Northeast AAC Summit: Hartford, CT

Are you passionate about AAC and love engaging with like-minded clinicians and educators? Are you challenged by AAC and looking for new ideas? Are you just getting curious about AAC and wanting to learn from the experience of others?

Whether you’re a veteran of previous summits or joining us for the first time, we’re excited to host the 8th Northeast AAC Summit on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut. Join your AAC peers and Adult AAC users for a day of learning, sharing, mentoring, collaborating, and hands-on exploration.

Special guest speakers will include local AAC professionals and ambassadors. Teachers, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), and anyone who is curious about AAC are encouraged to attend.

Northeast AAC Summit Details

• Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
• Host: NEAT (New England Assistive Technology) Center at Oak Hill
• Location: Hartford, Connecticut
• Organizers: PRC-Saltillo’s Northeast Regional Team
• Theme: AAC Access at Any Age: Supporting Communication into Adulthood
• Cost: $139 per person; lunch and snacks provided; 0.5 CEUs

Register today on AAC Learning Journey.

What You Can Expect

• A safe, relaxed space with approachable leaders for sharing stories and learning skills and strategies
• Time with those who are passionate about AAC and experiencing that passion multiply
• Conversations around what is possible in AAC and how best to support individuals with AAC
• Hands-on time with devices to help build skills and practice features and functions relevant to your AAC users
• SO many lightbulb moments!

What Previous Summit Attendees Had to Say

• “The ability to discuss and troubleshoot with likeminded SLPs. The opportunity to network and meet other SLPs was invaluable.”
• “This is the best professional development I have attended in a long time.”
• “I loved the opportunity to hear people's questions and answers and reconnect with the consultants.”
• “There were lots of opportunity to brainstorm solutions with other practitioners and I appreciated that various apps were discussed.”

Northeast Regional Team (left to right): David Kay, M.Ed., OTR, Emily Benza, M.S., CCC-SLP, Carly Villalobos, M.S., CCC-SLP, Catherine Brumback, M.A., CCC-SLP, Gina Sparrow, M.A., CCC-SLP, Jennifer Edge-Savage, M.S., EdS, OTR/L

About the Northeast AAC Summit

PRC-Saltillo’s Northeast regional consultants organize the biannual Northeast AAC Summit with town hall meeting and learning sessions to support AAC capacity building along with the genuine joy in collaboration. This one-day gathering grew out of a desire to stay connected to the professional AAC community during the coronavirus pandemic. “The event gives everyone a chance to be heard about their experiences and grow in a nonjudgmental environment of mentors and mentees,” said local PRC-Saltillo Consultant for Connecticut and Rhode Island Carly Villalobos, M.S., CCC-SLP.  The location rotates throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Each summit gets better and builds on the next. Hartford promises to be a full day of learning, sharing, and connecting on a variety of topics that have lifespan impact. If you’re curious about growing in AAC, we hope you will join us! 

Countdown to the Summit

As we eagerly await the next Summit event, join us for topical sessions to help you expand your knowledge of AAC. Video recaps will be highlighted below. 

Comparing Unity® and LAMP Words for Life®: There are many questions about the subtle differences between these two vocabularies. Explore the differences between both Unity and Words for Life at the 1-hit and full levels. 

LAMP Words for Life Customizations: The LAMP Words for Life vocabulary file is designed for quick access to core words. Learn where to store personal core words such as important foods, items, and people. 

AAC Funding Quick Tutorial: Here’s a quick explanation of how to use aacfunding.com to start a funded device request for trial, purchase, or repair. Use of the AAC Funding portal is the most secure and expedient way to share documents and information with our funding specialists.  

Motor Planning CoreScanner™: CoreScanner is an innovative vocabulary designed for switch scanners who need to learn vocabulary through listening to auditory prompts and motor planning. Learn the basic structure of CoreScanner and how to grow language using a systematic approach.

Bilingual Profiles: Review how to link two language Profiles in TouchChat App and LAMP Words for Life to make one bilingual file where the user can easily toggle back and forth between languages. 

Mounting: Quick overview of the resources available to choose and order a mount to go with your client's AAC device.

NovaChat & Via Devices: Review the differences and similarities between the NovaChat and Via lines of devices. What features might lead you to choose one or the other? 

Creating Hybrid Files in LAMP Words for Life With Empower: Learn about creating "hybrid" files in LAMP Words for Life that combine both one-hit and full vocabulary levels in one user's vocabulary file. Great for clients who may need additional support as they transition from one-hit to the full LAMP Words for Life vocabulary.

Leveraging Symbol Stories for AAC Learning: All AAC symbols, regardless of their origin, are open to multiple interpretations. Learn how to take advantage of this with the Minspeak symbols in Unity and LAMP Words for Life by creating stories for teaching language.

NuVoice vs Empower: Review NuVoice and Empower software on Accent devices including what vocabularies, features, and tools exist in each and why you may choose one over the other.