Name: Every Connection Counts: Supporting AAC in Inclusive Classrooms
Start: 2025-11-06T09:45:00-0500
End: 2025-11-06T11:00:00-0500

Registration Overview

Act now! We reach capacity and sell out every year.
Registration closes Friday, October 24, 2025 — or sooner if capacity is reached.

Ticket Options

#TalkingAAC: Pre-Conference Workshop
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 12:00–4:00 PM
Kellogg Center, East Lansing, MI
- Choose one 4-hour workshop
- Cost: $100
- Full details: talkingaac.org/preconference.html
#TalkingAAC: Two-Day Conference
Thursday & Friday, November 6–7, 2025
- Build your schedule for this two-day event
- Cost: $275
- Price includes breakfast, lunch, & parking

NOTE: To attend all 3 days, you must purchase both a Pre-Conference Workshop ticket and a Two-Day Conference ticket.

Registration & Session Planning

All registration and session planning will be handled via Sched:

Click the green Log In or Sign Up button below to access Sched.
Then proceed to purchase your ticket(s).
After you’ve purchased your ticket(s), you can plan which sessions you’d like to attend.

Meals, Parking, & Lodging Meals (Included with Two-Day Conference)

Continental Breakfast – Thursday & Friday
Lunch & Drink – Thursday & Friday

Parking (Included)

Overnight Guests:
Get your parking pass at hotel check-in and display it on your dashboard.
Non-Overnight Guests:
- Register your vehicle on-site via QR code (posted near registration).
- Bring your license plate number.
- Do not register your vehicle more than once per day.

Note: Please consider carpooling to reduce on-campus traffic.

Lodging

View the 2025 Lodging Options for hotel blocks and discount codes.
Reminder: Pre-Conference Workshops begin at 12:00 PM on Nov. 5 to allow extra travel time.

Terms & Conditions

#TalkingAAC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established for continued education.

Refunds & Ticket Transfers

Refunds available up to 10 days before the event (Sched & Stripe fees are non-refundable).
Ticket transfers (e.g., to a coworker) may be approved before October 24, 2025.

Continuing Education

All attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Note for 2025: SCECH hours will not be offered this year.
ASHA CEUs are not provided. SLPs will receive a Verification of Attendance form to self-report professional learning hours to ASHA.

Networking & Swag

Networking Event – Details coming soon!
Merchandise – #TalkingAAC gear available for purchase on-site.

Stay Informed

Watch for updates from #TalkingAAC and Sched with session details and reminders as the event approaches.

Questions?

www.talkingaac.org
info@talkingaac.org

517-299-5200

Thursday November 6, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am EST

In the past, students with extensive support and complex communication needs who used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) mainly received special education services through self-contained programs in center-based schools. Often, this meant a limited number of school teams of Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and School Social Workers were the experts in AAC and Assistive Technology and followed students throughout their educational journey.

Today, the landscape of special education is shifting. More and more, students with more extensive support and complex communication needs are receiving services or attending programs in general education buildings. With the renewed importance and focus on keeping students in the least restrictive environment and with access to general education peers; students are using AAC within local school districts and general education buildings and classrooms. Educators in general education buildings (teachers, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and SSWs) find more and more emerging communicators on their caseload, often without additional time or training to support the needs of these learners. According to [ASHA], 2018, more than 60% of school-based SLPs report regularly serving students who need AAC.
This session aims to provide a fresh perspective on working with AAC users in general education settings. It will explore best practices for fostering communication success, integrating AAC into the general education classroom, and ways to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support students with high support needs. Participants will gain practical insights into creating inclusive communication environments and ensuring that all students can actively engage, learn, and thrive alongside their peers.

Presenters

Elaina Swartzlander, M.A., CCC-SLP

Kent ISD

Elaina Swartzlander is a Speech-Language Pathologist with 18 years of experience working in a variety of educational settings including Early On, K-12 general education and self-contained settings; with 4.5 years as an Autism Consultant. As a Functional Communication/AAC Coach, Elaina... Read More →

Thursday November 6, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am EST

General Session

Tickets

#TalkingAAC 2025

Elaina Swartzlander, M.A., CCC-SLP

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#TalkingAAC 2025

Elaina Swartzlander, M.A., CCC-SLP

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