Prompt, Play, Participate: Building Custom Learning Experiences for Complex Learners using AI

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

instruction, literacy & inclusion

Format:

demonstration

Subject Level:

intermediate

Age Span:

preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12

Target Audience:

AT specialist
autism specialist
consultant
educator
family member / caregiver
K-12 administration
occupational 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 6

Description:

This session provides a practical, SETT-based framework for using Generative AI as an instructional partner to support students with complex communication needs and significant cognitive disabilities. Participants will explore strategies and tools to bridge the gap between the curriculum and individual student profiles. The session covers three core areas: creating inclusive visual supports that reflect student identity, using LLMs to simplify academic vocabulary for AAC users via the Descriptive Teaching Model, and generating custom-coded, switch-friendly digital games. Attendees will learn to significantly reduce prep time while creating highly personalized, accessible materials that foster meaningful classroom participation. Participants will leave with a ready-to-use toolkit of prompts to immediately enhance engagement and representation in their own educational settings.

Learning Outcomes:

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

• By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Utilize at least two AI-driven image generation tools (such as Gemini and Canva) to create inclusive, representative visual supports that accurately reflect the lived experiences and assistive technology used by students with complex needs.

• Use AI prompts to generate core vocabulary definitions for complex academic terms, based on the Descriptive Teaching Model. Participants will leave with a prompt they can customize and at least two practical examples of how to use core vocabulary to help AAC users better interact with and communicate academic concepts using the words on found on most AAC devices.

• Design a functional, switch-accessible digital activity using AI prompts to create a Canva website or self-contained .html tool that supports multiple physical access methods.

Disclosures:

I am a full-time employee of Fairfax County Public Schools and receive a salary for my work in Assistive Technology. I have no relevant financial or non-financial relationships with the AI software companies (Google/Gemini, OpenAI/ChatGPT, Canval) discussed in this presentation. This session focuses on the application of these tools, not the promotion of a specific commercial product.
I am a full-time employee of Fairfax County Public Schools and receive a salary for my work in Assistive Technology. I have no relevant financial or non-financial relationships with the AI software companies (Google/Gemini, OpenAI/ChatGPT, Canva) discussed in this presentation. This session focuses on the application of these tools, not the promotion of a specific commercial product.