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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

  • #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
← Back to schedule
Coaching Communication Partners to Support AAC Use
Thursday November 6, 2025 1:45pm - 3:00pm EST
Communication partners are essential to supporting the communication development of children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Communication partners include a wide variety of individuals such as family members, educators, and peers. Evidence suggests that communication development hinges upon support provided to communication partners and that the best outcomes occur when communication partners are well-trained and highly engaged (Kent-Walsh et al., 2015). However, despite guidelines for communication partner training programs, few communication partner training programs exist to guide professionals in this work. Our research developing communication partner interventions will be detailed to help support professionals in implementing communication partner interventions using coaching models.
 
In this session we will share the importance of coaching communication partners to utilize various strategies to support AAC use. We will cover communication partner strategies from our recent grant funded communication partner interventions (POWR for teachers and paraeducators and FamTAM for family members). Partner strategies include preparing motivating activities, modeling AAC, providing communication opportunities (e.g., choices, comments, questions), waiting for communication, and responding to communication. We will also detail the coaching processes that can be used to support communication partners such as family members, peers, and professionals as they implement interventions and discuss how you can work to implement these coaching strategies in their settings. Coaching strategies will include establishing rapport, developing plans with communication partners for implementing strategies, observing interactions, as well as providing encouragement and feedback. Participants will leave with a variety of resources to support AAC implementation and communication partner training programs. 
Presenters
avatar for Sarah Dunkel-Jackson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Sarah Dunkel-Jackson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Michigan State University
Sarah M. Dunkel-Jackson is a Fixed Term Faculty at Michigan State University where she conducts research and teaches courses in Human Development and Family Studies and Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education. Dr. Dunkel-Jackson has supported individuals with disabilities... Read More →
avatar for Sarah Douglas, PhD

Sarah Douglas, PhD

Associate Professor, Michigan State University
Sarah N. Douglas, PhD is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Dr. Douglas started her career as a special education teacher for children with disabilities and complex communication needs, and continued on to... Read More →
Thursday November 6, 2025 1:45pm - 3:00pm EST
  General Session

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