News & Tips

One advantage of the pandemic is more opportunities to attend assistive technology (AT)-related events and learn while staying put. Hurry to register; some of these are in March!

I was sorry to miss ATIA this year. It was clear from a glance at Twitter that there was some exciting learning taking place despite an entirely virtual experience. It got me thinking about other virtual AT events and creating this post to share. Below are upcoming AT-related conferences to know about. Some are free, some not, but you’ll have no worries about covering lodging or transportation!

If you have an AT-related 2021 event to add, please email atprogramnews@gmail.com and I’ll help get the word out.

EdCampAccess NJ – March 6

EdCampAccess NJ is a free “unconference” devoted to K-12 special education issues and ideas with a focus on reaching all struggling learners. It is not limited to special education. This is the 8th annual EdCampAccess in NJ. It is organized by ATAC, the NJ AT Program.

CSUN Assistive Technology Conference – March 6 -14

CSUN’s 36 Annual AT Conference brings “the latest innovation, research, cutting-edge technology solutions showcased at the premiere assistive technology conference.” Live-streamed events, 200+ on-demand educational sessions, live pre-conference webinars, and a virtual exhibit hall are included with your registration (by March 5th).

Abilities Virtual Experience – March 26 – 27

A free AT expo with product demonstrations, live interviews, workshops and interactive activities such as adaptive fitness, beat boxing, and drumming.

Technology Tools for Today – April 29

Save the date for Mississippi’s free AT expo and conference that is now entirely online. This AT event is made possible by a multi-agency collaboration, including Project START, the MS AT Program. Sign up for updates.

CATE 2021 – June 7-8

The Conference for Assistive Technology and Education is a 2-day event featuring virtual short courses and breakout sessions with nationally renowned trainers addressing a wide variety of topics related to the academic support needs of students with disabilities. CATE is a project of the Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (CIDE) and the Colorado Department of Education.

AAC in the Cloud – June 23 – 24

This conference has always been virtual, free, and focused on AAC. Join top-notch practitioners, experienced family members, developers and more for sessions on a range of AAC topics. This year’s theme is Unlock the Possibilities. Call for presentations is currently live. Sponsored by CoughDrop.

RESNA 2021 – July 7-9

The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) annual conference offers Standard and Masterclass Sessions, 2 Keynotes, a student design competition, an interactive developer’s showcase, and more. Earn up to 3.6 IACET CEUs.

CAST’s 7th Annual UDL Symposium – July 28 – 30

“This year’s event is not about UDL [Universal Design for Learning] as it has always been. It is about the dramatic changes that we hope to see in the future and the innovations that can lead us there. Join us for a virtual learning and networking experience filled with connected conversations that elevate our thinking around UDL and the future designed.”

ASHA 2021 – November 16 – 20

Robust AAC offerings are available at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)’s annual convention, and this year it is currently planned as a hybrid online/in-person event (Washington DC). Call for papers is now open.