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.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is constantly evolving technology, which is commonly used in the workplace. Employers utilize AI for a growing number of functions. Employees with disabilities can utilize AI as a reasonable accommodation to assist in completing required job tasks. However, inaccessible AI programs can also pose barriers for employees with disabilities.
This session will provide information about some of the uses of AI to assist employees with disabilities in the workplace, and barriers that AI may pose to applicants and employees with disabilities. This session will also provide information about the rights of employees with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act to request and receive reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Additionally, this session will explore some recent developments around AI in the workplace.
Learning Outcomes
- The various forms of AI that are used by employers and employees in the workplace, and potential barriers posed by AI to employees with disabilities.
- The rights of employees with disabilities to request and receive reasonable accommodations, and some examples of AI as a reasonable accommodation.
- How AI can be used to assist people with disabilities to prepare for employment.
- Recent developments within the past year of AI in the workplace.
This interactive workshop will outline the importance of accessing assistive technology in party planning for all individuals and demonstrate techniques for putting this into practice. Presenters will demonstrate the effectiveness of assistive technology used for choice-making, party planning, and adapted-play and provide specific examples. All examples will have tangible goals and feature students with complex needs, including physical/motor impairments, intellectual disabilities, and cortical visual impairment, demonstrating their successful use of assistive technology. Presenters will identify ways to implement these strategies within the school, home, and community settings. Participants will participate in hands-on party planning and leave with a virtual goody bag!
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the need for adaptations and accessibility for individuals with complex needs to participate in party planning/participation, leisure activities, and playful explorations.
- Describe the multiple uses of assistive technology within party planning/participation, leisure activities, and playful explorations.
- Design and adapt party games/activities and create accessible playful party explorations using materials and equipment provided.
Supported decision-making passed into law in 2023 as an alternative to guardianship. Many individuals have likely heard of SDM and are interested in taking the next steps but may not know where to start. This presentation will explore various assistive technologies (AT) that can help self-advocates and their supporters in healthcare, finances, and other areas in a person’s life.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will survey available assistive technology to help facilitate supported decision-making in different areas (healthcare, legal, financial)
- Participants will see real-world applications of how emerging technologies can promote community integration and independence
- Participants will get a refresher on how Supported Decision-Making
This session explores how YouTube channels can help self-advocates represent themselves in their own way and can positively influence public perceptions of people with disabilities . The presentation will feature short videos from Justice Armfield Living My Life YouTube channel. Justice, a man with Down syndrome, will share how he creates his videos, why he creates his videos, and the messages he hopes to convey with his videos. Justice will also talk about other self-advocates he follows on Youtube. Co-Presenter, John Schaffer, who often helps Justice with his videos, will help facilitate the conversation at the session.
Learning Outcomes
- Participants will be able to explain how YouTube and other digital platforms support self‑advocates in representing themselves, sharing their experiences, and shaping public perceptions of people with disabilities.
- Participants will be able to identify key elements of Justice Armfield’s content creation process—including his motivations, methods, and messaging—and describe how these elements contribute to authentic disability representation.
- Participants will be able to name at least two strategies for supporting self‑advocates in creating digital content, drawing on examples from Justice Armfield’s channel and other disability‑focused creators he follows.
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.
A lower extremity exoskeleton is a wearable robotic device that enables individuals with paraplegia, due to spinal cord injuries (SCI) or other neurological conditions, to walk. Regaining
the ability to stand, offers numerous health benefits, such as preventing or alleviating common issues associated with long-term wheelchair use, including pressure ulcers, bowel and bladder disorders, spasticity, and pain. Exoskeleton use can also improve physical endurance and mental well-being. Historically, lower extremity exoskeletons have been used primarily for walking, and primarily in rehabilitation settings, with some community use. There is little information in the literature regarding the use of exoskeletons in the user’s home, and the possibility of using the standing foundation provided by the exoskeleton to complete functional daily tasks in the home.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize how individuals with spinal cord injuries can regain independence with functional activities in their home and communities by using a lower extremity robotic exoskeleton.
- Describe the physical and mental health benefits associated with the use of lower extremity exoskeletons for individuals with paraplegia, including improvements in cardiometabolic health, enhanced physical endurance, improved functional pain scores, improved bowel/bladder function, and other health benefits.
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.
People with disabilities often receive information about services, rights, and benefits in long, hard-to-understand documents. As advocates, we sometimes use technical or professional language, but this can make it difficult to connect with the disability community, their families, service providers, and allies.
Plain language resources make information accessible to everyone. When resources are clear, people can better advocate for themselves. This presentation highlights the importance of plain language and shows how it can educate, engage, and empower the people we care about.
Learning Outcomes
- Simplify complex language in community-facing documents and resources.
- Develop a clear, plain-language method that helps people with disabilities understand their rights.
- Explain the person-centered values behind creating plain language resources for everyone, with and without disabilities.
- Plain language principles benefit all audiences and content areas. This presentation highlights how plain language improves access to services and rights, empowers self-advocacy, bridges communication gaps, promotes person-centered values, and fosters engagement and education.
