Minnesota State Moorhead & UND Spring Symposium

AAC Essentials: What Every SLP Needs to Know

February 4-5, 2027 | 7:30 am-4:30 pm

Featuring guest speaker Rachel Madel, M.A., CCC-SLP

Comstock Memorial Union Ballroom
Minnesota State Moorhead
615 14th St South
Moorhead, MN 56563

Register Online Today
  • Registration & Cost

    Symposium Attendance Fees:

    • Professional participant: $250 (includes 2 lunches, 2 light breakfasts and 2 snacks)
    • Student participant: $55 (includes 2 lunches, 2 light breakfasts and 2 snacks)

    Register for Spring Symposium

    • Registration is capped at 250 participants
    • Registration must be received by Thursday, January 21, 2027.
    • Registrations may be accepted after this deadline if space is available.

    Symposium Payment Options:

    • Credit Card
    • Request to pay by check option (individual or group)

    Academic credit registration is online through UND’s website.

    Cancellation & Refund Policy

    • All cancellation and refund requests must be submitted in writing via email to anna.dumas@und.edu. Requests must include the registrant's full name and contact information.
    • To be eligible for a refund, cancellation requests must be received no later than Thursday, January 21, 2027. Approved refunds will be subject to a $5.00 processing fee which will be deducted from the refund amount.
    • Cancellation requests received after Thursday, January 21, 2027, are not eligible for a refund.
    • Refunds will be returned to the original method of payment. Please allow up to 30 days for refund processing.
    • If severe weather requires the Symposium to transition to an online format, registration fees are nonrefundable. Online meeting links will be emailed to registered attendees.
  • Schedule

    Day 1: Thursday, February 4, 2027 | 7:30 am - 4:30 pm (8.0 CE Contact Hours)

    AAC Foundations for Every SLP

    • 7:30-8:30 am | Registration & Pastries/Coffee
    • 8:30 am-8:45 am | Welcome & Introductions
    • 8:45-9:15 am | Mindset, Myths & Evidence
    • 9:15-10:00 am | AAC Basics: Core Vocabulary
    • 10:00-10:30 am | Selective Vocabulary Workshop
    • 10:30-10:45 am | Break
    • 10:45-11:25 am | AAC Basics: Modeling & Pragmatic Functions
    • 11:25 am-11:40 am | AAC Basics: Motor Planning & Regulation
    • 11:40 am-12:00 pm | Motor Planning Activity
    • 12:00-1:00 pm | Lunch Discussion
    • 1:00-2:00 pm | Implementation Essentials
    • 2:00-2:15 pm | Break
    • 2:15-3:15 pm | Gestalt Language Processing & AAC
    • 3:15-3:30 pm | Reflections
    • 3:30-4:30 pm | End-of-day Discussions

    Day 2: Friday, February 5, 2027 | 7:30 am - 4:30 pm (7.0 CE Contact Hours)

    Assessment, Access, Coaching, and AI

    • 7:30-8:30 am | Pastries & Coffee
    • 8:30-9:45 am | Welcome Back & Day 1 Debrief
    • 9:45-10:00 am | Break
    • 10:00-10:15 am | Selecting Vocabulary Workshop
    • 10:15-11:15 am | Trailing AAC: Your First Steps
    • 11:15 am-12:00 pm | Alternative Access
    • 12:00-1:00 pm | Lunch Discussion
    • 1:00-2:00 pm | Coaching Communication Partners
    • 2:00-2:30 pm | Coaching Practice Lab
    • 2:30-2:45 pm | Break
    • 2:45-3:20 pm | AI & AAC
    • 3:20-3:30 pm | Closing Reflections
    • 3:30-4:30 pm | End-of-day Discussion & Action Planning
  • Hotel Accommodations

    Courtyard by Marriott - Book your group rate for MSUM Feb Room Block

    Address: 1080 28th Ave S Moorhead, MN 56560
    Phone: 218.284.1000

    Room Rate: $145.00 USD per night

    Start Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2027
    End Date: Friday, February 5, 2027

    Rooms at the Marriot must be reserved by Sunday, January 3, 2027 to secure this rate. Be sure to specify that you are attending the MSUM/UND Spring Symposium.

  • Questions & Accommodation Requests

    For any questions regarding the MSUM/UND Symposium or to request accommodations, please contact:

    directory photo
    Jill Beuckens, MS, BS, CCC-SLP
    Speech Pathology Clinician
    Speech-Language & Hearing Clinic | Speech Language Hearing Sciences
    Send Email | Phone: 218.477.2560218.477.2560
    MU 202F

    Email Sent

    Thank you for submitting your email.

    Credit Registration Instructor of Record (IOR)

    Michelle Spicer
    701.777.3864

    Registration Questions

    Anna Dumas
    701.777.3234

    In the event of inclement weather, the symposium will move to an online format. Registered attendees will receive an email from MSUM/UND notifying of this change and with links to access the online event.

Sponsored by the Department of Speech Language Hearing Sciences at Minnesota State University Moorhead and the Faculties of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Dakota.