ISAAC Conference

Applying human rights practices to AAC advocacy
2025-10-28 22:30 - 23:00 (America/Toronto) | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 120
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe how AAC users are currently included in human rights study
2. Discuss how AAC users can be included in human rights study
3. Expain why AAC representation in human rights scholarship is important to advocacy and policy advancement

CAA sin fronteras: colaboración Chile-México para la formación e implementación de prácticas basadas en evidencia en CAA / Global Perspectives in AAC: Contributions from International AAC Networks, Communication Partner Supports
2025-10-28 22:00 - 23:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 59
Objectives:
1. Comprender el modelo de colaboración para aplicar o adaptar en su práctica profesional.
2. Reconocer estrategias de evaluación e intervención basadas en evidencia para mejorar su trabajo clínico.
3. Valorar la importancia del involucramiento familiar y del equipo interdisciplinario en CAA.
4. Interpretar indicadores de impacto para evaluar y optimizar programas de CAA.

Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the collaboration model to apply or adapt in professional practice.
2. Describe evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies to improve clinical work.
3. Discuss the importance of family involvement and interdisciplinary team collaboration in AAC.
4. Interpret impact indicators to evaluate and optimize AAC programs.

Personalized AAC Interfaces Using Ability-Based Keyboard Generation: Improving Communication Access for Individuals with Severe Physical Impairments
2025-10-28 22:00 - 22:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 92
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe three benefits of personalized keyboard interfaces to support communication
2. Describe how physical access skills using wearable sensors can be leveraged through artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to create personalized keyboards to support communication
3. Compare the performance and perspectives of people who use AAC when using a standard vs personalized keyboard during typing tasks

Communication as a Reporting Challenge for Victims with Disabilities
2025-10-28 22:00 - 22:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 60
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Recognize the challenges individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities face when attempting to report crimes. In tandem, participants will discover ways to minimize these challenges and better support victims with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
2. Discuss the potential benefit of visual supports such as visual schedules and social stories to support victims with disabilities in reporting crimes.
3. Discuss ways to include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the research process.

Enhancing Communication Rate and Quality in Text-Based AAC Through Generative AI
2025-10-28 21:30 - 22:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 109
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe at least two common barriers to communication efficiency experienced by text-based AAC users and how these impact participation.
2. Explain how generative AI tools can be integrated into AAC systems to support message construction, error correction, and user autonomy.
3. Identify key considerations for ethically implementing AI-enhanced AAC tools in clinical practice, including user control and personalization.

Building Skills with Building Blocks: Supporting Language, Problem Solving, Mathematics, and More Through Accessible Block Play
2025-10-28 21:30 - 22:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 31
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. List 3 ways to adapt block play for physical access
2. Identify 3 ways that block play can support language development, including for AAC users
3. Identify 3 ways that block play can support problem solving and mathematics skill development for learners

The Journey to Developing a Regional Support Network: The Story of the Wisconsin (USA) AAC Network
2025-10-28 21:30 - 22:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 96
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify and describe three core functions of the Wisconsin AAC Network.
2. Access and utilize public-facing resources from the Network, including recent newsletters and outreach materials.
3. Apply key principles from the Network’s formation to initiate or strengthen a local AAC support structure within their own community or country.

'I still have trouble with this': The Views of People with Rett Syndrome Regarding Communication and Literacy
2025-10-28 21:30 - 22:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 56
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Explain common communication profiles of people with Rett syndrome.
2. Discuss how Talking Mats were used to support interview procedures.
3. Explain two clinical implications of the research to be applied when working with people with Rett syndrome.

Lenguaje Natural Asistido: Un Recorrido desde la Evidencia hacia la Experiencia en Contextos Hispanohablantes
2025-10-28 21:00 - 22:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 98
Objectives:
1. Comprender los fundamentos teóricos y empíricos del Lenguaje Natural Asistido (LNA) como estrategia basada en evidencia para apoyar el desarrollo comunicativo de personas con necesidades complejas de comunicación.
2. Identificar los cambios recientes en la aplicación del LNA, incluyendo las variables que influyen en su efectividad: funciones comunicativas modeladas, intensidad, contextos de uso, y rol del interlocutor.
3. Reconocer los desafíos y barreras más frecuentes en la implementación del LNA en comunidades de habla hispana, especialmente en contextos educativos y familiares.
4. Explorar prácticas y adaptaciones efectivas desarrolladas por profesionales y familias en entornos hispanohablantes para aplicar el modelado con CAA de manera sostenida, significativa y culturalmente contextualizada.

Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Explain the theoretical and empirical foundations of Aided Language Stimulation (ALS) as an evidence-based strategy to support communication development in individuals with complex communication needs.
2. Identify recent changes in ALS application, including variables that influence its effectiveness: modeled communicative functions, intensity, usage contexts, and the role of the communication partner.
3. Describe common challenges and barriers in implementing ALS in Spanish-speaking communities, especially in educational and family contexts.
4. Discuss effective practices and adaptations developed by professionals and families in Spanish-speaking environments to apply AAC modeling in a sustained, meaningful, and culturally contextualized way.

From Access to Achievement: Standards-Based Goals that Support AAC Inclusion
2025-10-28 21:00 - 22:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 15
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify relevant academic standards and deconstruct them into component skills to inform individualized, standards-aligned educational goals for students who use AAC
2. Describe how to write functional, measurable educational goals that address both communication and academic needs across grade levels and educational settings
3. Describe how to apply evidence-based practices to embed AAC strategies—such as core vocabulary, aided language input, and multimodal communication—into standards-based instructional goals

Moving from the Margins to the Center: Advancing Inclusive Qualitative Research Practices with AAC Users
2025-10-28 21:00 - 21:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 48
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe common methodological approaches used in qualitative research studies that have successfully included AAC users as participants over the past decade.
2. Discuss emerging best practices and recommended strategies for designing inclusive, accessible qualitative research protocols that accommodate the communication needs of AAC users.
3. Discuss how to support the inclusion of AAC users in research by recognizing their role as valuable and essential contributors to the evidence base in AAC and related fields.

Effectiveness of Parent Instruction in Partner-Augmented Input via Tele-practice on Parent and Child Interaction
2025-10-28 21:00 - 21:30
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Session ID: 19
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify benefits of partner instruction
2. List benefits of partner augmented input
3. Summarize effectiveness of parent instruction via tele-practice

Exploring an Increase in Frequency of Intervention in Homecare with New AAC Users
2025-10-28 21:00 - 21:30
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Session ID: 18
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe results of a burst of therapy
2. Identify the benefits of having a burst after first receiving an AAC device
3. Discuss implications of a burst of therapy

Persistent Gaps and Promising Practices: Employment Experiences of Canadians with Speech Disabilities
2025-10-28 20:30 - 21:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 62
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the employment-related barriers experienced by Canadians with speech disabilities across the employment lifecycle.
2. Explain how current employment systems and practices often overlook the communication needs of individuals with speech disabilities.
3. Discuss actionable strategies for improving employment inclusion and equity.

Communication partner training considerations for patients who utilize AAC for communication to assist with reducing abandonment
2025-10-28 20:30 - 21:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 44
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify 3 barriers to AAC carry-over identified by caregivers.
2. List 3 different evidence-based caregiver training approaches for AAC.
3. Describe cultural factors related to feature matching with AAC.

Utilization of a Single Preferred AAC System in US Schools
2025-10-28 20:30 - 21:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 24
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the historical AAC assessment processes.
2. List the stakeholders typically involved in AAC assessments.
3. Summarize the practices being used in schools that use single preferred AAC systems.

BINGO! Promoting AAC Engagement through Family Game Nights
2025-10-28 20:00 - 21:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 119
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify at least 2 ways that experienced AAC users can help lead group online game/social activities.
2. Identify at least 2 game/social activities that can occur in hybrid (in-person and virtual) settings.
3. Identify 2 benefits of peer-led social activities.

Finding My Child's Voice: A Parent's Journey to AAC
2025-10-28 20:00 - 21:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 7
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. List examples of tech barriers for AAC users
2. List examples of how AI can do more for AAC users
3. List practical steps to support AAC therapy now and in the future

Decolonizing AAC
2025-10-28 20:00 - 21:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 3
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. List at least 3 things every clinician or educator should be asking clients and families about their language use
2. Describe at least 3 cultural differences between mainstream American culture and Indigenous cultures of North America
3. Identify at least 2 ways to include languages other than English in their work with clients.

Tale of Two Districts: Including Everyone & Adopting a Universal Language System Approach
2025-10-28 20:00 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 78
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe what is meant by a universal first approach to providing AAC supports and services across a school district.
2. Describe the thinking that resulted in each district choosing PODD an the universal language approach.
3. Identify three benefits that the districts identified when reflecting on their journeys.
4. Explain why a developmental evaluation approach was appropriate for this type of systematic implementation of AAC.

Look at my photos: establishing common ground in photo-mediated multimodal interactions involving a child with complex communication needs
2025-10-28 20:00 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 32
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify multiple communication modalities utilized by the child with CCNs in interactions to negotiate and establish common ground.
2. List multimodal strategies professionals can strategically use to promote participation and autonomy in therapy.
3. Describe the role(s) of photos in multimodal interactions involving the child with CCNs.

Speech-Language Pathologists Approach to Goal Writing for AAC: A Survey Study
2025-10-28 20:00 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 17
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identity linguistic, operation, social, and strategic goals that may be used for children who use AAC.
2. Describe the results of a national survey of speech-language pathologists that explored goal writing practices.
3. Discuss the clinical implications of the results of the national survey of speech-language pathologists relative to goal writing for AAC services.

Using adapted Q-Methodology to elicit the preferences of persons with aphasia regarding communication strategies to support end-of-life decision-making
2025-10-28 11:30 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 95
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
Upon completion of this presentation, delegates will be able to:
1. Explain the importance of AAC strategies in supporting persons with aphasia to make end-of-life decisions;
2. Describe Q-Methodology as a research strategy to elicit the views of participants;
3. Describe how AAC adaptations to Q-Methodology can facilitate the participation of persons in need of AAC in research aimed at eliciting their views

The Remarkable Impact of Hiring AAC Users as Paid Speakers
2025-10-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 117
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify key benefits of hiring AAC users as paid speakers.
2. Describe strategies for accessible and empowering speaking opportunities that center AAC user autonomy and lived expertise.
3. Explore approaches to partnering with AAC users in a way that respects communication needs, preferences, and professional contributions.

Supporting the Mental Health and Wellness of Children and Youth with AAC at School: What are we doing? What needs to be done?
2025-10-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 108
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Discuss the unique challenges faced by students who need AAC and how these challenges might impact their mental health and wellbeing.
2. Identify three current approaches to supporting mental health and wellness for children and youth who need AAC while reflecting on further actions that may be needed.
3. Describe strategies and steps that school stakeholders can implement to help to ensure students who need AAC are meaningfully included in mental health and wellbeing initiatives.

AAC in the Mainstream: Innovative Approaches to Inclusion and Access
2025-10-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 94
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe strategies to help instruct students in a general education setting on using AAC with peers in various classrooms.
2. Identify possible candidates in various settings to implement and participate in an inclusion program.
3. Summarize an outlined plan to implement an inclusion program in their own setting.
4. List activities targeting social skills to create connections between general education and special education populations.

Equity in Expression: Hot Topics and Bold Moves in AAC Practice
2025-10-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 14
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Explain why an AAC User should be given access to a large grid size with icons in consistent places
2. Provide 3 reasons why an AAC User might stim on their device
3. Explain why an AAC User should be given access to vocabulary related to slang, humor, and health

Empowering Marginalized Voices: Inclusive AAC Strategies Through Technology and Community-Based Advocacy
2025-10-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 10

Objectives:

Voices Across Borders: Inclusive and Culturally Grounded AAC Innovations in Arabic-Speaking Countries
2025-10-28 11:00 - 11:30 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 2

Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify key challenges and barriers to AAC implementation in Arabic-speaking countries, including cultural, linguistic, economic, and systemic factors.
2. Describe the current state of awareness, training, and access to AAC among professionals, families, and users across the Arab world.
3. Evaluate culturally responsive and inclusive strategies for improving AAC accessibility and effectiveness in Arabic-speaking countries.
4. Formulate actionable recommendations for advocacy, policy reform, and professional development that support advancement of AAC services in linguistically and culturally diverse contexts.

Communication Matters - Tips, Tools, & Strategies for the RCMP on a National Scale
2025-10-28 10:30 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
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Session ID: 74
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe the key components of the current Communication Matters pilot project.
2. Discuss the development of a national education initiative for the RCMP, based on the guiding questions.
3. Identify strategies and tools that support effective communication between law enforcement and individuals with communication disabilities.
4. Identify barriers and possible solutions to accessing law enforcement services.
