The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) is hosting its annual exhibition from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 in Orlando, Florida at Caribe Royale Orlando Resort Hotel.

Showcasing the latest in assistive technology (AT) products, equipment, and systems, it is a yearly community gathering and educational forum for assistive technology practitioners, parents and caregivers, teachers, persons with disabilities, and more, to network, learn, and share.

For 23 years, the nonprofit membership organization has maintained its mission to: “serve as the collective voice of the assistive technology industry to help ensure that the best products and services are delivered to persons with disabilities.” ATIA 2023 will feature more than 3,200 special education and higher education teachers, program directors, service providers, therapists, workplace accommodations specialists and corporate accessibility teams from around the world, with exhibitions, educational sessions, and more from a wide range of participants. 

ATIA is an approved provider of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) ACVREP, AOTA, ASHA, CRCC, and IACET. Registrants can attend virtual or in-person sessions. Additional recorded sessions will be posted in the weeks following the conference. 

Registration for ATIA 2023 begins Monday, Jan. 30. Pre-conference seminars will be held Tuesday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, Feb 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A free Virtual Event Bundle will be available through April 30. Sponsors include Tobii Dynavox, Google, PRC-Saltillo, Microsoft, Humanware, and TextHelp. Session captioning is provided by accessible products and services ecosystem Habitat Learn.

Wide Range of Topics & Speakers 

Attendees can connect with various AT product and service providers during the exhibition hall grand opening Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m. The conference begins the next morning at 8 a.m., with a welcoming keynote delivered by ATIA CEO David Dikter. 

ATIA 2023 hosts dozens of exhibitors and more than 100 live and recorded sessions, including educational discussions on a diverse range of topics by a vast array of speakers. These include professionals and practitioners within the accessibility, AT, and disability community, as well as teachers from various U.S. school districts. 

Sessions are organized into eight “strands” with various themes, such as:

• AT for Physical Access and Participation
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Education & Learning: Early Intervention — 12/Higher Education
• Leadership
• Mainstream & Web Accessible Technologies
• Research
• Transition & Workplace Accessibility
• Vision & Hearing Technologies

Speakers include: 

• Teresa Goddard, Lead Consultant, Job Accommodation, Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - This interactive session, titled “Together Again: AT for Travel and Inclusive Events,” tackles real-life travel and event accommodations challenges experienced by disabled employees. 
• Lindsey Huntley, Speech Supervisor Center for Assistive Technology, New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Center for Assistive Technology; and Tanika Peart, SLP/AAX Evaluator, NYCDOE - This session covers why Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) must be diverse and  inclusive. Attendees learn awareness strategies around this, and identify appropriate representation.
• Dr. James Whitney, Assistive Technology Clinician, Maryland Assistive Technology Program - This discussion addresses the impact social isolation continues to have on mental and physical health, and shares signs of this “secondary pandemic.” 

• Jennifer Wilson, Learning Specialist, Teton County School District - This session outlines how various smartphone apps and tools can empower students with all types of disabilities. 

• Jennifer Brooks, Regional Outreach Specialist - North Central, American Printing House for the Blind (APH) - Titled “Equitable STEM Learning for Students of All Abilities,” this session identifies common barriers within computer science for those with disabilities, and accommodations methods.

All sessions will be available on demand via the ATIA conference website.

Learn more about the ATIA 2023 conference and virtual event by checking out this year’s agenda, session directory, and FAQs. Registration can be completed online. Contact ATIA for additional inquiries.