SAVE THE DATE!

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Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the 2025 NWACS Virtual Fall Conference. This year’s conference is in a new month and on a new day!

We are excited to announce this year’s speaker is Dr. Alyssa Hillary Zisk! They will be joining us virtually on Sunday, September 28, 2025 for a day of learning and talking about neurodiversity affirming AAC.

CONFERENCE DETAILS

WHAT

Join us for the 2025 NWACS Virtual Fall Conference! This full-day workshop will focus on neurodiversity affirming AAC. You will not want to miss this opportunity to spend the day learning from Dr. Alyssa Hillary Zisk (an Autistic AAC researcher) as they present:

ABOUT

This presentation will cover supporting Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) with AAC. There will be a focus on

• thinking in the long-term and

• neurodiversity affirming practices.

Dr. Zisk will discuss

• the value in encouraging scripting beyond early stages of gestalt language processing,

• the lived experience of echolalic communication, and

• the possible benefits of AAC to GLPs.

Dr. Zisk will explore the evidence base for current practices for echolalic clients, including

• experimental and non-experimental peer-reviewed publications,

• clinical experience, and

• lived experience.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to:

• define neurodiversity-affirming practice

• and contrast it with the use of neurodiversity terminology in non-affirming practice

• describe three ways AAC can support gestalt language processors (GLPs)

• evaluate aspects of typical AAC best practice that

• remain applicable for GLPs,

• may need adaptation to support short-term communication needs, and

• may need adaptation to support long-term communication goals

• evaluate aspects of gestalt language processing practice that

• remain applicable with AAC,

• may need adaptation to support short-term communication needs, and

• may need adaptation to support long-term communication goals 

• evaluate the three aspects of evidence-based practice regarding echolalia/scripting and AAC regarding

• the natural language acquisition framework and

• traditional practice

WHO

This will be an intermediate-level course. Attendees should have a foundational knowledge of AAC and how it is used. Attendees are not expected to be familiar with gestalt language processing or the natural language acquisition method. 

Everyone is welcome to attend (including SLPs, Teachers, Parents/Guardians, AAC users, Para-educators, OTs, Administrators, Related Service Providers - anyone with an interest)!

WHEN

🗓️ Sunday, September 28, 2025 (full-day conference)  **NEW month and NEW day**

🕣 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Pacific Time (with a lunch break 12 - 1 pm)

⏯️ Can’t make that day? Don’t worry! The conference will be recorded. The recording will be available for registered participants to watch through November 12, 2025. You must attend live to receive a certificate of attendance.

WHERE

Online (Zoom)

* Registration through Eventbrite (conference day details, including Zoom link will be available on the Event Page in Eventbrite)

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION FEE

Professionals: $90 + fees

Non-professionals: $45 + fees

Cancellation and Refund policy: Cancellation requests must be received on or before September 25, 2025. Cancellations received by this date will be refunded minus the Eventbrite fees. Transfers are welcome, just reach out to us so we can transfer your spot to the person you indicate. No refunds will be issued after September 25, 2025. 

Link to Register on Eventbrite (coming soon)

SPEAKER

Alyssa Hillary Zisk, PhD

Dr. Zisk (they/them) is an Autistic AAC researcher with a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary neuroscience from the University of Rhode Island. They have too many research interests and no real intention of narrowing it down. Most of their current work is related to disability and communication in some way. Some of Dr. Zisk's AAC research, such as their work on AAC for autistic people who also speak, is related to their own part-time AAC use and needs. Other aspects of their AAC research, such as their work on anonymous language use (meta-)data, are not related to their own AAC use or needs. 

Speaker Disclosures

Financial: Dr. Zisk is an AAC researcher with AssistiveWare. They are receiving an honorarium for this presentation. They receive occasional speaking fees elsewhere. 

Non-financial: Dr. Zisk is on 

• the editorial board for Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture, 

• the admin team for "Ask Me, I'm an AAC User", and 

• the advisory council of CommunicationFIRST.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

This course offers the following continuing education credits:

SLPs: This conference provides 5.5 hours of professional development which count toward the Certification Maintenance Hours required to maintain ASHA certification. Read more about how to count NWACS conference hours toward your ASHA professional development requirements HERE.

WA School District Employees: This conference provides 5.5 OSPI CECH

THANK YOU DONORS!

We will add information as we get closer to the conference!

Scholarship Fund: Our annual conference is for all stakeholders, including parents and providers. This educational event is to learn more about AAC so that we all can better support AAC users. We do not want financial hardship to keep anyone from being able to attend. You can help our Scholarship Fund with a small $5 - 10 donation. Thank you!