Demystifying AAC

Join us for a live, in-person event with 3 AAC specialists including Krista Howard, an adult AAC user who will share her journey and lived experience with AAC. In this 6-hour interactive workshop, we will bust the most common myths of AAC and walk you through the entire AAC process including evaluation and implementation. Teachers, therapists (SLP, OT, PT, music), paraprofessionals, parents and BCBAs will learn how to integrate AAC into therapy, homes, classrooms and in the community. You will learn the foundations of implementing across the lifespan with a special focus on early intervention (EI). We will provide hands-on experience with AAC applications and dedicated, medically-funded devices to help you feel confident in using AAC with children and adults. This training will help you access free resources to build an AAC culture in homes or classrooms.

Please Note: Attendees are encouraged to bring their personal devices with AAC applications (e.g., iPads) on them if they have them as we will be using them during the training. If you do not have an iPad or high-tech device, some will be available for sharing.

*A catered lunch by "The Italian Guy" will be included in the ticket price

Sarah Cruz, M.A., CCC-SLP and Brandi Wentland, M.A., CCC-SLP are both graduates from California State University, Chico and have worked in early intervention, schools and homes. They have extensive trianing and experience in AAC evaluations and intervention. They both host Out & About - AAC community groups that were created by Dr. Caroline Musselwhite and Deanna Wagner over 25 years ago. They have a passion for building capacity for AAC in the North State. Through their friendship with Krista Howard and other users of AAC, they have learned an insiders perspective into the lived experience of AAC across the lifespan. Krista Howard is enrolled in an SLPA program and will be the first full-time user of AAC to become an SLPA. Krista Howard was one of the first members of the Out & About Group and is now an AAC mentor for newer users of AAC. Brandi, Sarah, and Krista are all members of We Speak AAC and hosts of the Facebook Group We Speak AAC, which boasts 3.3k members.

PRC-Saltillo will be providing free materials and devices to help you get hands-on experience with TouchChat, NovaChat, LAMP WFL and Unity AAC applications, software and hardware. This will also be a chance to meet with your local PRC consultant, Alexis Glasser and learn how to get devices funded through insurance, grant programs, and early intervention programs.

Parking is free and is located at "The Warehouse" at Italian Guy Catering. See map image above for details on parking and entrance locations.

The location is wheelchair accessible and has no stairs.

Host or Publisher We Speak AAC