Awe and Wonder Podcast: AAC & AT

S9E3: Neurodiversity in Education and Life with Mateo Moreno

In this episode of the Awe and Wonder Podcast's "Stories of Neurodiversity" series, Brenda and Sarah are thrilled to welcome Mateo Moreno, a passionate advocate who has used AAC since the age of four. Mateo shares his powerful journey navigating the world with his Saltillo NovaChat 8, offering unique insights into disability, inclusion, and the realities of being the only AAC user in the room. From presenting internationally to mentoring young communicators at Camp ALEC and even appearing on Disney+, his dedication to fostering confidence and kindness is truly unmatched. Join us for an insightful conversation as Mateo shares his invaluable recommendations for communication partners and his vision for a more inclusive world.
https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-s9/
Episode Resources:
Watch Mateo’s 2026 Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture ATIA 2026 Conference, titled "Stories from the Kid with a Talking Box: The Vital Role of AAC Users in Educating Peers about AAC and Inclusion." https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwAGlDFawZOOyvFpGrJ0txw See Mateo on Camp ALEC (Documentary on Disney+): A 19-minute short documentary film, part of the People & Places series, featuring the sleepaway camp where Mateo mentors. https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-6b02934d-b6ed-4f6b-8ab0-89149f493709

S9E2: Neurodiversity in Education and Life with Lauren Enders Gonzales

What does the future of neurodiversity look like? In this episode, Brenda and Sarah sit down with Lauren Enders Gonzales to explore this idea and tackle the hard questions about how we support neurodivergent AAC users. Lauren unpacks how educators and therapists often project their own agendas onto device customization and implementation and shares how we can reintroduce authentic curiosity into our sessions. Featuring real-world examples from her own therapy practice, Lauren also breaks down how to write measurable goals that reflect what matters most to the student—leaving compliance-based metrics behind. 
Episode Resources
Does This AAC Goal Matter? Checklist Questions: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFQozTAFE8/Ns2RqfEtovR5Dz_oSYPLdQ/view?utm_content=DAFQozTAFE8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hf574c5b313
Learn about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA): https://pdanorthamerica.org/
Declarative Language Handbook, by Linda Murphy
https://www.declarativelanguage.com/about-declarative-language-handbook

S9E1: Neurodiversity in Education and Life with Sara Ayars

In episode S9E1 of the Awe and Wonder Podcast, we sit down with fellow Speech-Language Pathologist Sara Ayars. Sara brings a beautifully unique perspective to the conversation, blending her professional clinical expertise with her personal journey as a parent to a neurodiverse child. She shares actionable, neurodiversity-affirming strategies—like the power of co-regulation and the shift toward declarative language—that are designed to support and empower both the child and the parent. Whether you are a therapist, educator, or parent, this episode is packed with deeply relatable and practical insights.
 
Resources:
Declarative Language Handbook, by Linda Murphy https://www.declarativelanguage.com/about-declarative-language-handbook 
On The Hard Days podcast https://www.ontheharddays.com/podcast 
Mothers Together group https://www.ontheharddays.com/

S8 E8: AI Possibilities featuring Brad Smith

Brad is not just a Neuralink participant; he is currently the only nonverbal communicator among the eleven individuals implanted with this revolutionary brain-computer interface. Living with ALS, Brad has navigated life for years relying on various Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. Join us as Brad shares his extraordinary journey, which is a powerful testament to resilience, adaptation, and the unwavering human desire to communicate.
Awe and Wonder AAC & AT Podcast https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-s8/ Air Date: 11/19/25
 
Clock Hour Required Additional Viewing
Please note: You must watch the supplemental video linked below to qualify for clock hours. Nonverbal ALS Patient Uses Neuralink to Create & Narrate Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJn0WRKwg34

S8 E7: AI Possibilities featuring Elizabeth & Alyssa Reed, Trinity Rogers & Kate Oeser, & Josh Pedro

In this episode of the podcast, we bring together parents, an SLP, and incredible teenage AAC users to share how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing their world. We hear from three fantastic guests: Alyssa Reed (teenage AAC user) and her mother, Elizabeth Reed; Trinity Rogers (teenage AAC user) and her SLP, Katelyn Oeser; Josh Pedro, a dad whose daughter, Gena, also uses AAC. Tune in to discover the exciting, real-world applications of AI for teenagers who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), including how they are using it to: - Conquer Writing Assignments: Making schoolwork accessible and empowering. - Boost Social Fluency: Generating expanded sentences and quick, relevant responses for fast-paced social interactions. - Curate Vocabulary: Strategically selecting and adding essential words, including slang, to their communication devices. Most critically, we provide actionable advice for parents and professionals: How to effectively document and integrate AI tools and support into an AAC user's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Don't miss this blueprint for leveraging technology to unlock potential! Awe and Wonder AAC & AT Podcast Series 8: AI Possibilities https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-s8/

S8 E6: AI Possibilities featuring Mai Ling Chan

In this episode we sit down with the incredible Mai Ling Chan, CCC-SLP, PMP, co-creator of AI for SLP Facebook group and a person dedicated to connecting and bridging relationships across the industry. We dive into critical updates on how to prompt AI effectively and safely as well as exploring the need to consider how people with disabilities want or don't want to use AI themselves. Tune in to hear Mai Ling's forward-thinking perspective on how technology and business can responsibly and effectively support the disability community.
Episode Resources: 
Exceptional Leaders Network: https://www.exceptionalleadersnetwork.com/ 
AI for the SLP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/597325123447725
ArSHA Conference 2026: https://www.arsha.org/convention/
Mai Ling Chan: https://www.mailingchan.com/about
 

S8 E5: AI Possibilities featuring Tracy Dabbs

Join us as we talk with Tracy Dabbs, Coordinator of Technology and Innovation for the Burlington-Edison School District in Washington State! If you're a teacher, SLP, or AT specialist, you'll want to grab your notebook. Tracy shares actionable advice and resources on how to effectively support students using AI. She even provides a direct link to her resource website filled with AI tools for educators. Don't miss this essential session on using AI to overcome barriers and achieve better student outcomes! Awe and Wonder AAC & AT Podcast https://specialedtechcenter.com/awe-and-wonder-podcast/
 
Episode Resources: AI and Inclusive Instruction- B-E UDL: Resource Bank - AI Tools and Instruction: https://sites.google.com/be.wednet.edu/b-ehs-udl-resource-bank/ai-tools-and-instruction

S8 E4: AI Possibilities featuring Samuel Sennott

Join us as we speak with Dr. Samuel Sennott, professor of special education at Portland State University and co-creator of the original Proloquo2Go AAC app. Dr. Sennott shares the inspiring story behind creating one of the most widely used Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools. He also dives into the future, discussing how AI could shift deeply ingrained attitude barriers toward AAC users, how it can support literacy and talks about specific apps and how they harness AI to support communication. Most profoundly, Dr. Sennott opens up about his personal journey with cancer and how becoming a patient dramatically reshaped his views on life, healthcare, and the participatory model of AAC.
Episode Resources:
AAC Peer Support Project Final Report https://www.ohsu.edu/sites/default/files/2025-05/AAC%20Peer%20Support%20Project%20Final%20Report%20and%20Appendices_revised%20compressed.pdf 
AAC and Artificial Intelligence. Sennott SC, Akagi L, Lee M, Rhodes A.
AAC and Artificial Intelligence (AI) - PMC
Supporting Individuals Who Use AAC: Breaking Down Opportunity Barriers: https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publications/supporting-individuals-who-use-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-breaking-down-opportunity-barriers?srsltid=AfmBOoorIDEMePZTn0WaASTh-om79hpLtxhArgmfM90aHBIe1wybUrBk 
Lateef McLoud: https://speaker.ussaac.org/speaker/lateef-mcleod-oakland-ca/ 
OKR TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/john_doerr_why_the_secret_to_success_is_setting_the_right

S8 E3: AI Possibilities featuring Sharon Redmon

Ready to integrate AI into your classroom but don't know where to start? Join us as educator Sharon Redmon offers a practical guide to using artificial intelligence. She shares how she uses ChatGPT to break down a research article and introduces a "4 C's" system for prompt creation. Sharon also discusses how AI can streamline the process of creating educational materials and highlights key guiding principles for its use, including putting the human first and prioritizing accessibility, especially for AAC users.
Episode Resources:
Beyond Text Leveling with AI (1 min video): https://youtu.be/d1VC-rjEoOs
Strategic AI Prompting to Modify and Customize Curriculum (13 min video): https://youtu.be/gThAp8GvEko
AI & AAC Article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07434618.2025.2495905 

S8 E2: AI Possibilities featuring Chris Gibbons

Tune into our latest episode as we sit down with Chris Gibbons, Senior Vice President of Clinical Education at Smartbox, for a fascinating discussion on the future of assistive technology and AI as an accelerant for learning. We dive into the transformative potential of AI applications in education and for individuals with disabilities, specifically focusing on how AI can enhance communication through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. This conversation explores the incredible opportunities AI presents while also highlighting the critical importance of user control, privacy, and ethical considerations in the development and implementation of these powerful new tools.
Episode Resources:
Brave New Words (book): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740806/brave-new-words-by-salman-khan/
Smartbox: https://thinksmartbox.com/
AI + Learning Differences: Designing a Future with No Boundaries: https://acceleratelearning.stanford.edu/app/uploads/2025/07/AI-Learning-Differences-Designing-a-Future-with-No-Boundaries_Final.pdf