If you are heading down to ATIA Orlando in a few weeks, you'll defnitely want to stop by booth #812 for a chance to enter our HUGE giveaway. I'm not kidding- we are giving away something that we have never given away before! You won't want to miss it!
When you aren't at booth #812 entering for your chance to win that amazing prize, you'll want to make sure to check out these very helpful and educational sessions:
Thursday, January 31
9:20-10:20am, By the Way, I Use a Communication Device
Session Code: CATT-05
Venue: Caribe Royale All-Suites Convention Center
Room: Bonaire 2
Young adults with cognitive impairments and who use AAC devices maximize self-expression by customizing AAC through integrating mobile technology and apps. Community partners provide opportunities to form new relationships and engagement in diverse activities. AAC users are now exploring their identities and becoming integrated members of caring communities. Jamel collaborated with a Pace University Service-Learning partner to create an iMovie showcasing his talents as a writer and dancer. Jamel states he is now defined by these “non-speaking” activities. Adil is employed part-time at a national department store and serves as a Saltillo Ambassador. He is now a role model for younger AAC users by raising awareness of the possibilities of their lives. Adil is now a young man defined by his hard work, winning personality and Muslim faith. At home, Adil uses an Ipad and “Skypes” to stay in touch with his family in Pakistan.
Primary Speaker : Lorraine Cohen, CCC-SLP, Assistive Technology Specialist, AHRC New York City
Co-Speaker : Karen Deckman, Assistive Technology Specialist, Saltillo Corporation
1:15-2:15pm, AAC Device Implementation in the School Setting with Saltillo
Session Code: AAC-13
Venue: Caribe Royale All-Suites Convention Center
Room: Bonaire 7
AAC Device implementation should be a simple process. Many times, a device is placed with a child in a school setting without proper team training beforehand. This leads to confusion and frustration not only with the child who requires the device to communicate, but also for the team who is supporting him. During this presentation, we will focus on simple ways to implement the AAC device in the school setting.
Co-Speaker : Elisa Robinson, Assistive Technology Consultant, Saltillo Corporation
Friday, February 1
3-5pm, Building Relationships through the Tools of Communication
Session Code: AAC-66
Venue: Caribe Royale All-Suites Convention Center
Room: Poster 9
AAC has become more of a requesting tool, and therefore people that use AAC are having a difficult time seeing the big picture. This has caused expectations for people with a complex communication disability to be low. I believe AAC is so much bigger. I believe AAC gives a person a chance to be educated. It gives a person a chance to build relationships. Those relationships develop into a great community. That community helps and support you. AAC gives you the chance to live life to the fullest!
Primary Speaker : Chris Klein, President, BeCOME AAC
Speaker : Lisa Timm, Saltillo Corporation, Board member BeCOME AAC
Saturday, February 2
8-9am, WordPower for the TouchChat App and New NOVA Chat Devices
Session Code: AAC-49
Venue: Caribe Royale All-Suites Convention Center
Room: Bonaire 8
This session will provide an in-depth overview of the WordPower and ChatPower AAC vocabularies that have been designed for the TouchChat App and the new NOVA Chat devices. New WordPower vocabularies will be reviewed, including those with 24, 30, 42, 48, and 80-locations. Various access strategies including manipulation of touchscreen sensitivity, and scanning will be explained and demonstrated. Unique features for TouchChat and NOVA chat vocabularies such as use of "gestures," sharing/copying information from the WordPower vocabulary to a document, email and Facebook will be demonstrated.
Primary Speaker : Nancy Inman, M.A.T., CCC-SLP, Program Manager for Assistive Technology Department, Kennedy Krieger Institute