Date/Location:

December 8-9, 2022, Franklin, TN

Description:

The Tennessee Association for Assistive Technology Conference (TAAT 2022) will be hosted live in the Nashville, Tennessee area this year. Our theme is Using Your Superpowers, as we recognize the skills, knowledge, and ingenuity required of educators and school team members to continue providing high-quality instruction and accommodation during the pandemic. This event changed the way education was offered and accelerated the use of assistive technologies through the virtual platform and hands-on engagement for those with the most significant needs.

A range of tools, software supports, online platforms, and tangible resources are available to use as assistive technologies with multi-purpose applications for use in the physical classroom and, as evidenced over the two previous years, during remote instruction.  Teachers and clinicians alike found exciting new ways to adapt instruction and serve the educational 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 pandemic circumstances was unimaginable.  Now in its 18th year, the TAAT Conference annually offers 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. As we (finally) return to an in-person conference, TAAT seeks to honor the ‘super heroes’ of the educational world for their skills, allow them to share their successes, and gather new ideas for using AT to support student learning under all circumstances.

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 at home or in the physical classroom. Example topics include: the use of visual supports for adaptive instruction as well as aided communication, hands-on creation of low-cost academic materials,  creative switch access and implementation for accessibility, introduction to AT ‘maker’ resources and tools for customizing to address unique needs, AAC implementation strategies, providing accommodations for students with visual and/or hearing impairments, using a range of AAC interventions to foster communication, using platforms such as SeeSaw to differentiate the curriculum, transition planning for post-secondary education, and more.

Speakers:

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.

Describe strategies to support implementation of AAC supports for students with speech and language impairments

Identify strategies and programs that can be used virtually to create visually supported educational and communication materials 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 1.0 CEUs (10.0 hours of instruction). To register for CEUs:  

Download and complete the following forms.

Save the files names: 221209_TAAT_Lastname_Firstname

Send all 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.