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Carol Allen is an education advisor for ICT and Inclusion currently supporting LGFL (London Grid for Learning) and previously, Hartlepool LA and North Tyneside LA in the UK. Carol was named as one of the top ten educators for 2018 in the field of educational technology for her inclusion work, see #EdTech2018. She has been awarded an Ed Futurist award in 2019.Carol is currently a member of the DfE Assistive Technology Expert Group; a member of the BETT Advisory Team; a BETT Awards Judge and has been a panel member and contributor to sessions at the House of Lords for the APPGAT (All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology) committee.Workshop/keynote presentations include FETC and ATIA Florida, Illinois District educators summer conference; Denmark, BETT, Birmingham, Rotterdam, Manchester, Geneva, Cologne, London and two five-city conference/workshop tours round Australia in 2018 and 2019. All work centres on easy to replicate practice which is fun, achievable and creates communication enhancement opportunities. Twin vices of caffeine and chocolate keep the energy sparky and the ideas flowing!

Jennifer Apgar is the Youth Services Librarian at the NJ State Library Talking Book & Braille Center in Trenton. She holds an MLIS from San Jose State University in CA. Jen has worked at TBBC for over 12 years and has presented about TBBC’s services at numerous local and statewide conferences. Her email is japgar@njstatelib.org.

Kit Aronoff currently works as the Assistive Technology Coordinator at Temple University. She works with college students with disabilities to match them with the tools they need to succeed in college. She specializes in blind and DeafBlind technologies for students of all learning levels and meets students where they are to help them achieve their goals. She has written about Assistive Technology in Motherboard magazine and been a guest on various tech podcast to advocate for software developers to incorporate inclusive design practices.

Bill Binko is founder of ATMakers.org and co-founder of LessonPix.com. ATMakers brings together technologists and makers with the Assistive Technology users to create custom solutions that are powerful and affordable.

Amy Brown is the Director of Outreach and Advocacy for I Choose Home, Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly (OOIE)

Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC‐SLP is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools. Chris co-hosts the Talking With Tech podcast and has hosted The A.T.TIPSCAST; a multi‐award winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. Chris is the author of The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome For All, co-author of Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of the Year and The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools all of which are published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Chris co-authored two chapters for a book published by Brookes Publishing titled Technology Tools for Students with Autism. Chris co‐produces the Night Light Stories podcast which features original stories for children of all ages. Chris has presented over 500 live or digital sessions at local, regional, state, national and international events, including TEDx.

Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler founded and directs Accessible Technology Services—which includes the DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) and the IT Accessibility Technology (ITAT) Teams—at the University of Washington. These dynamic groups promote (1) the development of self determination skills, use of mainstream and assistive technology, and other interventions to support the success of students with disabilities in postsecondary education and careers and (2) the universal design (UD) of learning opportunities; facilities; websites, media, documents and other IT; and services to ensure that they are accessible to, usable by, and inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Dr. Burgstahler has delivered hundreds of presentations and has more than 100 publications that include the books Creating Inclusive Learning Opportunities in Higher Education: A Universal Design Toolkit (2020) and Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice (2015), both published by Harvard Education Press.

Elizabeth Burns is the Head of Reader Services at the New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center in Trenton. She holds an MLIS from Rutgers. Liz has worked at TBBC for over 14 years. She has presented at ALA, PLA, YALSA, and state library programs. Her articles have appeared in The Horn Book and School Library Journal. Her email is eburns@njstatelib.org.

Susan Cohen is an Assistive Technology Specialist with the Caregiver Coalition at United Way of Northern New Jersey. Susan is also an Education Specialist with United in Care. Created to expand capacity and accessibility to quality child care, Susan works to identify gaps created by the pandemic in our communities. Her work will contribute to a reimagining of the local child care landscape and build a sustainable infrastructure for the future. Previously, Susan served as a Resource Development Associate leveraging her experience in developing strong collaborative partnerships with corporations and donors within our communities. Dedicated to supporting and empowering unpaid caregivers and special needs families, she brings a wealth of understanding from her own experience of being a caregiver to her 24-year-old son. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and has served as a volunteer for over ten years helping children navigate the death of a sibling or parent

Jennifer Cristiano, MS, CCC-SLP/L holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], certification by the New Jersey Department of Education as a Speech/Language Specialist, and is licensed to practice Speech/Language Pathology in New Jersey. She is the owner of Technology for Education and Communication Consulting Inc., and the South Jersey Speech Center. Her practice specializes in AAC and Assistive Technology evaluation and implementation throughout the State of New Jersey. She oversees a private clinic in Williamstown, New Jersey which services pediatrics and adults, addressing Speech and Language needs across the lifespan. She has provided numerous trainings across the country on Assistive Technology, Augmentative Communication, and Technology in the field of Speech Pathology. Jennifer is an adjunct faculty member at Stockton University, where she has worked as a professor and clinical supervisor. Jennifer is a member of the New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association [NJSHA] and is an active member of the NJSHA Committee on Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Priscilla Danielson is an Assistant Professor at the MEDSLP Graduate program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Prior to taking this position, Priscilla was an AT/AAC Consultant with her own business and taught graduate and undergraduate course in Universal Design for Learning, High Incidence Disabilities, and Assistive Technology at University of Delaware and Temple University. She continues to maintain a small private practice focusing on AAC.

Jill D'Braunstein is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist living in SoCal where she runs a small private practice serving clients age 2-22 yrs. She specializes in the areas of literacy, AAC and pragmatic language.

Eddy Ehrlich came to the field of Assistive Technology through his combination training as an occupational therapist and a mechanical engineer. Eddy has provided direct assistive technology evaluation and training to people in various settings: schools, hospitals and homes. Eddy specializes in computer access and augmentative communication. Over the past 30 years he has seen promising emerging technologies transform into powerful products for people with disabilities including voice-control and eye-tracking. Eddy has been a salesperson and a therapist, but has always seen himself as an assistive technology educator, believing that knowledgeable consumers evolve into more powerful and independent tech users. Eddy works patiently but diligently to train people to expand their technical skills because poorly implemented technology solutions can be so overwhelming and frustrating.

Brian Fitzgibbons is the President and CEO of Heightened Independence and Progress (HIP), a center for independent living serving individuals with disabilities in Bergen and Hudson Counties (NJ). He is also the former Assistant Director of the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

NIck Foley is a sophomore at McDaniel College. He is dyslexic, and has been an active advocate for himself and others with learning differences. Nick is a leader for LDANJ STAMP (Students Teaching Advocacy through Mentoring Program. He is a mentor in the McDaniel College SASS (Students Accessibility Support Services) Step Ahead program, where he guides new students through the process of adjusting to college life, including utilizing the support resources available to the students at the college. Nick has also presented at many conferences, including ATAC, NJ EdCamps, LDA of America and LDA NJ

Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, PhD. ATP is an accessibility accomplice providing training, support, and consultation to organizations around AT, AEM, and UDL. She is an Assistive Technology Specialist for RSU 21 in Kennebunk, Maine where she is grateful to “be paid to think differently” and supports inclusive learning practices through the intentional use of AT, AEM, and UDL. Hillary has written and spoken in various spaces around AT, AEM, and UDL. She is also an adjunct faculty member for the University Of New England’s graduate certificate programs in inclusion, as well as the University of Maine at Farmington’s graduate programs in Inclusion.

Cassie Frost, M.S.Ed, ATP has been in the special education field for fifteen years, teaching in environments including a residential treatment facility, an alternative school, and the public school system. She has specialized in utilizing technology with students who struggle with emotional and behavioral disabilities, autism, and behaviors resulting from intellectual or learning disabilities. Cassie is a member of the WI Assistive Technology Advisory Council, the President-Elect of the Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children, and an ISTE certified educator. She enjoys working with others to find creative solutions and finding ways for all students to find success. She presents at the regional and national level, including Closing the Gap, ATIA, and ISTE on technologies that enable access and engagement for students.

Sarah Gregory, M.S. CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology consultant in the Ithaca City School District in Upstate New York. She specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication in a public school setting with a focus on inclusion. Sarah has presented on these topics at national and statewide conferences. She shares ideas and strategies for AAC and teletherapy on her YouTube channel, as well as Twitter and Instagram @SarahGregorySLP.

Catherine Fredericks, MA, CCC-SLP/L, ATP/CAS is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 40 years experience (school based and private practice) helping individuals with complex communication needs. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], a NJ license to practice Speech/Language Pathology, and certification by the NJ Department of Education as a Speech/Language Specialist. Catherine is a member of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America [RESNA], and is certified by RESNA as an Assistive Technology Professional. She is also credentialed as a Certified Autism Specialist by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, and as a LAMP Professional by the Center for AAC and Autism. She is employed by the Wayne school district, providing direct therapy services, workshops and training regarding Augmentative and Alternative Communication [AAC]. Catherine serves as Recording Secretary for the New Jersey Coalition for the Advancement of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (NJCART.net) Board of Directors.She is a member of the New Jersey Speech-Language Hearing Association [NJSHA] , and is an active member of NJSHA's Committee on AAC. Catherine also holds membership in the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication [ISAAC] and its United States Chapter [USAAC].

Dr. Friedlander is a school psychologist with expertise in the area of assistive technology. Dr. Friedlander has a passion for using all kinds of technology in his professional work. Dr. Friedlander is an Associate Professor of Education at the Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, N.J. where he coordinates Graduate Programs in Special Education and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in assistive technology. He maintains a consulting and private practice in the area of assistive technology working with schools and parents to find innovative solutions to support student learning. Dr. Friedlander is the author of the following assistive technology reference guides which are available from National Professional Resources, Inc. : Chromebooks in the Classroom: Changing the Landscape of Education, Assistive Technology: What Every Educator Needs to Know, Autism and the iPad: Strengthening Communication and Behavior, Co-Teaching & Technology: Enhancing Communication & Collaboration, and iPad™: Enhancing Learning & Communication for Students with Special Needs and Using Alexa in the Classroom. Dr. Friedlander is available for consulting and training in the area of assistive technology and learning disabilities. You can reach him at Brian@assistivetek.com

Teresa Goddard joined the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) staff as a Program Assistant in March 2008, joined the JAN Motor Team as a Consultant in August 2008, and then transitioned to JAN’s Sensory Team. Teresa now provides expert level consultation and team leadership as a Lead Consultant on JAN’s Sensory Team. In this role, Teresa fields questions from employees and employers regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and assists in identifying accommodation solutions for individuals with sensory impairments. Teresa’s professional experience includes work as an Educational Speech-Language Pathologist and as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructor in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, where in addition to classroom teaching, she led continuing education workshops on collaborative instructional techniques and cross-cultural understanding. Teresa earned a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from West Virginia University (WVU). Teresa’s research interests include assistive technology, trauma informed practices, and cross-cultural perspectives on disability services.

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Susan Head has worked at Disability Rights New Jersey as a senior staff advocate and program coordinator for 12 years. As a member of the agency’s employment team, she assists individuals pursue their employment objectives through access to appropriate, individualized vocational rehabilitation services, and other Rehabilitation Act funded programs. Susan works with both clients and vocational rehabilitation staff to resolve service and communications issues.

Garth Heid has over thirty five years of experience working in the field of assistive technology and direct client services. He has provided services encompassing all aspects of technology designed for people with disabilities at home, school, and in the work place. Garth currently specializes in providing home accessibility evaluation and consulting services for a multitude of funders throughout New Jersey.

Jill Hoegel, Director of Investigations and Monitoring, PADD Program Coordinator

Stephanie Howland is a Licensed Social Worker with over 18 years of experience. She started her Social Work career in direct practice, working with adolescents and substance use disorders, and victims of domestic and sexual assault. Many times she would go out into the community to educate individuals and groups, which is how she realized her true passion of educating and informing individuals and groups about important issues in their community. Stephanie has been with United Way Caregivers Coalition for over 10 years, as a manager for the Caregivers Coalition in Morris and Somerset Counties. In this position, she is able to bring people together from various backgrounds, for the purpose of supporting family caregivers, through education, information, resources and support. She has also helped to create and has been managing the Assistive Technology for Caregiving Families Program with United Way of Northern New Jersey since it was piloted in 2018. Most recently, she has been actively involved in growing this program and finding creative ways to keep caregivers connected during COVID 19

Jordan Jankus has over twenty years of experience in the teen and adult care system for people with developmental disabilities and the proud father of an adult daughter with multiple disabilities. recently retired from The Arc Westchester in NY and now starting Plastic Learning, a consultant promoting the concepts of neuroplasticity and lifelong learning for people with cognitive disabilities.

Karen Janowski is an Inclusive Technology Consultant, and former Adjunct Professor at Simmons College in Boston, MA. She presents both locally and nationally about the importance of using ubiquitous technologies which remove the obstacles to learning for all learners and is a passionate advocate for inclusive and universal designs for learning. She is an EdCampBoston and EdCampAccess organizer, co-moderates #ATchat on Twitter, and has blogged at http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com since 2005. She is the President and owner of EdTech Solutions, Inc in Reading, MA, which provides AT and AAC professional development, coaching, consultations, and assessments throughout the Greater Boston area. She is a co-author of the book, Inclusive Learning 365, published by ISTE.

Dr. Al Jones, Jr. is an educator who has spent more than 25 years working at the local, state, and federal levels to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. His background includes research and writing in educational policy and regulations, academic outcomes, knowledge management, communications and technology. Holding a Doctor of Education from the George Washington University, Dr. Jones is an Associate Division Director at the Office of Special Education Programs within the U.S. Department of Education.

Adam Krass: Adam has over 30 years of experience in the field of assistive technology. He has provided assistive technology services to children and adults with disabilities in school, work and home settings. Having worked in non-profit organizations, K-12 schools, universities, equipment manufacturers and, now as a consultant, Adam has extensive experience with all phases of assistive technology.

Tracy Lee, CCC-SLP is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in AAC for individuals across the lifespan with developmental and acquired disabilities. She is currently a member of the Gramon Family of Schools administrative team. She is also on the Board of Trustees for NJCART. Tracy has presented at numerous professional conferences on various topics and has conducted research on skills related to the development of communicative competence by AAC users. Her research findings have been published in professional journals and texts.

Nachum Lehman is a System Architect, .NET developer and Network Engineer who has 35 years experience in computer programming and technical problem solving. He started programming in 1981 on a Timex Sinclair with 2k of ram. In 1997, he founded a not for profit to give individuals with disabilities the technical support they required to reliably and consistently use their assistive devices. That initiative still serves hundreds of clients using electronic Braille, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), accessibility switches, smartphones, voice dictation, and everything in between. In 2006, he expanded these services to serve ALS patients using eye tracking devices. The results were amazing and terrifying at the same time. He quickly realized that many ALS patients were locked in simply because they were never properly trained to use the technology they had. Others were incommunicative because they never received the technologies which could help them. He devoted dozens of hours to each and every ALS patient, hired personnel to develop new and better communication systems for eye tracking devices and was on call 24 hours a day. He lives by the motto “All ALS patients can communicate and connect given the right support at the right time.”

Vanessa Lombardo is an Outreach Coordinator and Project Manager for Bookshare. Previously, she was the director of the Assistive Technology Department of Advancing Opportunities, as well as an AT Specialist and the Assistant Director for the same department. She has worked in the AT field for 16 years serving students and adults with a variety of needs. Vanessa is passionate about working with individuals to determine what technology will best help support them in achieving their goals.

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Alexandra Mendez, M.A. is an Assistive Technology Consultant and Owner of AT Solutions LLC. Alexandra provides assistive technology services to students and adults with disabilities through comprehensive evaluations, equipment recommendations, and training. Alexandra has years of experience in both Assistive Technology and Education as a former Assistant Director of a non-profit organization, Special Education Teacher, Mathematics Teacher, and Case Manager.

Charles Ouslander is a Senior Staff Advocate with Disability Rights NJ who is assigned to the Employment Unit. Prior to starting his career at Disability Rights in the Fall of 2018, Mr. Ouslander was a prosecutor for almost 20 years and a Law Guardian advocating for children of parents accused of abuse and neglect.

Gwen Orlowski has served as the Executive Director of Disability Rights New Jersey since January 2019. Prior to taking the helm at Disability Rights NJ, Gwen held a variety of positions that allowed her to use her talents as an attorney and policy wonk on behalf of people with disabilities, older adults, and other underserved communities including: Senior Staff Attorney in the health group for Justice in Aging (formerly the National Senior Citizens Law Center), Chief Section Counsel for Legal Services of New Jersey (where she supervised both the Senior Legal Rights Project and the Anti-Predatory Lending Project), Director of Elder Advocacy and Director of Advocacy for People with Developmental Disabilities at New Jersey’s Department of the Public Advocate, and New Jersey’s Statewide Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Early in her career, Gwen was an Associate Clinical Professor for the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law School, where she focused on the legal rights of individuals who were homeless. She has taught Elder Law at both Seton Hall University School of Law and Rutgers University School of Law. She received her JD from Rutgers School of Law — Newark and graduated from Georgetown University with an AB in Government.​ An interesting fact about Gwen: while in college she served as a parliamentary intern for Margaret Thatcher. A lifelong New Jerseyan, Gwen lives in New Brunswick with her husband, where she loves to cook and she tries each summer (not so successfully) to grow a nice Jersey tomato. Gwen and her husband have three wonderful grown children whom she’d love to tell you all about over a cup of tea.

Janet Peters is a Senior Technical Assistance Specialist for the Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES) at CAST. In her role, Janet works with the CITES team to help build the capacity of school districts to improve their collaboration and efficacy of Assistive Technology (AT) and Educational Technology (EdTech) systems. Janet has been working with technology for people with disabilities in many capacities since 1994. She is the former director of PACER Center’s Simon Technology Center, where she helped train teachers and families on the value of AT. She was most recently the Project Coordinator of Accessible Technology with the Great Lakes ADA Center, a member of the ADA National Network. Janet has been a CAST Faculty Cadre member, a mentor for the state of Minnesota Department of Education’s UDL project, and worked with Minneapolis Public Schools to implement UDL in the classroom. Notable projects include the Kids Included Through Technology Are Enriched (KITE), Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology for Post-Secondary Education (QIAT-PS), Punch-In a self-directed employment resource for young adults with disabilities, and the Accessible Technology Webinar series. In addition, Janet is a speaker at state and national conferences.

Sharon Plante, an educator with over 25 years teaching experience in special education, currently serves Chief Technology Integrator at The Southport School. As a Classroom Educator certified Orton-Gillingham tutor, she uses her training and understanding of technology to empower students with learning disabilities in the classroom and through virtual learning. Sharon has taken the work done at The Southport School and conducts presentations and workshops across the country and online providing other educators this training, incorporating best practices in professional development. She has provided workshops for Kent Independent School District (Michigan), Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Assistive Technology International Association. Additionally, she has led virtual training for Learning Ally, Spotlight on Dyslexia, PaTTAN and the Center for Technology and Disabilities, while also presenting at the International Dyslexia Association and The Dyslexia Foundation. Sharon is the co-author of Utilizing Technology to Engage Students with Learning Disabilities. Sharon was awarded the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award from George Mason University College of Education and Human Development.

Beth Poss is an educational and technology consultant, accessibility and inclusion advocate, speech/language pathologist, and former assistant principal. She is currently the Director of Educational Programs for LessonPix. Beth is passionate about designing educational environments that support all students in accessing a rigorous curriculum and meeting educational outcomes. In her work with school districts, universities and national and state level organizations she focuses on how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an essential component in designing equitable and inclusive learning environments. She is one of the authors of Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of the Year.

Alma Partida is a school-based bilingual speech-language pathologist licensed in California. Her specialties include bilingualism, AAC, and autism with experience in the outpatient/inpatient hospital setting and private clinics. She runs the Instagram account @AACforyouandme which highlights access to AAC regardless of heritage language or method of funding.

Kathleen Redpath-Perez began as the Managing Attorney of the Employment unit and CAP Coordinator at Disability Rights New Jersey in the Fall of 2020. Prior to beginning her position at DRNJ, Kathleen was an Assistant Deputy Public Defender at the Office of the Public Defender for nearly a decade. Kathleen was also a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Pedro J. Jimenez, J.S.C., in the Criminal Division.

Jamie Rifkowitz began her career as a Middle School Math Teacher, teaching grades 6, 7, and 8. During that time, she had the opportunity to pilot a blended learning chromebook program in her classroom. This led her on a technology journey-- after investing hours of time researching and creating projects to help the program become successful, she realized the passion she had for technology and how it can transform the lives of her students. Jamie started to investigate instructional technology even further. After 8 years, Jamie made the switch to become a District Technology Facilitator. Jamie earned her Bachelor's Degree from Felician University, her Master's from TCNJ, and post graduate work from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Additionally, she holds certifications in Elementary Education K-6, Middle School Math Grades 6-8, and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. Jamie is Google Certified Level 1 and 2 and is a Certified Google Trainer. Diverse AAC formed as an outgrowth of a committee hosted by PrAACtical AAC in the Spring of 2020, which was comprised of SLPs to discuss AAC, race, and equity.

Robert A. Robinson, Esq., who is profoundly deaf, is a Senior Staff Attorney with Disability Rights New Jersey for whom he has worked since 2002. He concentrates his practice in special education law and related matters. He is a frequent lecturer for professional and parent organizations on special education and children’s rights under the Individuals under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Mr. Robinson is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He received his B.S. from Gallaudet University. He received his J.D. from Temple University Law School where he served as an editor for the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review.

Christina Royster is an ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist in the Maryland/Washingon DC area. She works as an AAC Specialist in public schools and owns a small private practice, Play on Words Therapy, LLC.

Stephanie Samuel is an Assistive Technology Specialist with the Caregiver Coalition at United Way of Northern New Jersey. Stephanie is also the Manager of the ALICE Action Network. She plans and executes state-wide convenings with sector-based professionals to brainstorm workplace solutions to improve life quality for ALICE employees. Prior to joining United Way, Stephanie worked at AbbVie, Children’s Specialized Hospital and The Arc of NJ. She has a passion for family and patient advocacy, health and community education. Stephanie obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland and her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University.

Laurie Schaller is a Manager of Financial Empowerment at National Disability Institute (NDI). She serves as a subject matter expert for the ABLE National Resource Center and manages the NDI Assistive Technology Loan Program in New Jersey and New York, providing referrals and affordable loans for the purchase or re-finance of assistive technology. In addition, she is a subject matter expert on the public workforce system, Social Security Disability benefits planning and financial education and coaching. Laurie is certified as a Community Work Incentives Counselor, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Human Services from Empire State College.

Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA is an occupational therapist and former elementary school teacher. She is certified as an assistive technology professional (ATP) by RESNA and was a founding member of the Loudoun County Public Schools Assistive Technology Team. Judith has provided direct services in schools for more than 44 years and is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker presenting on the topics of school-based occupational therapy, transition, literacy, and assistive technology. She has authored numerous articles, and chapters in Early Childhood: Occupational Therapy Services for Children Birth to Five, Occupational Therapy for Children (6th-8th eds.), Best Practices in School Occupational Therapy, Assistive Technologies, and Occupational Therapy and Transitions: A Cross-System Perspective. She participated in National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) workgroups addressing response to intervention (RTI), transition, and virtual schools. Currently, Judith represents AOTA on the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities and serves on the editorial board of the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits (ATOB) Journal.

Scout Merry-Call me Ishmael. Although my name is Scout, I do get called many things, but I am proud to call myself an AT guy. To me, this means I am a person who listens and tries to offer solutions to a variety of barriers that may arise for an individual. On a good day, I may even come up with a creative solution that did not exist before. I spent almost 10 years working in an independent living center running the demonstration and reuse programs before transitioning to MO Assistive Technology to oversee the same programs. I spent another 10 years as a teacher (Montessori) and some time as a cook, a custodian and even juggled organic produce for a while. This has given me a well-rounded background and shown me that I enjoy teaching and helping others. I don’t claim to know too much, I have not written any books nor do I have many letters after my name but I do like to share the knowledge that I have with others. Let’s be better together.

Barbra Seltzer, MS, is a Speech/Language Pathologist with more than 30 years of experience working with children and adults with complex communication needs. She has worked in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practice, special needs schools, early intervention, and home-based therapy. Currently, Barbra is the director of Access Communication and Therapy, a private practice in Northern New Jersey which provides AAC evaluations and therapy for children and adults. Barbra has a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a New Jersey license to practice Speech/Language Pathology, and Certification by the New Jersey Department of Education as a Speech/Language Specialist. She is PROMPT trained, a member of the New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association [NJSHA] and is Chair of the NJSHA Augmentative and Alternative Communication Committee. Barbra is also a member of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, and is certified by RESNA as an Assistive Technology Professional. Barbra believes that all people have a right to be heard, understood and respected.

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Nanci Shepardson is a Reading and Educational Specialist. In 2010, she graduated from Simmons University with an M.S.Ed. in Language and Literacy and an Ed.S. in Assistive Technology. She is a seasoned teacher, a credentialed K-12 Reading Specialist, and an International Dyslexia Association and Wilson Reading System Dyslexia Practitioner (WRS Level 1 Certified). Nanci has taught preschool, kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade, was a Reading and Educational Specialist for grades 7 through postgraduate, and has tutored all ages. She consults for the International Dyslexia Association, she is a published author, an advocate for students with disabilities and their families, and is also a professional speaker on Dyslexia, language-based disabilities, and assistive technology throughout the country. As the Senior Educational Technologist at Wilson Language Training, she works in the Program Development Department. She stays abreast of the current technological trends and serves as a resource for parents, teachers, and schools on Assistive Technology. Equity and access for all, especially regarding access to research-based reading instruction and assistive technology services, are at the forefront of the work she does. Nanci is also a parent of a grown child with Dyslexia.

Regina Ann Smith is a staff attorney with the Special Education and Juvenile Justice project at Disability Rights New Jersey. The project focuses on advocating for the educational needs of court-involved youth who primarily live in Mercer County, NJ and accepts referrals from the public defenders, probation officers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team. She also provides technical assistance to court stakeholders and consults with the public defenders on disability-related matters. Prior to law school, Regina was a special education teacher for almost a decade. Through her current work, she prioritizes training others in self-advocacy strategies and the benefits of a proper transition plan. Regina emphasizes collaboration and information gathering strategies over adversarial techniques whenever possible.

Maria Spade is the Adaptive Technology Specialist with Stockton University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History, a Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and a Master of Arts in Instructional Technology from Stockton University. She has been with the university for almost 15 years, working with the disability support services office for the last 6 years.

Auston Stamm is an Accessibility & Assistive Technology Coordinator at Saint Mary's College in Northern California. I am an expert in text-to-speech software solutions like Kurzweil and Read & Write. I create and distribute approximately 400 accessible textbooks to eligible students each semester. I provide assistive technology tutorials to students to help them learn about the latest software and equipment. I work with faculty to help them integrate universal design principles into their course design. I am the faculty advisor for the DiverseAbilities Club on campus, which is a student-led club that arranges multiple disability awareness events each year. I am currently working toward a doctorate degree in Educational Technology from Boise State University and becoming a Section 508 Certified Trusted Tester. I have a passion for promoting accessibility in higher education and creating accessible materials.

Kelli Suding is a Specialist with the PATINS Project in Indiana. She has a background in general education and special education classrooms. She holds a degree in education from Indiana University/Purdue University with licensing in both general and special education K-6. Kelli has national, state and regional presentation, keynote and training experience. She does have a strong understanding of and ability to connect theory to practice. Her instructional experience has been with students requiring mild, moderate, and intense intervention. Kelli's specializations include Autism, Accessible Educational Materials & Assistive Technology: Secondary Age, Chrome Accessibility & Integration, Specific Learning Disabilities: Primary Age. Twitter: @ksuding

Travis M. Tallman, MS, CCC-SLP/L, ATP is currently an AAC/AT Consultant. She previously served as the Director of Augmentative and Computer Services for 45 years at the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. She has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in Augmentative Communication at Rutgers University. Ms. Tallman has lectured extensively at the State and National levels in the areas of both Augmentative Communication and Computer access for children and adults with complex communication issues. She is an NDT trained therapist, and holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA, New Jersey State Licensure, New Jersey DOE Supervisor/Principal certification, and Speech/Language Specialist certification in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She is a member of the International Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication [ISAAC] and its United States Chapter [USSAAC]. She is certified as an Assistive Technology Professional by RESNA, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the NJ Coalition for the Advancement of Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology [njcat.net]. Ms. Tallman has been the recipient of the New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association [NJSHA] Distinguished Clinical Services Award for her work in developing and educating others in the area of Augmentative Communication, and is an active member of the NJSHA AAC Committee.

Elisa Wern is an Occupational Therapist, licensed to practice in both Texas and Florida. She also has a Masters Degree in Special Education from the University of Florida. She is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). She has presented at a variety of state and national conferences & has guest lectured in a variety of settings. She is currently the Local Assistive Technology Specialist for Alachua County Schools where she coordinates AT services for the district & serves as the Lead Occupational Therapist. In her spare work time she has a private practice, AT & OT Consulting and Coaching, supporting students and families primarily through teletherapy evaluations, consultations, & interventions.

Elena Zoniadis is the Managing Attorney of Institutional Rights for Disability Rights NJ