, implementation considerations such as privacy, training, and ongoing support, and real-world applications through examples and discussion. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for matching smart devices to individual client needs and with reliable resources to support client and caregiver education and successful long-term use.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe at least three categories of smart devices commonly used to support independence and accessibility
- Explain at least three key considerations involved in implementing smart devices in a client’s home.
- Identify at least three reliable resources for client and caregiver education, training, and ongoing technical support.
The presentation features Bradford Smith, a person living with ALS, sharing his personal experience with Neuralink’s brain-computer interface technology. He describes how the tiny implant reads brain electrical signals and translates them into actionable commands, enabling greater independence and communication despite severe motor limitations. He’ll highlight the transformative potential of this neurotechnology for individuals with paralysis and neurodegenerative conditions. Presentation will be with assistive technology using presenters voice recreated through AI.
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding the Impact on Independence and Quality of Life with BCI
- Insights into Practical Functionality and Applications of BCI Technology
- Knowledge of Technical Challenges, Risks, and Mitigations
People who have complex communication issues and use AAC devices and/or apps to speak on a regular basis, in a variety of settings are easily overlooked and dismissed as not having valuable knowledge or insight to contribute in social, political, professional, or spiritual conversations. This is largely because other people don’t know how to embrace the awkward pauses and sounds necessary for allowing people with disabilities to fully express themselves. This means that as people with disabilities that include speech disorders, we have to work extra hard to get the attention of non disabled people, and even those who have disabilities, but typical speech patterns. I will share personal experiences and tips for how to “embrace the awkward” and make more meaningful communication connections.
Learning Outcomes
- Audience members will understand the importance of not making assumptions about people’s capabilities based on their appearance or speech.
- Participants will gain practical tips for navigating communication barriers while learning to “embrace the awkward.”
- Participants will learn the importance of recognizing a person’s gifts, skills, and talents no matter what their limitations may be.
For individuals with motor deficits who use AAC, alternative access methods open meaningful pathways for communication participation. However, success depends on more than technology–intentional teaching and collaborative problem-solving are key.
Barriers to success with alternative access include limited clinician confidence, complex and changing motor needs of individuals who benefit from alternative access, and limited direct research to guide decision-making. These barriers highlight the importance of drawing on real-world clinical experience and client perspectives.
This presentation will review alternative access methods for AAC and highlight five principles for successful implementation in the pediatric population, incorporating both a clinical and caregiver perspective. Emphasis will be placed on practical application, using real-life examples as well as highlighting tools and strategies that clinicians can use immediately in clinical practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Define alternative access for communication technology and give two examples.
- Summarize at least three key principles related to optimizing communication access for pediatric populations.
- List at least three tools or strategies available for supporting assessment and treatment for children who use alternative access methods for AAC.
AAC systems are far more than vocabulary boards—they’re dynamic, multi feature tools that can open new worlds of connection, participation, and independence. Expanding Your AAC Universe invites clinicians, educators, and support professionals to look beyond core words and explore the powerful built in features of PRC Saltillo AAC devices and apps. Through live demonstrations, practical examples, and collaborative discussion, participants will discover how tools such as Built in AI (translate, edit, image generation), List O Matic, Voice Assistants, Notebooks, Sharing Writing to Apps, Computer Controls, and Join In Web Apps can elevate communication across ages and environments. This session highlights real world applications for academics, leisure, employment, and independent living—showing how AAC features can enrich engagement in classrooms, at home, and throughout the community. Whether
Learning Outcomes
- Identify at least three feature-based tools available in PRC Saltillo AAC devices and applications (e.g., AI, List-O-Matic, Voice Assistants, Notebooks) that support academic, functional, or social participation.
- Describe at least three activities or contexts in which AAC features can support participation across developmental stages (early intervention, school-age, adolescence, and adulthood).
- Explain how a selected AAC feature can be adapted to meet the communication needs of individuals with differing ages, abilities, or communication goals.
- 4) Discuss practical examples of applying AAC features to support engagement in academics, leisure activities, employment-related tasks, and independent living.
Communication is foundational to learning, relationships, behavior, and self-advocacy. This session explores practical, evidence-based strategies to strengthen communication for students with autism, including effective implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) alongside other supportive approaches. Participants will deepen their understanding of how AAC supports language development, engagement, behavior regulation, and academic access. The presentation emphasizes creating communication-rich environments, embedding supports throughout the school day, and increasing authentic opportunities for student expression. Real-world examples illustrate how teams can move beyond simply providing tools to ensuring meaningful communication use. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to increase participation, expand language, and foster greater independence across educational settings.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to identify strategies to create communication-rich environments that increase authentic opportunities for students with autism to express themselves.
- Participants will be able to apply evidence-informed techniques such as aided language modeling, visual supports, and structured routines to support functional and academic communication.
- Participants will be able to recognize and challenge common myths and misconceptions about AAC and communication development that can limit student access and growth.
