What If You Never Had to Program a Board Again?

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

Format:

demonstration

Subject Level:

beginner

Age Span:

infant / toddler
preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12
adult

Target Audience:

AT specialist
autism specialist
consultant
educator
family member / caregiver
healthcare administration
K-12 administration
occupational therapist
paraprofessional
physical therapist
special educator
speech language pathologist
teacher of the visually impaired
university professor / personnel
vision impairment specialist

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

0.01

ACVREP CEs:

1

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Atrium 1

Description:

This session will introduce TheOrator, an AI-powered AAC application that generates real-time choices by listening to live conversation and dramatically reducing the need for board programming. Through interactive demonstrations, presenters will walk through a day in the life of an 9-year-old single-switch user across three real-world settings: keeping up with family conversation at breakfast, participating in a classroom lesson, and working as a customer service helper at a pet shop. We’ll also explore what the SLP’s role looks like when boards become secondary. A caregiver and physical therapist will share firsthand evidence of real-world impact. The session will close with an honest look at privacy considerations, where AI falls short, and the evolving role of the SLP.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

• As a result of this activity, participants will be able to describe how a generative AI-powered AAC application captures live conversational context and generates real-time response options, and identify at least three ways this approach differs from traditional pre-programmed vocabulary systems.

• As a result of this activity, participants will be able to contrast the SLP's traditional role in board programming and vocabulary management with an emerging clinical role focused on personalizing AI-generated communication, including refining the user's voice and personality, optimizing access methods, and collaborating with caregivers and teachers to ensure the technology reflects the individual.

• As a result of this activity, participants will be able to appraise the benefits and limitations of generative AI in AAC practice, including identifying specific failure modes of AI-generated responses and evaluating the privacy implications of on-device vs cloud-based data storage.

Disclosures:

Kathy Kramer is a volunteer Testing Program Coordinator at EchoBridge Inc., the company that produces TheOrator, the AAC application discussed in this presentation. She receives no salary or financial compensation from EchoBridge Inc. She is the mother of the lead presenter and full-time caregiver for a family member who uses the application. No additional financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Michael Kramer is the founder and sole developer of EchoBridge Inc., the company that produces TheOrator, the AAC application discussed in this presentation. He receives salary from EchoBridge Inc. and has a direct financial interest in the product. No additional financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.