The use of symbols supports with the context of book reading has become a popular technique in supporting the literacy instruction of children with complex communication needs. Participants will develop an understanding of how to use symbol supports within book readings, when to fade symbols, what supports and techniques can be used to replace symbols and scaffolding techniques to move students on a literacy continuum from little engagement with literacy based materials to students who are initiating engagement and becoming readers. Participants will gain a better understanding of knowing when their non-speaking students are silently reading and how to measure and teach comprehension skills. Anyone interested in teaching literacy and communication skills to individuals who use augmentative communication (AAC) will be interested in these support strategies and how they can use it to design other programs for this population.

By the week of October 4, registrants will be sent a link to view a 1.5 hour pre-recorded session that Dr. Janice Light and Dr. David McNaughton of Penn State University have given on their Literacy Research. Our conference attendees will have the unique opportunity to leave questions on the Conference Community that Janice and David will answer during a 30-45 minute live Q&A. This question and answer session will be available on-demand for the rest of the conference.

Session Description to come

* Reserve a Seat!
If you are in the Villa Park, IL area, and would like to attend Patricia Wright's presentation in-person, seats are available to registered conference attendees at no extra cost. A DynaVox product training will be available on-site after the presentation as well. Please email susan.mackowiak@dynavoxtech.com to reserve a seat. Space is limited!

We are gathering a group of AAC device users, parents, educators and clinicians to give honest answers to any questions that you may have. In August the panel members will be announced and conference attendees can begin leaving questions on the Conference Community. The group will answer as many questions as possible during the live, two-hour session and the content will remain available on-demand for the rest of the conference.