ABOUT WORKSHOPS


Each conference day the attendees will have a chance to participate in workshops in a 60-minute workshop period. A number of closed type workshops will be held at the same time so everyone will be able to choose according to their interests. The number of participants is limited so we would advise you to apply on time for the preferred workshop.




ATAAC 2024 Workshops


Oct 23rd 2024


Josh Witt: Practical and Fun: Hands-On Activities to Enhance Communication and Learning with Picture Communication Symbols and Boardmaker


Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop designed to equip you with practical tools and strategies to support individuals who use Assistive Communication. In this session, we will explore the basics of assistive communication using Picture Communication Symbols (PCS), Boardmaker, TD Snap, and Microsoft’s Immersive Reader.

This workshop will be both practical and fun, featuring two hands-on activities that you can immediately apply in your classrooms, therapy settings, hospitals, or homes. Participants will learn how to use these tools to create engaging and supportive solutions for individuals with communication and learning needs. Whether you are an educator, therapist, caregiver, or parent, this workshop will provide you with actionable techniques to foster communication and learning.

By the end of this workshop, you will walk away with ready-to-use activities and a deeper understanding of how to integrate PCS, Boardmaker, and other AAC tools to enhance communication and educational outcomes. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and resources that can be implemented right away to make a difference in the lives of those you support!




Teodora Aleksic: Enhancing Communication in Autistic Individuals using the LAMP WFL approach


This workshop is designed to empower professionals and caregivers in supporting communication for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as other communication difficulties. Participants will explore the Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) approach, a powerful method designed to support individuals with autism in developing meaningful, spontaneous communication. The session will provide an overview of how motor planning can help facilitate language development and demonstrate how these principles can be applied using assistive technology.

Participants will gain hands-on experience with the LAMP Words for Life (WFL) app, a powerful vocabulary specifically designed to implement the LAMP approach. The workshop will demonstrate how this app can be used to build communication skills in non-verbal or minimally verbal individuals with autism, highlighting its ease of use and effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be equipped with a solid understanding of the LAMP approach, practical techniques for using the LAMP WFL app, and the confidence to apply these tools in everyday situations. Expected outcomes include improved communication strategies for individuals with autism and increased familiarity with assistive technology.




Ema Tadić: Creating and Editing Communication Boards in Dialoq Talk Software


Dialoq Talk is a communication software with Croatian grammar integration. It is easy to edit and use, both with a mouse on a computer and directly on a tablet.

In the workshop, participants will learn:

• How to create a new communication board, add new pages, and link these pages together.

• How to add symbols, photos, and images from the internet.

• How to edit individual symbols (such as auxiliary verbs, plural forms, past tense...) so that "Smart Grammar" can adequately process them and generate grammatically correct sentences.

• Which "actions" can be assigned to a button to make the communication board more personalized (e.g., adding music, media control, a field with pre-made phrases, word prediction, and more).




Mateja Vukašinec: Maximizing the Potential of SENcastle


This workshop is designed for professionals and parents to showcase how to fully utilize the capabilities of SENcastle in working with children with developmental difficulties. Throughout the workshop, you will discover all the features of SENcastle, including the latest innovations. Particular emphasis will be placed on applying different categories of sensory cards and their potential to adapt to the individual needs of children in various living environments. Participants will be able to learn how SENcastle can support development through sensory stimulation and how this innovative tool can help create a personalized approach to working with children, providing the support they need for everyday challenges.




Oct 24th 2024


Lee Blemings: Enhancing Engagement - Using Magic Room to Maximise Existing Resources in Therapy and Education


Join us for an insightful 60-minute workshop focused on how the Magic Room can enhance engagement and maximise the use of your existing resources in therapy and educational settings. We’ll explore how to seamlessly integrate various devices, including switches, communication aids, eye tracking and tablets, to create personalised, sensory-rich environments that support learning and communication for individuals with complex needs. Through live demonstrations, practical examples, and hands-on activities, you’ll gain valuable strategies to transform your therapy or classroom space, making the most of the tools you already have to foster meaningful engagement and development. Not to be missed.




Charlie Danger & Kezia Hesketh: FUNctional Switch Development activities


This hands-on workshop provides you an opportunity to try activities at each level of the switch development process. We explore the skills needed and learnt at each step, and how you can identify when a switch user is ready to move forward.




Bob Sagoo: EnvirON® by Pretorian Technologies – Environmental Controls


Pretorian EnvirON® is a highly versatile suite of assistive environmental control devices designed for disabled users to help them achieve their maximum level of independence. The system may be used to control almost all appliances normally associated with daily living, using one or more input methods simultaneously, including:

• The EnvirON® iPhone/iPad app

• Large-key programmable remote (with scanning facilities)

• Individual wireless switches

As its name suggests, EnvirON® Hub is the heart of the system and is required in most EnvirON® systems. It can:

• Convert wireless signals from any of the EnvirON® input devices (mentioned above) into infra-red to control a TV or music system.

• Accept user input from the EnvirON® app and convert it to infra-red or wireless signals to control the iClick mains appliance controller. This gives the user seamless access to all their devices no matter what form they take.

Bob Sagoo will discuss and demonstrate how easy the system is to set up and how cost effective it can be.




Neil Hansen: Transforming Communication: How the EyeOn Air Makes Eye Gaze Technology Accessible for All


This presentation explores how the EyeOn Air speech generating device is transforming communication for individuals with speech and mobility challenges. By integrating advanced eye gaze technology into an affordable, user-friendly platform, the EyeOn Air makes hands-free communication accessible to a broader audience. We will discuss the device’s features and user-friendliness; making communication simple at home, school, and in healthcare settings. Join us to learn how this innovative solution is breaking down barriers and creating new opportunities for those with complex communication needs.




Enrollment