Build Your Own Regional AAC Summit from the Ground Up 17th Biennial ISAAC Conference – Toronto 2016 Beth Waite-Lafever, M.A., CCC-SLP Beth Ahmad, M.A., CCC-SLP

Your presenters today: Beth Waite-Lafever, M.A., CCC-SLP is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) Beth Ahmad, M.A., CCC-SLP is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and Regional Consultant for the Prentke Romich Co. (PRC). Kara: My name is Kara Bidstrup. I am an ASHA-Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Manager of Training Services for PRC. I receive a full time salary from PRC and am an employee-owner of the company. I will be managing chat today. Your presenter is Beth Ahmad. She is an ASHA certified SLP and Regional Consultant for PRC, covering the state of Indiana. Prior to joining PRC in June 2010, Beth worked in the public schools and at Easter Seals where she completed AAC evaluations, consulted with school-based SLPs on device implementation, and provided ongoing therapy for children who used a variety of AAC systems. Beth receives a full time salary from PRC and is an employee-owner of the company. Beth: Thank you, Kara! Welcome everyone! Speaker Disclosure: Financial— receives financial compensation from PRC for creating and teaching a professional development webinar Speaker Disclosure: Financial— salaried employee and employee-owner of PRC Nonfinancial—member of the ASHA Special Interest Group 12 AAC.

Take 2 energetic SLPs… Add professionals from around the state… All with a passion for AAC… Throw in a year of careful planning… With some good luck… What do you get? The first-ever Indiana AAC Summit, a built-from-the-ground-up state-wide conference for front-line providers of AAC!

Purpose: to bring together people from across the state for sharing knowledge and resources, celebrating success stories, and working through challenges together. Anticipated 25-30 participants…ended up with 80 from various professional backgrounds and from all over the state! Partnered with the AAC-In-Action project out of Indiana University with Dr. Erna Alant. Dr. Erna Alant connected us with Martin Pistorius, author of “Ghost Boy”, who provided our Keynote Speech.

Action Plan: “A Facebook Page and a Dream” Identify a location, determine meals and housing Submit a grant application for $3,000 to Answers for Autism (received full amount requested) Design a logo to brand the event and provide “swag bags” for attendees Make a Facebook page for marketing and to build excitement Create an “Announcement and Call-For-Papers” with a process for selecting speakers Contact vendors for prize donations (received over $1,200 worth!) Figure out a time schedule including registration, sessions, meals, etc. Secure volunteer onsite IT support for the day Order logo shirts for volunteer “staff” to wear during the event Inform participants of what to bring for the overnight experience Write pre- and post-event surveys for feedback

Hosted at Bradford Woods on October 2-3 $150 for 9.5 hours of continuing education, lodging in group-style cabins, and all meals One main meeting room for sessions Meals served in the dining hall

Content Welcome Message by State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz Keynote: Martin Pistorius, author of “Ghost Boy” Over $1000 worth of door prizes donated by vendors 9.5 hours of continuing ed across a variety of topics related to AAC

Answers for Autism grant, Registration fees The BUDGet 2015 Income: $13,900 Answers for Autism grant, Registration fees 2015 Expenses: $11,899 Lodging & Meals, Registration Services, Printing, T-shirts & Bags, Speaker Fees, Meeting Space Remaining Balance: $2,001 For Indiana AAC Summit 2016

Public Group: Anyone can see the group, its members and their posts. Join our Facebook page! Public Group: Anyone can see the group, its members and their posts. Members, moderators and admins can post to the group, but all group posts must be approved by an admin or a moderator. 320 members and counting!

Indiana AAC Summit 2016 September 23-24 18 sessions selected from 23 proposals Added 2 additional presentation rooms to accommodate 3 breakout sessions Increased break time between sessions as requested by attendees Informal bonfire at the beach – taking advantage of the natural surroundings Fee increased by $25 to offset increase in venue cost and to provide a logo t-shirt to all participants

If you build it, they will come!

Many thanks to our sponsors: