Get Ready To Groove At ATIA 2026

Peace, love, and AAC! It’s time to turn up the good vibes, share innovative ideas, and connect with the coolest minds in assistive technology. Catch some rays in sunny Orlando January 29-31 as we gather for the 2026 ATIA Conference! From cutting-edge sessions to networking that’s totally boss, you’ll be digging all the possibilities the latest tech brings!

Swing into the 60s at the PRC-Saltillo’s 60th anniversary booth (#413)

Experience AAC that’s far out:

• Devices from the past six decades
• New apps, product feature demos, and sneak peeks of coming tech
• Spin the PRC-Saltillo wheel to win a prize

Test drive the latest AAC solutions:

• Accent® devices with bilingual Empower®
• NovaChat® devices which now offer LAMP Words for Life®, plus Vocabulary Builder™ for all vocabularies
• Via® devices including the small but mighty six-inch Via Nano
• VersaEye® with Hiru™ eye tracking for iPad® that’s newly compatible with Ability Drive

Explore our iOS apps featuring research-based AAC vocabularies:

• Unity® AAC reimagines the original core word vocabulary
• TouchChat® with WordPower® boasts vocabularies and voices in six languages
• LAMP Words for Life features a refreshed Vocabulary Builder and in-app video tutorial
• And you can try them all for free for 30 days when you download the Discover apps to your personal iPhone, iPad, or Mac Computer

Meet our fab AAC ambassadors and staff:

• Luther Smith makes friends fast with WordPower 60 on his NovaChat 5
• Bilingual communicator Omar Covarrubias uses head tracking on his Accent 1000 with Puente 84
• Our clinical consultants are ready for your questions about our app partner programs, trial device program, and so much more

Get stoked with outta sight implementation ideas:

• Pick up your copy of the new My AAC Literacy Journal
• Take a road trip in your VW bus with our newest AAC game

2026 Prentke Lecture Recipient: Mateo Moreno

We’re pleased to be sponsor the 29th Annual Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture that honors the life and work of the late Edwin (PRC-Saltillo co-founder) and Esther Prentke while recognizing an individual who uses AAC. Congratulations to Mateo Moreno, 2026 Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecturer! Mateo will share what he has learned from visiting classrooms to talk with over 2,500 students about AAC, disability and inclusion, and what we’re missing.

Celebrate Mateo’s success in Orlando or virtually:

Friday, January 30 at 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Stories from the Kid with a Talking Box: The Vital Role of AAC Users in Educating Peers about AAC and Inclusion

• In person at the Orlando conference
• Live streamed for free as part of the ATIA 2026 Virtual Event
• Online on the ATIA YouTube channel

Partners in AAC

ATIA is bursting with incredible resources and technology. Check out these incredible partners:

• Avaz – Booth #608
• Building Wings® – Booth #906
• The Center for AAC & Autism – Booth #515
• IRISBOND – sessions in the Denver Room
• Therapy Box – Booth #302
• Tolt Technologies – Booth #302
• The Voice Keeper™ – Booth #517

Hang loose with hip AAC learning opportunities from PRC-Saltillo and friends

Join us in PRC-Saltillo’s VIP Meeting Room Crystal B for these sessions unless otherwise noted below. Learn more in the Session Directory.

Thursday, January 29

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Patterns That Talk! How Unity and WordPower Make Communication Easy for Everyone
Speaker: Daniel Dardiz

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. / Crystal H Ballroom
Celebrate Student Progress and Bolster Literacy with the My AAC Literacy Journal
Speakers: Beth Waite-Lafever and Wylanta Jones, Heartland Charter School

2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
From Language Barrier to Therapeutic Bridge: Tools for Monolingual SLPs
Speakers: Brett Martin, Maria Rivera

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. / Crystal J
RERC on AAC: Research, Development, and Training Activities (2020-2025)
Speakers: Lance McLemore, David McNaughton, Tracy Rackensperger

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
AAC in Your Pocket: Real-Life Benefits of Using AAC on an iPhone
Speakers: Krista Howard, Brandi Wentland, Katie Yonker

Friday, January 30

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
All About Connections: Bridging Literacy and Language with AAC Learners
Speakers: Beth Waite-Lafever and Maureen Donnelly, Building Wings

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Exploring the Role of AI: An AAC User’s Perspective and Application of AI
Speakers: Kirk Behnke, Omar Covarubbias Juarez

11:10 – 11:30 a.m. / Product Demo Center, Central Atrium
Groovin’ into the Future: A Look at What's New from PRC-Saltillo
Speakers: Jane Lindley, Heather Prenovost,

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Women with a Why: Empowering AAC Through Passion and Purpose
Speakers: Jane Lindley, Brittany Toney

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. / Grand Ballroom 1/2
Get Chatty with WordPower!
Speakers: Nancy Inman, Lisa Timm

2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Building Inclusive AAC Systems: Strategies for Diversity and Cultural Relevance
Speakers: Kirk Behnke, Taylor Lewis

2:15 – 3:15 p.m. / Magnolia 3
AAC Intervention Considerations to Support Gestalt Language Learners
Speaker: Stefanie Olson

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
AAC in the Schools: Overcoming Barriers to Implementation and Student Progress
Speaker: Madison Rike, Clark County Educational Service Center

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
A Critique of Facilitated Communication from an AAC User’s Perspective
Speaker: Lance McLemore

Saturday, January 31

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Low Cognition Doesn't Mean Low Technology
Speakers: Jennifer Monahan, Debbie Witkowski

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Pathways to Communication for Complex Learners with Visual Impairments
Speakers: Shawn Malcomson, Stefanie Olson

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
VersaEye Set Up: An ALP-Based Approach
Speakers: Shawn Malcomson, Connie McCafferty

There’s still time to register for ATIA 2026 in-person or virtual conference experience. Don’t be square! We’ll see you for a groovy time in Orlando!