Lunch and Learn Webinars Each Week in October

October 2026 is AAC Awareness Month. TechOWL, a program of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, College of Education and Human Development, will present a free webinar Lunch and Learn series throughout October.

AAC Topics Wednesdays at Noon

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) from the Institute will help participants enhance their AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) knowledge.

One-hour webinars are scheduled each Wednesday in October 2026 at 12 Noon, ET. Attend one, some, or all of the sessions.

To Register

Registration is required. Register separately for each webinar that interests you.

Accessibility and Accommodations

Zoom captioning will be available. To request reasonable accommodations, please email tue50065@temple.edu by September 25, 2026.

Schedule at a Glance

• October 7, 2026 Funding AAC Across the Lifespan
• October 14, 2026 Communication Partner Instruction: Considerations for Supporting Adults who use AAC
• October 21 2026 Click, Connect, Communicate: Virtual AAC Services Across the Lifespan
• October 28, 2026 Sub, Grinder, Hoagie, Hero, Cosmo, or Zep: Exploring Regional and Dialectical Differences in AAC

Details and Registration

Funding AAC Across the Lifespan

October 7, 2026 at 12 pm

How do you fund an AAC device at different life stages? This session will focus on funding options available in Pennsylvania.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the language needed for a speech-generating device insurance request
2. Recall at least two potential funding sources for AAC in Pennsylvania

Communication Partner Instruction: Considerations for Supporting Adults who use AAC

October 14, 2026 at 12 pm

Adults who use AAC interact with various staff members across residential, day, and community settings. How do we support and empower the multifaceted team of individuals who work with this population in implementing AAC?

This presentation will discuss coaching strategies, tips and tools for helping teams understand and support individuals who use AAC. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Discuss one or more barriers that exist for communication partners when supporting AAC users
2. Identify two strategies to empower teams in supporting AAC users in home and community settings
3. List three resources available to support communication partners in learning about AAC

Click, Connect, Communicate: Virtual AAC Services Across the Lifespan

October 21, 2026 at 12 pm

Literature suggests stakeholder coaching leads to better outcomes in AAC acquisition, implementation, and use; however, there remains a need for greater supports in AAC service-delivery. Individuals, families, and teams face a shortage of experienced AAC providers and other systemic limitations.

This session will provide insight into TechOWL’s AAC Community initiatives and focus on services within Pennsylvania.   

Learning Objectives 

1. Identify at least one systemic barrier at each stage of life (EI, Preschool, School-Aged, Adult)
2. Develop at least two rationales to support the use of a virtual coaching model in AAC service delivery
3. Describe 3 ways to replicate and/or incorporate virtual services into professional practice

Sub, Grinder, Hoagie, Hero, Cosmo, or Zep: Exploring Regional and Dialectical Differences in AAC

October 28, 2026 at 12 pm

Whether you say “Youz want wooder?” or “Yinz want pop?”, regional and dialectical differences help create a sense of community. But are we making sure these linguistic variations are accessible for AAC users?

In this session, we'll look at dialectical and regional differences in Pennsylvania and discuss ways to incorporate them into AAC systems.

Learning Objectives 

1. Identify at least three different Pennsylvania regional differences
2. Describe at least two ways to program different accents on an AAC app
3. Recall at least two strategies to integrate regional phrases into therapy