Tuesday, October 20, 2026
8:00 am - 3:30 pm
Workshop Summary:
Discover how empowering—and fun—creating and modifying communication and learning supports with AAC can be! This full day, hands-on workshop welcomes all experience levels to explore Grid’s creative flexibility while building meaningful communication and learning supports that students truly connect with. Through guided practice, you’ll learn to design, customize, and personalize grids using essential and advanced editing tools, AI powered features, and adaptable access options. We’ll explore existing grid sets, when to build or adapt, and how to design activities aligned with meaningful IEP goals. You’ll leave confident, inspired, and ready to use Grid as both a powerful communication system and dynamic instructional tool.
Professional Development Credits:
IACET CEUs: 0.65
ACVREP CEs: 6.5
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will create and modify grids and grid sets by applying core and advanced editing skills that include at least 2 of the following features: designing buttons, assigning and stacking commands, integrating visual/auditory features, and/or adding AI-based commands.
Participants will evaluate, select, and/or create grid sets that meet at least 2 of the following student needs: efficiency; independence and operational competence; language development.
Participants will design one accessible, individualized activity that fosters student engagement and participation in a lesson.
Presenter(s)
Registration Options:
| Description | Workshop Fee | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Conference Registration: (Workshop included at no additional cost with 3-day conference registration) | $0 | |
| Tuesday-Only Workshop Registration | $375 | Workshop Only Registration |
Learn more About this Workshop
Presenter-provided Abstract:
Creating and customizing AAC systems should feel empowering—not overwhelming. This engaging full day, hands-on workshop is designed for all experience levels. It will invite everyone to explore just how flexible, creative, and fun making communication and learning supports in Grid can be. Participants will be digging into how to imagine, build and personalize meaningful communication and learning supports that students genuinely connect with. Through step-by-step guided support, we’ll explore what’s “under the hood” of Grid to make communication and learning supports work in the ways that meet any student’s needs.
Throughout the day, participants will learn practical, transferable skills for confidently creating, modifying, and personalizing Grid. Participants will learn how to navigate Grid’s editing interface, explore key settings, customize voices and speech output, configure access methods, and export or share their completed grid sets across devices. We’ll build comfort in using both essential and advanced editing tools, such as: designing buttons, adding and stacking commands, incorporating AI-powered elements, adjusting visual and auditory features, modifying Computer Control settings, and linking grids and grid sets to create customized activities that truly help students progress.
In addition to hands-on editing, we’ll deepen attendees’ understanding of the many existing grid sets within Grid—what makes them unique, how they’re organized, and how to choose the right one for the right learner at the right time. This knowledge will be woven directly into our orientation to Grid so attendees can confidently decide when to adapt, when to build, and how to design tools that match specific communication or instructional needs.
We’ll look at how Grid can function not only as a communication system but also as a flexible instructional platform. We’ll explore how certain layouts or activities support targeted learning or communication goals, and how to design supports that promote engagement and participation, language development, student efficiency, independence and operational competence. We’ll cover strategies for balancing multiple communication or access tools without overwhelming students or their educational teams.
To support real world application, we’ll examine how custom activities align with well written IEP goals—showing how intentional page design, purposeful activities, and progress friendly layouts can directly foster meaningful skill development.
Because access needs vary widely among students using AAC, we’ll explore foundational design and setup considerations for different access methods. This includes leveraging options- like using auditory cues, magnification tools, switch identification, dwell or activation settings, and activation order—to ensure attendees can create content that’s accessible and usable for any student.
By the end of the day, attendees will leave feeling competent, confident, and creatively inspired—ready to use Grid as both a robust communication platform and a versatile instructional tool. They will walk away with practical skills, a richer conceptual understanding of Grid’s structure, and hands-on experience building meaningful, student-centered communication and learning tools that can be immediately used across settings, curriculum areas and learning needs.