Strand One

Session Descriptions

Glenda Watson Hyatt, Virtual Keynote Speaker

Glenda was diagnosed “functional non-verbal” at a very young age; a weighty label that led to social isolation and loneliness. Follow her journey as she created her own communication methods until technology finally caught up with her. Within only six years of the release of this now ubiquitous device, she found her voice and a deliciously ironic dream career path. Discover what elements were essential to her success as an AAC user.

Christopher Bugaj, MA CCC-SLP,
​Inclusive Design Facilitator and ISTE Author

Working to provide students with a way to communicate is often a difficult task wrought with barriers and challenges. Learning language is less like one person opening a locked door and more like a team of construction workers building a house. Rarely is it the case that a dynamic augmentative communication device is put in place and then suddenly scores of language come spilling out of a student without persistent, focused support. It takes a consistent, collaborative effort to implement a functional language system. Together we’ll explore proven strategies for teaching even the youngest students how to become effective, functional communicators by teaching them language and by engineering the school, home, and community environments so that all communicators have opportunities for rich, meaningful practice of language in the context of everyday routines.