ISAAC Conference

ISAAC Virtual Conference 2025 Opening Ceremonies
2025-10-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Online (Zoom)
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Join ISAAC for the Virtual Conference 2025 Opening Ceremonies!
It’s free and open to everyone, members and non-members, but you must register in advance.
Register now!
Agenda
Opening remarks
ISAAC President Yonit Hagoel-Karnieli
Conference logistics and announcements
ISAAC Executive Director Franklin Smith
Keynote Speaker
Alyssa Hillary Zisk
Scroll down to see Alyssa’s biography.

Prize Draw!

Pre-Conference Celebration
2025-10-27 12:00 - 17:30
ISAAC Virtual Event 2025 Pre-Conference Celebration
October 27, 2025
12:00 pm – 5:30 pm EDT
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Join us for the ISAAC Virtual Event 2025 Pre-Conference Celebration on October 27, 2025, 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm EDT.
The Pre-Conference Celebration is free and open to everyone, members and non-members, but you must register in advance.
Members of ISAAC’s LEAD Committee have planned an exciting program. It’s free and open to everyone. You do not have to be a member of ISAAC to participate in the pre-conference events.
All events will be in the same zoom meeting room from 12:00pm to 5:30pm EDT. All events will have chat monitors and readers. There will be a break of approximately 15 minutes between each event.
Prizes
Drawings for ISAAC 2026 memberships will be at the end of each event.
Bingo: the first winner of 5 in a row will receive a swag prize.
Register now!
Agenda
Celebration Opening Remarks
12:00 pm
Community Forum
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Hosted by Kevin Williams.
Discussion topic: “Share an experience when an AAC system was thought to be possessed or did something unexpected and surprised you.”
AAC Poetry Slam
2:15 pm – 3:45 pm
Hosted by Dr. Lateef McLeod
Using the AAC Awareness Month theme as inspiration (“inclusion, innovation, and advocacy within AAC”), participants are encouraged to use one, two, or all three topics in their poems of any style. Multiple short poems are preferred to keep the flow going while everyone has a chance to share. The slam is open to anyone in the AAC community, but we will prioritize people who use AAC when sharing.
Poems can be of any form, under 5 minutes in length.
Community Game Session: AAC Themed Bingo
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Hosted by Patrick Regan and members of the USSAAC Awareness Committee.
During the community game session, we will play bingo with pictures of past and present AAC systems from around the world. This event is open to the entire community, allowing everyone to share, reminisce, and interact.

https://bingobaker.com#68c19b296fbf35fc
The card can be printed and marked manually, or played online.

ISAAC LEAD COMMITTEE
Esther Klang (Chair), Patrick Regan, Chelsea Hagen, Jamie Preece, Emma Sullivan, Lateef McLeod, Kevin Williams
daretolead@isaac-online.org

How AAC change my life?
2025-10-28 08:00 - 08:30
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Session ID: 5
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the communication challenges faced by individuals with cerebral palsy and how AAC addresses those challenges.
2. Identify the emotional, social, and educational impacts of using AAC from the perspective of a full-time user.
3. Explain the role of support systems in AAC success and the importance of listening to user voices when designing communication tools.
4. Apply inclusive communication strategies to better support AAC users in personal, educational, or clinical settings.

The experiences of speech and language pathologists in the selection of graphic symbol collections for students with autism spectrum disorder
2025-10-28 08:00 - 08:30
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Session ID: 16
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Summarize factors related to Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) that can be considered when selecting the optimal collection for clients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
2. Summarize factors related to clients and their families that can be considered by SLPs when selecting the optimal collection for clients with ASD.
3. Summarize factors related to graphic symbol characteristics that can be considered by SLPs when selecting the optimal collection for clients with ASD.
4. Reflect on their own practices when selecting graphic symbol collections for their clients with ASD to improve the quality of assessment and intervention.

Making Blissymbolics accessible
2025-10-28 08:00 - 08:30
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Session ID: 30
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Define the basic structure of the Blissymbolics system
2. Describe how Blissymbolics can aid children in solving communication tasks
3. Explain how to make Blissymbolics accessible for aided communicators using speech generating devices

Linguistic constraints in AAC systems: A structural analysis of lexical and syntactic design in devices used by children with Cerebral Palsy in Uruguay
2025-10-28 08:00 - 08:30
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Session ID: 45
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Define key lexical and syntactic features of high- and low-tech AAC systems used by children with complex communication needs.
2. Explain how the structure of AAC systems may limit users’ ability to construct grammatically complete messages.
3. Discuss the impact of AAC system design on the development of language, narrative skills, and literacy.

Communicative abilities and stress in caregivers of individual with Angelman syndrome: role of familiar resilience
2025-10-28 08:00 - 08:30
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Session ID: 49
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Assess the resilience and adaptation of families of persons with Angelman syndrome.
2. Examine the stress and burden experienced by primary caregivers of personas with Angelman syndrome.
3. Describe how family resilience and adaptation influence the link between communication abilities in individuals with Angelman syndrome and caregiver burden and stress.

Partnership in research: A learning process for people who use AAC and researchers
2025-10-28 08:00 - 08:30
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Session ID: 64
Objectives:
Participants will be able:
1. Summarize lessons learned so far about forming partnership in AAC research.
2. Describe the different roles and phases as described in the Involvement Matrix.
3. Formulate personal goals to improve their own co-research practices.

Supporting Gestalt Language Processors Who Use AAC Using Evidence-Based Practice
2025-10-28 08:30 - 09:00
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Session ID: 33
Objectives:
Participants will be to:
1. List the three components of evidence-based practice.
2. Identify neurodiversity-affirming strategies to support autistic people who use echolalia and scripts to communicate.
3. Describe an individualized approach for promoting the language development of autistic people who use AAC.

An Investigation of SLP Knowledge Related to Assessment and Management of AAC in Persons with Aphasia: A Survey Study
2025-10-28 08:30 - 09:00
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Session ID: 42
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify the current level of knowledge and confidence among speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in assessing and managing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for persons with aphasia (PWA).
2. Describe key factors that influence the successful implementation of AAC interventions in individuals with varying types and severities of aphasia.
3. Analyze gaps in professional preparation and training related to AAC use in clinical practice with PWAs.
4. Propose strategies to improve AAC-related clinical decision-making through targeted professional development and evidence-based practices.

Innovation, Inclusion, and Advocacy in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in India: A Gap Analysis in Implementation
2025-10-28 08:30 - 09:00
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Session ID: 100
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Discuss the need for systematic advocacy and urgent demand for training to address structural inequities with community-based support,
2. Discuss the urgent need for policies for professionals, teachers, parents, and users, especially those based in rural areas,
3. Discuss the critical need for affordable, context-sensitive AAC innovations across underdeveloped states.

The Enhancing Peer Networks Project: Promoting Social Communication and Peer Relationships for Elementary-aged Students with Limited Speech
2025-10-28 08:30 - 09:30
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Session ID: 8
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe factors that impact social communication, engagement, and relationships with peers for elementary-aged students who use or could benefit from AAC
2. Summarize research methods and findings from the Enhancing Peer Networks Project, including the impact on social and communication outcomes for students with limited speech and their peers
3. Discuss the experiences of peers without disabilities as they play, interact, and become friends with their classmates who have limited speech within the Enhancing Peer Networks Project

Framing the Future: Smart Frames for Innovation and Inclusion in AAC
2025-10-28 08:30 - 09:30
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Session ID: 58
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify current gaps in training and awareness among SLPs, audiologists, and vision specialists regarding the use of smart frames as assistive technology.
2. Describe the functional benefits and limitations of smart frames for individuals with communication and physical disabilities, based on survey and case study findings.
3. Discuss implications for interdisciplinary collaboration and future AAC research involving co-design and user-driven innovation with smart frames.

Taboo or Not Taboo: Supporting Authentic Expression in AAC
2025-10-28 08:30 - 09:30
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Session ID: 111
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify at least three examples of how restricting access to “taboo” vocabulary can impact communication autonomy and social participation for AAC users.
2. Describe strategies for reframing clinician and caregiver roles to support safe, inclusive vocabulary access in AAC systems.
3. Apply at least two tools or approaches from the session to facilitate authentic expression and reduce gatekeeping in AAC practice.

How autistic children respond to instructions containing prepositions: Comparing four augmented input conditions
2025-10-28 09:00 - 09:30
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Session ID: 71
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Explain the rationale behind the use of augmented input and identify and describe the four augmented input strategies used in the study.
2. Apply insights from the study to inform clinical practice and future research.
3. Analyse differences in participants’ responses across the four conditions of augmented input.

“Déjame expresarme” Taller sobre habilidades de los interlocutores.
2025-10-28 09:00 - 10:00
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Session ID: 37
Objectives:
1. Knowledge: knowing what the main barriers are in augmentative communication that AAC user students encounter in their daily lives.
2. Analysis: be able to analyze the barriers, design and promote actions aimed at training and awareness in AAC, in their respective environments
3. Application: to know dynamics and strategies that can be used to train regular interlocutors in secondary school
4. Application: Create an international network of AAC users and interlocutor trainers

Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe and analyze the main barriers in augmentative communication that students using AAC face in their daily lives.
2. Promote actions aimed at AAC training and awareness in their respective environments.
3. Describe dynamics and strategies that can be used to train regular communication partners in middle school.
4. Create an international network of AAC users who train communication partners.

Advocating for Improved Assessment Practices for Students Who Use AAC: Guidelines for Establishing Fair Testing Practices
2025-10-28 09:00 - 10:00
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Session ID: 54
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Provide a rationale for developing individualized Fair Testing Practices for students who use AAC;
2. Describe key considerations for test accommodations and/or modifications related to the testing environment and test materials;
3. Identify issues related to reliability and validity; and,
4. Discuss at least three options for adjustments to test administration procedures and how those should be documented.

Bridging Crisis and Community: Research, Relief, and Outreach in Disaster Response
2025-10-28 09:00 - 10:00
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Session ID: 57
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Evaluate the impact of AAC accessibility in disaster preparedness.
2. Describe two resources available to aid in communication during times of crisis.
3. Identify three contributions made by USSAAC’s Disaster Relief Committee that assist in community disaster readiness.

Bridging the gap: A mixed method study on shadow teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding AAC in inclusive schools in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
2025-10-28 09:30 - 10:00
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Session ID: 86
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the shadow teacher’s current knowledge, and attitude toward AAC
2. Identify key barriers to effective AAC practice
3. Propose targeted training strategies for AAC implementation
4. Evaluate policy implementation for AAC access in LMIC inclusive education context

Embodied Communication as Early AAC: Gesture, Motor Features, and the Foundations of Symbolic Expression
2025-10-28 09:30 - 10:00
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Session ID: 114
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
This study explores how motor-based gesture analysis can support early identification of AAC potential and inform system design.
We examine how the structural features of gestures—such as rhythm, trajectory and transitions between body parts—serve as indicators of communicative intent and symbolic capacity.

Shifting Gears: Using AAC to Drive Self-Determination
2025-10-28 09:30 - 10:30
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Session ID: 9
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Analyze and describe 3 ways that Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness contribute to achieving self-determination.
2. List and describe the 4 Ps of AAC and discuss their significance in promoting self-determination.
3. Identify and describe at least 2 roles of communication partners and AAC users in developing the elements of self-determination.

Our futures: What UK AAC users want to support our future lives, a project led by AAC users with AAC users.
2025-10-28 09:30 - 10:30
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Session ID: 87
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. IDENTIFY ways to understand what education and training needs AAC users have and want to achieve their future goals
2. CONTRAST what AAC users want for their future education and training needs with what others perceive AAC users need
3. COMPARE their own thoughts and ways of working to support AAC users to establish what they want and need to achieve their own future goals

Asking the Parents: Does trialling powered AAC change parental expectations and perceptions?
2025-10-28 10:00 - 10:30
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Session ID: 70
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Consider some of the existing research around parental expectations and the use of AAC
2. Identify facilitators and barriers that supported implementation during the trial
3. Reflect on their own decision-making processes and to identify knowledge and training needs

Core Vocabulary Research and Implementation for Students with Communication Support Needs: A Cross-linguistic and Developmental Perspective
2025-10-28 10:00 - 10:30
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Session ID: 88
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the stability of core vocabulary patterns across different ages in Hebrew-speaking children and apply these findings to inform AAC vocabulary selection.
2. Compare core vocabulary similarities between two different linguistic contexts: Hebrew and English and apply these findings to cross-linguistic AAC design.
3. Evaluate implementation strategies that combine teacher professional development with SLP-led core vocabulary instruction for students with intellectual disabilities and autism.
4. Identify the language-specific components (function words) that differ from universal core vocabulary and apply these findings to cross-linguistic AAC design.

Creating a More Inclusive Rehab: AAC Access for Adults with Acquired Injuries
2025-10-28 10:00 - 11:00
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Session ID: 21
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify ways that augmentative and alternative communication can benefit adults with acquired injuries in inpatient and outpatient settings.
2. Describe how a patient’s communication needs change throughout their recovery and across the continuum of care.
3. Describe the ways that augmentative and alternative communication can assist in promoting patient independence and self-advocacy.
4. Discuss implementation of various communication options for a variety of diagnoses.

Empowering Communication Through Eye Gaze and Access Technologies: Innovations in AAC for Individuals with Complex Needs
2025-10-28 10:00 - 11:00
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Session ID: 27
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the technical principles of eye gaze access and how understanding these principles may change how you position and evaluate clients using eye gaze.
2. Demonstrate the ability to assess, select, and customize eye gaze AAC systems based on individual user needs, including motor, cognitive, and visual considerations.
3. Analyze new and emerging technologies and evidence-based practices in eye gaze AAC to support improved communication outcomes across diverse clinical populations.

Bridging evidence-based feature-matching with a "single preferred AAC system" within schools
2025-10-28 10:00 - 11:00
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Session ID: 124

Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify 6 components of feature matching described by Schlosser’s PESICO template.
2. Compare and contrast 3 aspects of the stakeholder perspective of classroom educators and school system administrators within the feature matching process.
3. Describe 3 AAC features required for the intervention of aided language input across a classroom or whole school environment.
4. Compare and contrast how any two AAC systems best match to the needs of the user, environment, stakeholders, and intervention.

The effects of unaided alternative and augmentative communication interventions on communication in children with autism spectrum disorder
2025-10-28 10:30 - 11:00
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Session ID: 84
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the effects of unaided AAC on expressive, receptive, and social communication in children with ASD.
2. Discuss the implications for clinical practice with children with ASD using AAC.
3. Identify current research gaps and future directions in unaided AAC intervention for children with ASD.

Communication Matters: Setting up a Mentoring Programme for, and run by, AAC users.
2025-10-28 10:30 - 11:00
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Session ID: 91
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Define what an AAC Mentor is.
2. Identify two or more other skills that can benefit qualified AAC mentors.
3. Discuss two or more positives and negatives of running an AAC Mentoring scheme.
.

Alzar la Voz: Desarrollar la Autodeterminación
2025-10-28 10:30 - 11:00
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Session ID: 115
Objectives:
1. Esta presentación aumentará el conocimiento de los participantes sobre el desarrollo de habilidades de autodeterminación en usuarios adultos de CAA.
2. Como resultado de esta presentación, los participantes aprenderán cómo implementar el cuestionario “Framing a Future”, una herramienta que permite establecer diferentes objetivos en varias áreas de la vida de un usuario de CAA.
3. Como resultado, los participantes comprenderán el valor de contar con un sólido grupo de apoyo entre pares en la comunicación, para que un usuario de sistemas aumentativos y alternativos (CAA) pueda desarrollar habilidades de autodeterminación.
4. Como resultado, los participantes comprenderán cómo el planteamiento de objetivos a futuro afecta emocionalmente a un usuario de CAA.

Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Discuss the development of self-determination skills in adult AAC users.
2. Explain how to implement the “Framing a Future” questionnaire, a tool that helps set goals across various areas of life for AAC users.
3. Discuss the value of having a strong peer support group in communication, enabling AAC users to develop self-determination skills.
4. Describe how future goal-setting emotionally affects AAC users.
