KIC Conference - National Speaker Rachel Madel

Kansas Infinitec Coalition's 19th Annual Conference

Workshop Title: AAC and Students with Complex Communication Needs 

Description: This interactive learning experience explores innovative approaches to facilitate language acquisition in students of all ages. By creating enriched environments, all learners have ample opportunities to engage in meaningful language practice within their everyday routines. Participants will gain insights into current best practices for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) principles, including supporting language learning, selecting appropriate vocabulary, and fostering engagement among AAC users. Additionally, the presentation will cover advanced-level topics, such as strategies to overcome barriers in AAC (both assessment and implementation). Through the integration of interactive technologies, educators can design educational experiences that empower both learners and their support networks to achieve lifelong language goals. The session will also focus on building the skills of communication partners and demonstrate how coaching-centered training can empower parents and educators to consistently promote AAC system usage throughout the day in various environments. The workshop will cover special populations, including Gestalt Language Processing + AAC, Alternative Access, and Early Intervention. National speaker, Rachel Madel, will present the workshop. Register here. 

Agenda

• 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Intro + Reflections. Attendees reflect and share what they know about AAC and what they want to learn.  
• 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Mindset.  Discussion on the power of belief, shifting limiting beliefs, communication myths, evidence-based practice.
• 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM AC Basics. Lecture on core vocabulary, modeling, attributing meaning, SNUG, motor planning, stimming and AAC, pragmatic functions. 

• 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM Implementation Overview. Exploration of AAC buy-in strategies, modeling in depth, self-advocacy, literacy, selecting vocabulary activity, prompting, and descriptive teaching.

  11:15 AM - 12:45 PM STUDENT AWARDS LUNCHEON

• 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Therapy Ideas and Tools Workshop.
• 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM AAC Selection. Discussion on getting buy-in, SETT Framework and team collaboration, feature matching, specific language system first, how to coach during an AAC system.
• 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM Coaching Communication Partners. What is coaching? Why is coaching important? Setting goals for communication partners Setting up systems for coaching
• 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM Conclusion and Evaluation

About Rachel 

Rachel Madel M.A. is an LA-based speech-language pathologist dedicated to coaching parents and professionals on incorporating technology to best support speech and language development. Rachel presents both nationally and abroad on the use of augmentative alternative communication and coaches parents, clinicians, and teachers on integrating technology in classrooms and at home to support communication. She co-hosts a weekly podcast called “Talking With Tech” and creates educational resources, therapy materials, and courses to help support professionals. 

Financial Disclosure: Rachel is receiving an honorarium for this presentation. Non-Financial Disclosure: Rachel's other disclosures here.

Approved for 5 hours of continuing education clock hours for  Kansas licensed Speech-Language Pathologists by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. This conference is partially financially supported by the Kansas Department of Education. 

Participants will be able to: 

• Describe 5 contemporary resources to teach vocabulary to those learning language using AAC.
• Describe one contemporary, evidence-based strategy used to teach those learning language using AAC.  
• Identify and develop the practice of coaching communication partners of those learning language using AAC.