
ALT Background has orange dots and a large orange circle in the middle. There are words on top of the background and they say - Top: “AAC Highlight” Middle: “ATiA - Assistive Technology Industry Association” Bottom: “Prentke Lecture Series”

ALT Here are the 🔑 details about the Prentke Lecture Series: 🗝️ Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture is presented at the ATIA Conference every year in Orlando, Florida. 🔑 The lecture is delivered by a person who uses augmentative and alternative communication to communicate. 🗝️ The lecture series was initiated in 1997 to honor the life and work of the late Edwin and Esther Prentke. 🔑 This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the achievements and perspectives of individuals who communicate using AAC devices. 🗝️ The Prentke Lecture Series helps raise awareness about AAC and the important contributions of the AAC community.

ALT An orange circle is on a background with orange polka dots. In the circle it says “The 4Ps of AAC” with a teenager holding an AAC device, her arm up, and her leg kicked up. She looks happy. Next to her are the “4Ps of AAC: Educator Edition” and “4Ps of AAC: Self-Advocate Edition” headers from the actual documents.

ALT There is a purple bar along the left and bottom of the screen. A girl who is holding an AAC device. She has long black hair and is wearing black pants and a navy blue jacket. She looks like she is cheering for the AAC with one arm up and a leg kicked up in excitement. In the middle of the screen there two little girls standing next to each other holding an AAC device between them. Next to them it says: Persistent Communication partner is persistent “Is consistent modeling on the AAC system taking place? Aided language stimulation. Descriptive teaching. Peer modeling.” “Is core vocabulary targeted and included in lesson plans?” “Are AAC supports utilized during all instruction and activities throughout the day?” “Have staff members received training?” “Have family/caregivers received training?” In the bottom right hand corner there is an adult holding an AAC device. Next to her it says “4 Ps of AAC Self-Advocate Edition.”

ALT There is a green bar along the left and bottom of the screen. A girl who is holding an AAC device. She has long black hair and is wearing black pants and a navy blue jacket. She looks like she is cheering for the AAC with one arm up and a leg kicked up in excitement. In the middle of the screen there is a stack of low-tech AAC boards. Next to that it says: Personalized AAC System is Personalized “Is it easily evident who the AAC belongs to?” “Does the student have access to a robust communication system? Core vocabulary. Personally-relevant fringe vocabulary. Quick-fire, pre-stored messages. Access to the alphabet/keyboard and word-prediction. Grammatical markers.” “Is the AAC system feature-matched? Symbol type, linguistic features, voice, access, method, visual display, editing, portability, positioning, operational features.” In the bottom right hand corner there is an adult holding an AAC device. Next to her it says “4 Ps of AAC Self-Advocate Edition.”

ALT There is a teal bar along the left and bottom of the screen. A girl who is holding an AAC device. She has long black hair. She looks like she is cheering for the AAC with excitement. In the middle of the screen there is a little boy sitting on the ground with a book and an AAC device in his hand. Next to him it says: Present AAC System is Present "Do ALL students have access to functional communication?" "Does the student have access to personalized AAC supports at all times? Travel within the classroom? Travel throughout the school building? Travel between home and school?" "Are there classroom communication supports available? Do these symbols match the symbols on the student's AAC?" "Are low-tech supports available and taught?" "Is there a back-up system available? (Low or high-tech option if the primary system is unavailable)" In the bottom right hand corner there is an adult holding an AAC device. Next to her it says "4 Ps of AAC Self-Advocate Edition."

ALT Top: TechKnowledgy Conference symbol along with "TechKnowledge Conference" Middle: The words, "Judith Schoonover & Sally Norton-Darr" along with Judith and Sally's profile pictures.

ALT 🛠️ Making does not mean making do. While DIY solutions do not work for everyone, they can fill an immediate need and/or function as prototypes for more sophisticated customized tools or equipment. These “made in minutes” solutions may serve as a door-opener for reluctant users because they are typically non-threatening and intuitive. Caregivers, educators, and users can be empowered when they participate in the design and fabrication of items that are for specific activities of their choice. You are invited to attend one, two, or three Maker sessions where you can give yourself the gift of time to explore and make a variety of tools from inexpensive and easily found materials. Digital resources will be provided as well. The sessions are: 🧰 1. Sense-Sational Tools You Can Make Today and Use Tomorrow 📚 2. “Making” Books More Accessible 🎨 3. Making Art Happen with Easily Made Tools

ALT 🤩 Sally is currently an independent consultant for educational and assistive technology solutions who served for many years as an assistive technology trainer for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia and is also a nationally certified speech-language pathologist. Sally has worked in a variety of venues across the USA and abroad. She has presented internationally, regionally, and virtually to diverse audiences on a wide range of everyday to high-tech strategies, interventions, and solutions. 🤩 Judith is an OT and former elementary school teacher and worked in schools for over 44 years. She was a founding member of the Loudoun County Public Schools Assistive Technology Team. Judith is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker whose passion is creating accessibility solutions from easily found materials. 🏆 Both Judith and Sally were 2023 recipients of the Joy Zabala Spirit Award!

ALT Top: TechKnowledgy Conference symbol along with “TechKnowledge Conference” Middle: The words, “Chris Bugaj & Mike Marotta” along with Chris and Mike’s profile pictures

ALT 🤩 Mike Marotta is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional, and Inclusive Technology Evangelist, who has been providing direct services to individuals with all disabilities for almost 30 years. Mike is the 2017 ISTE Inclusive Learning Network Outstanding Educator. Mike is a nationally and internationally recognized presenter who was previously a trainer for California State University at Northridge (CSUN), providing practical and in-depth training to professionals interested in specializing in assistive technology.

ALT 🤩 Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC‐SLP is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools. Chris co-hosts the Talking With Tech podcast featuring interviews and conversations about augmentative and alternative communication and has hosted The A.T.TIPSCAST; a multi‐award winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. Chris has presented over 400 live or digital sessions at local, regional, state, national and international events, including TEDx. His latest book The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome For All, published by ISTE, is available for order now!

ALT Top: TechKnowledgy conference symbol along with the words, “TechKnowledgy Conference” Middle: The words, “Jessica Amsbary” along with Jessica Amsbary’s profile picture

ALT 🤩 Dr. Jessica Amsbary is the Program Coordinator of the Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support (ECIFS) Master’s Degree in Education for Experienced Teachers program at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she supports early childhood interventionists and educators to embed evidence informed and culturally responsive practices with young children with and without disabilities and their caregivers. She is also a Technical Assistance Specialist at the FPG Child Development Institute where she engages in research and development related to STEM innovations for young children with disabilities and supporting provider and family use of evidence-based practices for toddlers with autism. Dr. Amsbary’s primary research is focused on family support initiatives related to very young children with autism and other developmental delays and applying principles of implementation science to ensure early interventions are meeting the needs of families and their children.

ALT Top: TechKnowledgy Conference icon along with the words, “TechKnowledgy Conference” Middle: The words, “Emily Rubin” along with Emily Rubin’s profile picture.

ALT 🎉 Emily Rubin, MS, CCC-SLP is the Director of Communication Crossroads in Palm Desert, California, a private practice specialized in providing professional learning focused on helping families, caregivers, and educators create positive learning environments focused on relationships and an appreciation of the neurodiversity of children. She is a speech-language pathologist who is passionate about the relationship between social emotional engagement and the development of language, learning, and well-being. She is a co-author of the SCERTS Model and a co-developer of Social Emotional Engagement – Knowledge and Skills (SEE-KS).

ALT These approaches provide a framework for social emotional engagement and learning that are: 1) ecologically valid to the demands of achieving academic standards, 2) sensitive to the unique needs of students with social learning differences such as autism, and 3) can serve as universal design for learning that benefits all students and young children in order to promote positive long-term outcomes. She lectures internationally and provides ongoing technical assistance to school systems and other agencies that care for children and their families.

ALT Top: TechKnowledgy symbol with the words, “TechKnowledgy Conference” Middle: Lauren Enders Gonzales’ cartoon along with the words, “Lauren Enders Gonzales: Bottom: @engagingaacslp

ALT 🤩 Lauren Enders Gonzales is a licensed and ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist with a career-long focus on Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology. Lauren is president of Engaging AAC Solutions, LLC, a consulting business offering professional development, coaching, resource creation, and social media content creation. For 28 years, Lauren served as a school-based SLP and AAC consultant dedicated to supporting students, teams, and families in their AAC journey. As an adjunct faculty member at the Delaware Valley University, Lauren teaches courses in assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication at the graduate level.

ALT Lauren presents at International and National conferences including Closing the Gap, ATIA, ISSAAC and ASHA as well as more intimate conferences, speaking engagements, and webinars. Lauren enjoys sharing resources and information related to all things AAC and AT via her professional social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. She has a passion for coming up with fun uses for common objects and digital tools that build on a learner’s interests and support strong connections.

ALT Top: TechKnowledgy Conference Symbol and the words, “TechKnowledgy Conference” Middle: An image of the cover of Therese Willkomm’s book, “Make Stuff and Love People” and an image of Therese Willkomm. On the bottom it says “Therese Willkomm”

ALT Dr. Therese Willkomm, Ph.D., is the Director of New Hampshire’s State Assistive Technology Program with the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Dr. Willkomm is also a clinical associate professor emeritus in the Department of Occupational Therapy. She developed, coordinated and taught the assistive technology courses for the Graduate Certificate Program in Assistive Technology for 23 years. She is known nationally and internationally for her innovative strategies for creating solutions in minutes. She has designed and fabricated over two thousand solutions for individuals with disabilities to maximize independence in all life functions. She has presented her work in 42 states, twelve foreign countries and three U.S. Territories and has authored over 22 publications including her recent book Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes Book 3: “Make Stuff and Love People.”

ALT At the top: “TechKnowledgy” Middle of image: Girl texting on a phone and the message says, “Hey, did you know the creator of the 4Ps is going to be at the TechKnowledgy Conference? “ Other girl text back, “NO WAY! Let’s see if we can meet her there!” Girl texts back and says, “She is part of the AT Network for VA and will be assisting with the conference.” Background: There is a phone with the screensaver of the book, “More than Words” by Roz Maclean.

ALT There is a teal bar along the left and bottom of the screen. A girl who is holding an AAC device and wearing a low tech AAC book across her body is standing to the side looking at her AAC device up to her face as she makes a selection. She has long brown hair and is wearing jeans and a purple shirt with AAC pictures on it. In the middle of the screen there is an adult with a little girl in their lap. They are activating an AAC device together. Next to her it says: Patient Communication partner is Patient "Do others give me enough wait time during conversations so that I can: process what is said? Decide how or if I want to response? Create my message on my AAC system? Repair communication breakdowns?" "Do I have a way to easily and effectively communicate the need for extra time?" In the bottom right hand corner there is a little girl holding up an AAC board whose hair is in space buns. Next to her it says "4 Ps of AAC Self-Advocate Edition."








