About this Event
Friday, March 31, 2022 8:00am – 4:00pm
Puritan Conference and Event Center, Manchester, NH
This in-person conference will focus on the most recent Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) assessment and intervention principles for pediatric and adult populations, with immediate hands-on application. During the morning session, participants will learn the match-person technology model and hear how it is implemented through case studies. This will include current research at the University of New Hampshire. Participants will have the opportunity to explore various AAC devices and related products to analyze how they align with the model.
During the afternoon session, a panel of NH AAC specialists will continue to examine assessment and intervention principles as applied to actual cases. In addition, the panel will share resources available to professionals providing AAC services in New Hampshire and consider barriers facing individuals who use AAC across the lifespan. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with questions about their own cases for discussion.
Learner Outcomes:
1. Describe three components of the match-person technology model (MPT)
2. Complete one MPT evaluation of an AAC system for a case
3. Describe three ways to identify vocabulary/messages for people who use AAC
4. Demonstrate one vocabulary teaching strategy for people who use AAC
5. Describe one challenge facing people who use AAC, and one resource for AAC services in NH
Continental breakfast with freshly brewed coffee & tea and lunch are included in the price of the conference. Lunch includes the famous Puritan Backroom Chicken Tenders!
Schedule of Events
7:45 am Registration
8:00 am Welcome and speaker introduction
8:00-9:30 am Dr. Chen—principles of assessment and treatment
9:30-9:45 am Break; interact with vendors and devices with assignments from lecture
9:45-11:15 am Dr. Chen—principles of assessment and treatment continued
11:15-11:30 am NHSLHA business meeting open to all attendees; vendors open
11:30-12:30 pm Lunch; interact with vendors and devices with assignments from lecture
12:30-2:00 pm Dr. Chen and panel discussion of learning assignments; UNH research
2:00-2:15 pm Break; vendors open
2:15-3:45 pm Panel: AAC specialists in NH presenting case studies highlighting
assessment and treatment; status of AAC in New Hampshire
3:45-3:50 pm Closing remarks; CEU Certificate instructions
4:00 pm Adjourn
Dr. Szu-Han Kay Chen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of New Hampshire, is a researcher in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Her research focuses on using artificial intelligence to help clinicians collect and analyze AAC data. Additionally, her clinical research focuses on developing AAC interventions and solutions for Chinese-English bilingual speakers.
Disclosures: Financial: Dr. Chen is receiving an honorarium from NHSLHA for this presentation. Non-Financial: Dr. Chen is an employee of UNH and receives a salary.
Heather Gray, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech and language pathologist in Hampstead, New Hampshire and the founder of Gray Consulting and Therapy. She obtained her B.S. with a double major and high honors in Psychology and Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Maine. Ms. Gray completed graduate school at the University of New Hampshire, where she obtained her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. During this time, she completed specialized training in neurodevelopmental disabilities. In 2013, Ms. Gray obtained her Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) credential through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, (RESNA). Ms. Gray is licensed and provides services in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Disclosures: Financial/non-financial: Heather Gray is donating her time to NHSLHA for this presentation. Non-Financial: Heather is the owner of Gray Consulting and Therapy, LLC.
Lauren M Koczarski, MS CCC-SLP, ATP is a Speech Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology Professional, passionate about supporting children and school teams in the areas of augmentative communication and assistive technology for reading and writing. After graduating from Elmira College (BS) and UNH (MS), Lauren moved to Nashville, TN to pursue her passions in AAC and AT at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Since returning to NH in 2009, Lauren has helped develop a robust AAC team at Boothby Therapy Services, which serves school districts throughout NH in evaluating, training, and ongoing AAC consultation. Lauren is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist and RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional.
Disclosures: Financial: Mrs. Koczarski is donating her time to NHSLHA for this presentation; she is a salaried employee at Boothby Therapy Services. Non-financial: Mrs. Koczarski is a member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), a member of ASHA’s Special Interest Group 12 (AAC) and the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).
Christine McAuley, MS, CCC-SLP earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech and Language Disabilities at Elmira College in upstate New York in 2011. She returned to her hometown to complete her Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of New Hampshire in 2013. Since then, she has worked for the Center for Communication in Springvale, Maine, serving patients across the lifespan in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, schools, and private practice. Her professional interests include pediatric feeding and language disorders, motor speech disorders, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as well as assessment and treatment of reading and written language skills. In her spare time, Christine enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her dogs, family, and friends.
Disclosures: Financial/non-financial: Christine is donating her time to NHSLHA for this presentation.
Registration Information
(Please note: We are unable to offer refunds)
NHSLHA Members : (early bird through 2/28/23) $220.00
Non-Members: (early bird through 2/28/23) $290.00
General Registration NHSLHA Members: $250.00
General Registration Non-Members: $325.00
SLA Members: $50.00
SLA Non-Members: $75.00
Student Members: FREE
(Membership to any other state SLP association receives NHSLHA member price)
Your membership is appreciated and will support NHSLHA’s educational, advocacy, and professional efforts.
To become a member: Go to http://www.nhslha.org/store/
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Puritan Conference and Event Center, 245 Hooksett Rd, Manchester, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 325.00
