About Amanda
Amanda is a Speech Pathologist with over 17 years experience. She has worked within educational settings, as an Inclusive Technology Consultant with Spectronics www.spectronics.com.au , and currently focuses her time on her busy private practice.
Amanda is a Key Word Sign/Makaton Presenter, an official Proloquo2Go trainer www.assistiveware.com/amanda-hartmann and an official expert TBoxApps Trainer for Therapy Box. She is also a certified Apple Trainer and regularly runs iPad workshops to help schools integrate iPad technology into the classroom, for all learners.
Amanda has a special interest in supporting and developing communication, literacy and learning for a wide range of diverse learners, often through the use of visual tools, sign language and technology. She has spent many years providing therapy support and teacher/parent training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for students with complex communication needs, due to disabilities such as: Cerebral palsy and other Physical impairments, Visual impairment, Hearing impairment, Autism, Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Intellectual Impairment, Angelman Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and others. She also has specialist knowledge to support the literacy learning of students with learning difficulties, language impairments and other diverse learning needs. She is passionate about providing interactive and engaging presentations to educators, parents and therapists.
![]() |
![]() |
Conference Presentations
Other Past Presentations
Various Workshops
AAC Presentation for Speech Pathology Students – University of QLD – 2012, 2013 and 2014
(Description: Guest lecturing as a part of the AAC lectures for undergraduate Speech Pathology students. Focus on implementing AAC in clinic and in classrooms, and also AAC Apps on iPad)
Key word signing for Speech Pathology students – University of QLD- 2012, 2013 and 2014.
(Description: Training course to undergraduate Speech Pathology students into using Key Word Signing. Includes implementation strategies for signing and symbols in clinical practice)
Multimodal Communication presentation – ECIA conference, Brisbane QLD – 2012
(Description: Practical presentation to Early Intervention educators about how to use signing, symbols and the iPad to support the communication development of children with disabilities in early intervention. http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/tools-and-resources/multimodal-communication-in-early-intervention/
Strategies for Communication presentation – Down Syndrome Association of Queensland’s Annual Teachers Conference, Brisbane, QLD – 2010, 2011 and 2012
(Description: Presentation to educators working with students with Down Syndrome, to support the implementation of successful communication strategies in the classroom)
Workshops in Proloquo2Go Version 2 – Regular workshops have been presented in various locations around Queensland, from 2011 to present.
(Description: How to use Proloquo2Go and implement it in the classroom)
iPads for speech, language and literacy development – Rockhampton Down Syndrome Group QLD – 2011
(Description: Practical ways to support the Speech, Language and Literacy Skills of students with disabilities (including Down Syndrome), using iPad technology)
Multimodal Communication – Redlands Special School QLD – 2011
(Description: Practical strategies for implementing Multi-modal communication (AAC) into special school classrooms. Helping teachers to support the communication skills of students with complex communication needs.)
Strategies for communication for children with Down Syndrome workshop- Down Syndrome Association of Queensland – 2011
(Description: Practical strategies for supporting the communication development for children with Down Syndrome)
Low and hi-tech communication presentation – Ipswich Special Educators conference, Sunshine Coast QLD – 2011
(Description: How to use both hi-tech and low-tech AAC solutions for students with complex communication needs)
Key word signing workshops – Regular workshops have been presented in various locations around Queensland, from 2003 to present.
(Description: Practical hands on workshops to teach the use of Key word signing for all students with disabilities. Includes implementation strategies for signing and symbols in the classroom.)
Practical AAC strategies for the classroom – (Therapy Friends) – Regular workshops were presented in Queensland schools, from 2005 – 2010.
(Description: Practical full-day workshops to support teachers to use AAC successfully in classrooms for ALL students)
Personalised Webinars
- Apps for Speech Development – Driver State School, NT
- Proloquo2Go – Speech Pathology team – Montrose QLD – November 2014.
Spectronics Online Webinars
- Exploring the Reading Doctor Apps
- Top 10 Book Creation Apps
- Top 10 apps for Literacy Development
- Top 10 apps for Literacy Support
- Top 10 apps for Speech Development
- Top 10 apps for Language Development
- Top 10 ways to use Symbols
- Top 10 apps for Cause & Effect
- Top 10 apps for Early Learning
- Top 10 Programs and Websites for Interactive Whiteboards
- Proloquo2Go – Fast Paced Workshop
- Apps for AAC
- Successfully using iPads for AAC in the Classroom
- Proloquo2Go: Making it work for you!
- What’s to know? Proloquo2Go Version 2.0
- Successfully using iPads to support your students with Autism
- Apps for Early Literacy (4 part series)
- Creation Tools for the iPad
Apple | iPad Workshops
Integrating the iPad into the Classroom – Roselea School, NSW 13th March 2014 (Description: Practical workshop into integrating iPads into mainstream classrooms to support students with diverse learning needs. http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/tools-and-resources/integrating-the-ipad-into-the-classroom/)
Advanced Communication Training – St George School, NSW 21st March 2014 (Description: Practical AAC day, to support teachers with ways to implement AAC successfully in classrooms, for students with complex communication needs. http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/tools-and-resources/aac-in-classrooms/)
iPads in Special Education – St George Cluster Schools 19th December 2013 (Description: Full day workshop for educators in practical ways to use the iPad in a Special Education Classroom to support literacy, communication, behavior and more! http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/tools-and-resources/ipads-in-special-education/)
iPad Masterclass: Using iPads to Support People with Autism – Lithgow Uniting Care, NSW 14th November 2013
Proloquo2Go: Making it work for you – St George School, NSW 16th-17th October 2013 & 19th-20th March 2014 (Description: Practical training in how to use Proloquo2Go in the classroom)
iPads, IWBs and Other Technology for the Classroom – Biala Special School, NSW 25th September 2013
Proloquo2Go: Making it work for you – Department of Education, Tasmania, Launceston 29th August 2013
iPad MasterClass: Using iPads to Support Students with Autism in Primary School Years – Sydney 16th August 2013
iPad MasterClass: Using iPads to Support Students with Autism in Primary School Years – Brisbane 8th August 2013
iPad MasterClass: Using iPads to Support Students with Autism in Primary School Years – Melbourne 7th August 2013
Proloquo2Go: Making it work for you! – Brisbane 31st July 2013. Description: Customising and setting up Proloquo2Go for successful communication outcomes.
Proloquo2Go: Making it work for you! – Sydney 24th July 2013. Customising and setting up Proloquo2Go for successful communication outcomes.
Proloquo2Go: Making it work for you! – Melbourne 17th July 2013. Customising and setting up Proloquo2Go for successful communication outcomes.
Proloquo2Go: Making it work for you! – Brisbane 12th June 2013. Customising and setting up Proloquo2Go for successful communication outcomes.
Integrating iPads into your Classroom: For Learning Support and Special Ed – Brisbane 31st May 2013. Helping you to make informed apps and technology choices for your students!
Proloquo2go: Implementation for the Classroom – Biala Special School, NSW 16th May 2013
iPads for Communication and Learning – Biala Special School, NSW 29th April 2013
iPads for Communication and Literacy – Mamre, QLD 21st April 2013
Integrating iPads into your Classroom: For Learning Support and Special Ed – Auckland, New Zealand 8th to 9th April 2013. Helping you to make informed apps and technology choices for your students!
Integrating iPads into your Classroom: For Learning Support and Special Ed – Sydney 13th March 2013. Helping you to make informed apps and technology choices for your students!
Integrating iPads into your Classroom: For Learning Support and Special Ed – Cairns 11th March 2013. Helping you to make informed apps and technology choices for your students!
Integrating iPads into your Classroom: For Learning Support and Special Ed – Brisbane 7th March 2013. Helping you to make informed apps and technology choices for your students!
iPads for the Ronald McDonald Learning Program – Herston, QLD 21st February 2013
Integrating iPads into your Classroom: For Learning Support and Special Ed – Canberra 13th and 15th February 2013
Successfully using iPads to Support Students with Autism 25th January 2013. For the RRAP program at Burleigh Heads State School
Apps for Literacy – for young adults with intellectual impairments – University of Qld Latch-On Literacy Program – Brisbane QLD
iPads 4 Learning in the Early Years 11th September 2012. North Lakes Catholic Education – Brisbane QLD
Consultancy
School-based Consultancy
MacKenzie Special School, QLD – 2011 to present: School-based consultancy to implement AAC and communication strategies for all students. Included the school-wide implementation and training of staff in Proloquo2Go. Staff training in Key Word Signing. Consultancy support to help staff implement a Social Communication program for senior students. Individualised implementation support for students with complex communication needs to ensure their AAC system is being used in the classroom.
Windsor State School, QLD – 2010 to present: School-based consultancy to support a student with complex communication needs to be integrated into the mainstream program. Staff training in Proloquo2go and Key Word Signing, as well as specific support to ensure the student’s AAC system is being used successfully in the classroom.