9-22-2026 - Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) Clinic

Join us for a FREE day of learning, hands-on exploration, and networking at the 2026 Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Clinic!

📅 Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
🕣 Time: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location:
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street
Columbia, SC 29201

🔗 Register Today

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About the Program

The South Carolina Assistive Technology Program (SCATP) invites individuals with communication differences, family members, educators, therapists, and other professionals to participate in a full day dedicated to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Participants will rotate through interactive, small-group learning sessions led by AAC vendors, providing opportunities to explore a wide variety of communication devices and technologies firsthand.

Featured Experiences

• Communication Playground featuring software and mid-to-low-tech communication products from Attainment Company
• Interactive App Playground hosted by SCATP
• Hands-on demonstrations with a variety of AAC devices and communication tools from: PRC-Saltillo, Smartbox, and Tobii Dynavox 

Whether you're new to AAC or looking to expand your knowledge, this event offers valuable information and practical experience for individuals of all ages and with all types of communication needs.

Participants Will Learn How To:

• Understand the different types of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Compare communication device hardware and software options
• Identify AAC solutions that best match an individual's communication needs for future trials or long-term use
• Explore and interact with a wide range of AAC devices through hands-on learning

🍽️ Lunch is included and will feature a brief Lunch & Learn presentation.

Accommodations 

If you need an accommodation to take part, please contact Janet Lambert at Janet.Lambert@uscmed.sc.edu 
 or at 803-935-5263 at least one week prior to the scheduled training. 

Please see the attached event flyer for additional details, including our event sponsors.

We encourage you to share this opportunity with your colleagues, families, educators, therapists, and anyone who may benefit from learning more about AAC.

We look forward to seeing you on September 22!

 

Protecting Our Children: A Call to Action on World Drowning Prevention Day

 

Hello Autism Society Community, Drowning is the number one cause of death for Autistic children, making water safety education an absolute necessity. Since June alone, the Autism community has suffered at least three heartbreaking tragedies due to wandering and drowning. World Drowning Prevention Day is July 25th and we are sharing vital resources to protect our community and make safety a priority in every aquatic environment. The Autism Society of America’s free Water Safety Packet provides essential visual supports, checklists, and social narratives designed to help Autistic individuals and their support networks build lifelong safety skills. We are sharing this resource broadly to save lives, but we cannot expand this critical work alone. How you can take action today:  Download and share the free resource  Donate to support our programming: Your generosity directly funds the creation and expansion of these life-saving water safety initiatives.

Donate

Thank you for your support, Your Autism Society of America Team

 

November 8-11 | Washington, D.C.

Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities at AUCD 2026 Conference AUCD invites you to be a part of this transformative event this November! Join us to drive innovation, foster partnerships, and make a tangible difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

This year’s theme, Impact Through Innovation and Partnership, is all about sharing new ideas, learning from one another, and working together to make a REAL difference in our communities. The focus is on innovation and building strong partnerships to improve services, research, and support for people with disabilities, their families, and the community. The conference will be held November 8-12, 2026, at The Westin DC Downtown in Washington, D.C.

Learn More

Why attend? Engage with disability leaders – Connect with advocates, members of Congress, senior Administration officials, and key Capitol Hill staff. Access AUCD’s $700 million national network – Meet directors, researchers, practitioners, and advanced-level Fellows representing programs in every state and territory. Join the national conversation – Participate in discussions on disability inclusion, support, and well-being while demonstrating your organization’s commitment to the field. Amplify your impact – Showcase your organization’s work, increase visibility among key stakeholders, and build meaningful collaborations. AUCD invites you to be part of this dynamic gathering of leaders, innovators, advocates, researchers, and practitioners. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a sponsor or exhibitor below, or download the sponsorship prospectus.  In addition to the sponsorship opportunities outlined on our website, AUCD welcomes the opportunity to develop customized partnerships that align with your organization’s goals and priorities. Customized sponsorships may include support for trainee-focused events, scholarships, conference tracks, speaker honorariums, meeting and networking activities, or other innovative initiatives that enhance the conference experience. We are happy to work with you to explore creative ways to maximize your organization’s impact and engagement at the conference. For any questions please contact Elizabeth Cleveland or Jackie Czyzia. Sponsor or Exhibit

Final Call for Proposals - Deadline July 26th

The AUCD Conference Planning Committee invites Network members, members of the disability community, partners, and friends to share their work, research, and experiences in the disability field by submitting a proposal for a Concurrent Session, Poster, or both!  Submissions will close at midnight on July 26, 2026. All responses will be reviewed by a Conference Review Committee, and applicants will be contacted by September 4th with the results. If you have any questions regarding this call or the AUCD 2026 Conference, please contact the event planning team at events@aucd.org.

Submit Proposal

AUCD is excited to see and learn from you November 8-11 in Washington, D.C. Sign up to receive the latest AUCD Conference updates. Use #AUCD2026 to share about the Conference on social media!

AUCD | 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000 | Silver Spring, MD 20910

July 2026 Leadership in IDD

 

Perspectives Commentary from the field  Bridging Gaps in Access to IDD Diagnosis and Services Shannon McFadden, MS Jerome McFadden Educational Center   Misinformation about intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) remains widespread, particularly in culturally diverse, low-resource urban and rural communities. As they communicate with people from marginalized communities, professionals aneed to extend the concept of humility to the intersection of financial and cultural diversity.   Information may be difficult for families to access. Information gaps can contribute to a misdiagnosis or the absence of diagnosis in childhood that, upon reaching adulthood, presents an individual with a substantial barrier to accessing crucial supports.   To prevent further marginalizing those with IDD in communities facing systemic barriers, greater resources should be dedicated toward culturally appropriate outreach to deliver information on IDD and expanding access to appropriate diagnostic assessments through schools and other facilities after age 21. Notables  Recent awards, accolades, appointments, and other honors Jason Rechtman, MBA, Receives the AADMD Dr. Tom Cheetham Memorial Award The AADMD Dr. Tom Cheetham Memorial Award recognizes Jason's excellence in educational enrichment and interdisciplinary efforts to develop and expand programs that improve emergency and disaster preparedness and response for people with IDD. Ariel Schwartz, PhD, and Katherine McDonald, PhD, FAAIDD, Launch the Equipped to Engage Toolkit Created by a team of researchers with and without intellectual disabilities, the Equipped to Engage Toolkit includes free research engagement tools that help teams collaborate and make decisions throughout the planning, conduct, and dissemination of research. AAIDD is looking to feature notables and perspective pieces from our members in the field! Send us your commentary to be featured in a future Leadership in IDD Newsletter. Click here to submit your work to be featured.

AUCD 2026: Award nominations now open!

 

November 8-11 | Washington, D.C. Nominate a Deserving Network Leader

AUCD is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Awards!  The Awards recognize people, programs, and organizations for their leadership and contributions to the disability community. AUCD awardees offer an outstanding example in leadership, advocacy, research, policy, and practice. Awards are given in 10 categories and honor members of the AUCD Network, collaborating partners, and local, state and federal partners.

Nominate a deserving leader

Call for Proposals - Deadline July 26th

The AUCD Conference Planning Committee invites Network members, members of the disability community, partners, and friends to share their work, research, and experiences in the disability field by submitting a proposal for a Concurrent Session, Poster, or both!  Submissions will close at midnight on July 26, 2026. All responses will be reviewed by a Conference Review Committee, and applicants will be contacted by September 4th with the results. If you have any questions regarding this call or the AUCD 2026 Conference, please contact the event planning team at events@aucd.org.

Submit your proposal 2026 AUCD Awards Ceremony: Seeking Members for this year's Awards Committee AUCD is seeking two (2) members from the Network to serve on this year's Awards Committee. The committee will meet virtually for one 90-minute session in August or September to review and rate submitted award nominations, with some application review prior to the meeting if needed. The committee's goal is to identify award recipients for AUCD's Annual Conference. Individuals may nominate themselves or another person by emailing Catherine DiGiammarino at cdigiammarino@aucd.org with the nominee's name, title and organization, email address, whether the nomination is self-submitted or submitted by another individual, and a brief 2–4 sentence statement explaining why the nominee would be a good member of the Awards Nominating Committee. Committee nominations must be submitted by the close of business (ET) on Friday, August 14, 2026.

AUCD is excited to see and learn from you November 8-11 in Washington, D.C. Sign up to receive the latest AUCD Conference updates. Use #AUCD2026 to share about the Conference on social media!

AUCD | 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000 | Silver Spring, MD 20910

RQ 2026: Register and Reserve Your Room Today!

 

RQ is back and we can't wait to welcome you to Baltimore!   Join us October 4-6, 2026, at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel for three days of fresh ideas, meaningful conversations, and practical solutions that are shaping the future of services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.   Formerly known as Reinventing Quality, our conference has evolved to reflect a bold new vision. Reimagining Quality isn't about starting over, it's about building on what works while challenging ourselves to think differently, embrace innovation, and create more inclusive, person-centered systems for the future.   Whether you're a self-advocate, provider, researcher, policymaker, family member, or disability professional, you'll leave inspired by new perspectives, valuable connections, and ideas you can put into practice.   Reserve your hotel room by September 1, 2026, to receive the discounted conference rate. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't wait!   Register today, book your room, and join us as we reimagine what's possible.

Book Your Room Register