Our 6th Annual Conference Focused Solely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication
MontCOMM means yearly access to national and international experts in AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). It means quality training in Montana’s own back yard to help therapists, teachers, paraeducators, direct support professionals, and family members build their capacity to help people of all ages with communication challenges.
Featuring Lauren Enders Gonzales and Brenda Del Monte
Together, Lauren and Brenda offer a wide breadth of expertise in alternative communication, ranging from AAC evaluations and ways to access communication devices to implementation, gaining buy-in with families and education teams, and incorporating tools like Canva in creative ways. MontCOMM ’24 will feature exciting sessions you will not want to miss; you’ll get information you can incorporate immediately into your sessions, your classrooms, or your family life.
Check out these session titles!
- Connection, Communication, and Checking Your Assumptions
- Basics of AAC Evaluations
- AAC and Neurodiversity/Autism
- AAC and Complex or Medically Fragile Bodies
- Empowering Communication partners of AAC Users
Learning Objectives:
- Describe three areas where presuming potential for learning can increase AAC implementation.
- List three diagnosis specific strategies that can improve authentic use of AAC.
- Identify three newly-learned printable resources that will enhance collaboration with communication partners of AAC users.
MontCOMM is affordable (no increase in registration fees since inception in 2019)
$50.00 to attend remotely or in person in Missoula – no CEUs
$100.00 to attend remotely or in person in Missoula – CEUs pending for OPI, MSHA, and MOTA
Our speakers for MontCOMM ’24:
Lauren Enders Gonzales (CCC-SLP) is a frequent presenter
presenter at national and international
conferences. She is well known for sharing
creative resources through social media, using
Canva and other tools in therapy sessions,
and teaching about AAC for neurodiverse
populations.
Brenda Del Monte (CCC-SLP) has 20 years’
experience as an assistive-technology evaluator
and facilitator. She is co-founder of Believe
Beyond Ability, a nonprofit focused on increasing
accessibility for “the 1%”, children with complex
physical disabilities.
MontCOMM ’24 Agenda – Subject to Change
8:30-10:00 Session 1 – Connection, Communication and Checking Your Assumptions (L. Enders & B. Del Monte)
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-12:00 Session 2
2a: AAC and Neurodiversity/Autism (L. Enders)
2b: AAC Evaluation Basics (B. Del Monte)
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-1:20 AAC in Action – Recorded Interviews
1:20-2:20 Session 3 – Empowering Communication Partners of AAC Users (L. Enders & B. Del Monte)
2:20-2:30 Break
2:30-3:30 Session 4
4a: AAC and Complex or Medically Fragile Bodies (B. Del Monte)
4b: Crowd-driven Q&A (L. Enders)
Find Presentation Handouts and Resources Here:
Learner Outcomes:
- Describe three areas where presuming potential for learning can increase AAC implementation
- List three diagnosis-specific strategies that can improve authentic use of AAC
- Identify three newly-learned printable resources that will enhance collaboration with communication partners of AAC users