Date/Location:

December 2-3, 2021

Description:

The Tennessee Association for Assistive Technology conference (TAAT 2021) will be a virtual event this year. Our theme is BUILDING CONNECTIONS as we try to connect those who work in the special education school setting with experts in the field sharing the latest information, resources, and programs/products to CONNECT OUR STUDENTS with the assistive technologies they need to make progress. 

A wide range of digital tools, platforms, and resources are available to serve as assistive technologies with multi-purpose applications for use in the physical classroom AND during remote instruction to adapt instruction and serve the special needs of our students with physical, intellectual, and/or learning disabilities.  The demand for specialized professional development to address use of assistive technology tools to modify the environment and the curriculum to support access, adapted communication, active engagement and learning under the current circumstances has been huge.  Now in its 17th year, the TAAT Conference has annually offered more than 30+ hours of instruction over one and one-half days to teachers, administrators, therapists, technology specialists and families of student users from across the state. In this virtual conference, TAAT seeks to CONNECT experts with ideas and struggling school teams to creatively problem-solve ways to support ALL students, no matter their location.

Sessions will focus on introducing and/or providing instruction for use of potential tools, programs, resources, web supports, and innovative assistive technologies that can be used to support adapted learning. Example topics include: the use of AAC software for supporting aided communication, adapting instruction for students using speech generating devices that will support literacy learning, ideas for adapting the classroom to support students with communication needs, switch access and implementation for accessibility, identifying potential procedures for global district adoption to support AAC identification of need, merging AAC with classroom activities to impact behavior change, providing accommodations for students with visual and/or hearing impairments, using a range of AAC interventions to foster visually-supported communication, using computer assisted instruction to facilitate evidence-based practices through virtual instruction, using alternative pencils to support writing, and transition planning for post-secondary education, and more.

Speakers: See list below

Learning Outcomes:

Understand and describe the importance of using AT supports within educational activities for students with physical and/or cognitive disabilities

Modify academic instruction and related materials using a wide range of digital AT strategies and tools to support students with varying special needs

Describe the benefits of using a team-based approach for identification and implementation of AT (including AAC) to meet the needs of each student

Describe commercially available platforms, programs, and tools that can be used as assistive technologies within learning activities

Identify adaptive access options for PC and mobile devices that can support students with physical disabilities and communication/learning needs during virtual instruction.

Identify the continuum of no-tech to high-tech supports that can be used for alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) supports to students with speech and language impairments

Identify common tools or programs that can be used virtually to create visual supports for children with speech and language impairments and/or intellectual disabilities

Identify specific student groups who might benefit from specific technologies

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CEUs This activity is offered for up to 0.7 CEUs (7.4 hours of instruction). To register for CEUs:  

Download and complete the following forms.

Save the files names: 211203_TAAT_Lastname_Firstname

Send both files to ceus@aacinstitute.org

Upon completion of the two forms and passing the quiz, a CEU certificate will be sent

Note: If any difficulty is encountered in using this form, write to ceus@aacinstitute.org to request an alternative file format.