Upcoming SWAAAC Events
SWAAAC hosts a variety of professional development events each school year, including webinars, trainings, team meetings, and more. Check back here regularly to stay up to date with upcoming events! Please note, registration typically closes 2 weeks before a scheduled event.
Fall Training - Crafting and Discovering Wonders: A Fun Journey in Creating Materials, Unearthing Resources, and Harnessing Assistive Technology for Science and Social Studies
with Tiffanie Zaugg, PhD
Rescheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2024
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM MDT
via Zoom
Description: This engaging workshop is designed for educators eager to enrich their teaching toolkit with creative materials, innovative resources, and assistive technology (AT) for Science and Social Studies. Participants will embark on a fun-filled journey to explore key concepts in these curricula, discover how to craft engaging and inclusive teaching materials, and learn to effectively integrate AT into their classrooms. Through a blend of demonstrations, interactive sessions, and group tasks, educators will enhance their ability to design lesson plans that cater to diverse learning needs, fostering an environment of excitement and accessibility in learning.
Registration for this event has closed.
SWAAAC Literacy Kits for Older Students: Saving You Time with Age-Respectful Materials
with Sandy Rubino and Robin Leonard
Wednesday, November 6th, 2024
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM MST
via Zoom
Description: Providing systematic, literacy instruction to students with Complex Communication Needs and/or Significant Support Needs requires specialized instructional practices, accessible materials and tools, and thoughtful planning.
This webinar will explore the Literacy Kits for Older Students, which are based on instructional strategies included in the text Comprehensive Literacy for All by Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver and connect to the Colorado Department of Education's Extended Evidence Outcomes.
The kits include lesson plans and materials designed for older students that can be implemented in the classroom over weeks or months. You will also find a flashdrive with the printable and/or projectable materials referenced in the activity guides along with a switch, switch interface, manipulatives, and objects to support learning and comprehension.
Here are a few examples of content included in the activity guides:
- Instructional supports and materials to activate and build background knowledge
- Instructional supports and materials to build vocabulary
- Instructional supports and materials to support comprehension
- Student Frayer Vocabulary Models and Book Journals
- Prepared “Purpose for Reading” options
- Options for emergent and conventional readers
- Prepared predictable chart frames and prompts for independent writing
- Extension Activities and Project Based Learning
Let’s take a look at what’s in the kits and how to get the most out of your loan.
Registration for this event has closed.
iPad Accessibility Features
iOS 18 is here, and with it comes several new and exciting built-in accessibility features for iPad and iPhone. Built-in accessibility features are settings on the device that can be used to improve access for people with disabilities, no additional app, software, or hardware purchases needed. This webinar will discuss iPad accessibility features introduced with iOS 16-18 including, but not limited to, Eye Tracking, Atypical Speech (speech recognition for users with atypical speech), Virtual Trackpad, Live Captions, Music Haptics, Assistive Access, updates to VoiceOver, Magnifier, Switch Control, and more. Come learn about how built-in tools might help improve access to technology, communication, and the physical environment for many people with disabilities.
Disclaimer: this webinar is for educational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.
Conference for Assistive Technology and Education (CATE) 2025
Save the date for CATE 2025!
June 5-6, 2025
Registration coming soon!