The Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference returns in 2012 and planning is already well underway!

At the Inclusive Learning Technologies® Conference in May 2010 we had 700 delegates join us at the Marriott Surfers Paradise for four intensive days of motivating and inspirational workshops and presentations. The Inclusive Learning Technologies® Conference 2012 is already shaping up to be bigger and better so we have booked a MUCH bigger venue (still on Queensland’s Gold Coast) to ensure everyone has room to move, and is able to attend their preferred sessions! Be sure to register your details to receive regular updates as the exciting plans come together for the conference.

• What is the Inclusive Learning Technologies® Conference 2012 about?
• Keynote Speaker: Linda Burkhart
• Keynote Speaker: Joy Zabala
• Keynote Speaker: Kelly Fonner
• When?
• How much does it cost?
• Where? Check out our new MUCH bigger venue for 2012!

What is the Inclusive Learning Technologies® Conference 2012 about?

Hosted by Spectronics, the conference focuses specifically on “inclusive learning technologies” – technologies designed to advance independent achievement for people with disabilities and/or students with learning difficulties. It includes sessions looking at these technologies in the following three interest streams.

• Struggling Students*
• People with Complex Communication Needs
• People with Disabilities

*What do we mean by “struggling students”? Here we are talking about students who are in Regular Ed settings but are struggling to keep up with the reading, writing or organisational tasks required of them. These students may be struggling because of learning difficulties. Alternatively, they could be one of the growing number of ESL (English as a Second Language) students in our schools and post-secondary institutions.

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Keynote Speaker: Linda Burkhart

Private Consultant and Technology Integration Specialist, USA

Linda Burkhart is an internationally known pioneer in the field of simplified technology for children with severe challenges. She has developed numerous adapted switches and innovative applications for using these devices with children. She is the author of a number of books and software titles on topics of assistive technology and augmentative communication.

Linda was a classroom teacher for fifteen years. Then for eight years, she worked as an Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology Specialist for the Centre for Technology in Education – a joint project between the Johns Hopkins University and the Maryland State Department of Education. Currently, Linda works as a private consultant and technology integration specialist.

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Keynote Speaker: Joy Zabala

Director of Technical Assistance, CAST and National AIM Center

Dr. Zabala is a pioneer in special education and assistive technology. In the 1980s – after many years as a distinguished general educator in schools in Georgia, Florida, and Caracas, Venezuela – she began exploring ways to use technology to extend learning opportunities to all students, including those with disabilities. As a technologist, special educator, and teacher trainer, Dr. Zabala earned national recognition for her work.

Dr. Zabala is the Director of Technical Assistance for CAST* and for the National Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Center. The National AIM Center is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education and is charged with working with state education agencies, local education agencies and other stakeholders to develop effective systems to speed the delivery of high-quality accessible instructional materials to students with print disabilities. She brings rich experience to this position having served as the Project Manager of the AIM Consortium, a 15-state federally-funded project also led by CAST (2007-2009) and charged with improving the quality, availability, and timely delivery of accessible instructional materials to K-12 students with print disabilities. In addition to directing technical assistance for the AIM Center, she will be overseeing both formative and summative evaluations for both the National AIM Center and the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) Center with support from an external evaluator.

She is also developer of the SETT Framework, a tool that helps collaborative teams select, develop, and use a variety of solutions to support the communication, participation, and achievement of students with disabilities. Dr. Zabala is a founding member of the QIAT Community of AT professionals and facilitator of the QIAT List. She is also a past-president of the Technology and Media Division (TAM) of the Council for Exceptional Children.

Dr. Zabala received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from the University of Florida, her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education from Florida Atlantic University, and her Doctorate in Special Education Personnel Preparation from the University of Kentucky. She is a strong supporter of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)** and Assistive Technology as complementary supports for student achievement.

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Keynote Speaker: Kelly Fonner

Kelly was one of our most popular Keynote Presenters at the Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference 2008 so we thought that 2012 was a great time to bring her back from the USA to present her range of very practical technology applications in the classroom. In 2012 she will be specifically focusing on application of the tools to support students who struggle with reading and writing in secondary school and beyond.

Who is Kelly? She is a self-employed consultant and trainer in the areas of assistive and educational technology. She has been working with individuals with disabilities since the mid 1970s and with assistive technology since 1983. Her work experiences have been as a teacher assistant, teacher, instructional media specialist and assistive technology consultant in early childhood, preschool and K-12 school age programs. She has consulted to university and adult programs concerning access to technology by persons with disabilities.

Kelly speaks internationally on a wide range of topics including technology integration, AAC, computer access, literacy, library access, and assistive technology assessment and implementation strategies. She has taught at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and for California State University-Northridge in the Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program and Symposium Series. Kelly has a B.S. in special education, an M.S. in educational technology.