Indiana AAC Summit
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Indiana AAC Summit
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  • Indiana AAC Summit 2025
  • Contact Us

Our Mission

The purpose of the Indiana AAC Summit is to bring people together from across the state for networking, sharing resources, celebrating successes and working through challenges in order to provide high-quality AAC services for individuals with complex communication needs.  

About Us

What is AAC?

 Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC when we make facial expressions or gestures, use symbols or pictures, or write.  AAC communicators

 often use a combination of strategies that may include speech-generating devices and manual communication boards.

Our Presenters

Our presenters are all front-line providers of AAC. Teachers, parents, paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologists, behavior therapists, occupational therapists and administrators come together to learn from one another in order to improve services for those who use AAC to communicate.  

How it all began

Our History

Beth Waite-Lafever and Beth Browning, speech-language pathologists specializing in AAC, created the concept of the Indiana AAC Summit over dinner one night in 2013. The first annual conference was held in 2015. And the rest is, well, history.

Previous Conferences

2024

2024

Indiana AAC Summit 2024 focused on Innovating Through Collaboration and provided multiple sessions for Attendees from local presenters. 

2023

2024

Indiana AAC Summit 2023 continued our traditions of local Speakers and multiple sessions for Attendees, including topics such as improving services to individuals who are deaf/blind and creating new opportunities for 

AAC device users who are beyond school age.

2022

2022

We Are Back!


Indiana AAC Summit 2022 was a great success and we enjoyed seeing everyone in person again.  With excellent presenters and Attendees from all over the state, the Summit is back!

2021

2021

2022

Refresh Renew Reflect


Feeling Zoomed out?  Tired of staring at a screen? So are we!  It's still hard to plan in-person events; let's take a year off to recharge.  There will be no conference this year.  Follow us on Facebook for details for next year's conference.

2020

2021

2020

Due to 2020's unusual circumstances, we have decided to offer online trainings for FREE.

2019

2021

2020

For the Indiana AAC Summit's five-year anniversary, we sponsored an internationally-known speaker in a very large venue, heard from local presenters, and had cake.

2018

Our 2018 conference expanded our breakout sessions and included discussion panels.

2017

A larger venue in 2017 for more Attendees allowed all-group trainings as well as breakout sessions.

2016

2016

The second Indiana AAC Summit, with even more Attendees, 18 different breakout sessions, and T-shirts!

2015

2015

2016

Our first Indiana AAC Summit, with far more Attendees than expected!

Past keynote speakers

Deidre Dobbels and Kelly Key

Deidre Dobbels and Kelly Key

Deidre Dobbels and Kelly Key

We resumed the Summit after COVID with these two energetic presenters and their interactive session "It Takes Two to Tango: Perfecting Essential Partner Skills for AAC Success".

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite

Deidre Dobbels and Kelly Key

Deidre Dobbels and Kelly Key

In celebration of our five-year anniversary, Dr. Caroline Musselwhite provided an all-day session entitled "AAC All Day Long! Scaffolding Conversation, Academics, and Interaction – Apps Included!".

Greg Buse

Deidre Dobbels and Kelly Key

Michael Ely

Greg shared information about his life and experiences using his AAC device.  He is a power-soccer player who enjoys sports, computer games, and racing.

Michael Ely

Martin Pistorius

Michael Ely

Michael has an Associates Degree in Computer Information Systems and is an advocate for people with disabilities.  He told us what it was like growing up with AAC.

Mindy Thomas

Martin Pistorius

Martin Pistorius

Mindy is a business owner, wife, and mother.  She shared with us her experiences using a variety of AAC systems.  Her unique perspective on parenting using an AAC system provided new insight for everyone. 

Martin Pistorius

Martin Pistorius

Martin Pistorius

Martin is an internationally-known author and speaker who uses AAC.  He shared with us his journey of rehabilitation after becoming very ill and losing his ability to communicate.  His book, "Ghost Boy", recounts his struggle to communicate and regain control of his life through AAC.

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