Registration opens Wednesday night from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Ivorys, located on the first floor of the hotel. Look for signs and balloons outside the doors to guide you to the right place!

Registration will also be open on Thursday, February 19th, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and again on Friday morning starting at 7:00 a.m.

Upon arrival, head to the right side of the room, where name tags will be displayed in alphabetical order. Friendly volunteers will be available to assist if you need help finding your name tag.

Each registered attendee receives a bag! Inside, you’ll find a blanket- as an attendee gift, a delicious cookie, and other surprises. Don’t forget to pick up some fun ribbons, pens, and SHAA stickers to kick off the event in style. We’re excited to welcome you—see you at registration!

The Virtual Convention will be available to all registered attendees starting February 21st, with access remaining open through March 6th.

A link to access the online convention platform will be emailed to all registered attendees on February 21st. If you haven’t received the link by Feb 23, please contact us!

Please note that the virtual convention is a separate component and does not include all in-person presentations. Sessions available online are marked with a computer icon in the convention brochure.

For those who like to get an early start, we are offering 2 Early Bird Presentations from 7:30–8:30 AM. These sessions let you jump right into learning, then still join us for the keynote and breakfast. 

• How to Submit a Proposal

• AAC Make and Take

This one-hour session will allow participants to get hands on with AAC devices and ask questions of consultants.

1. Cook AAC and Rehab
2. Tobii Dynavox
   
3. PRC-Saltillo

The Association Breakfast will be on Thursday, February 19th from 8:00-9:30 AM. 

We are thrilled to introduce a FREE Association Breakfast to kick off SHAA 2026! From 8:00–9:30 AM, enjoy breakfast, opening remarks, updates from ABESPA and our convention chair, and the Honors and Awards program.

The morning’s highlight will be a 30-minute keynote by Sucheta Kamath, MA, MA, BC-ANCDS, CCC-SLP, titled “Cultivating the Mind: Executive Function as the Root of Growth and Success.” This session explores how strong executive function (EF) skills—like goal setting, planning, adaptability, and emotional agility—drive both personal and professional growth. Attendees will discover how clinicians’ EF and their clients’ EF interact, and how adaptive strategies can improve motivation, engagement, and therapeutic outcomes.

We’ll close the morning with door prizes, including free 2027 convention registration, a complimentary hotel stay, and fun giveaways from exhibitors.

For the first time ever, SHAA is offering free box lunches for all attendees on Thursday! Be sure to indicate your lunch preference when completing your registration. Box lunches will be available upstairs in the pre-function area, where all break foods are held.

During Thursday’s lunch, enjoy a 30-minute CE presentation titled “Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders: Cultivating Mentorship for Success,” presented by Dr. Carol Koch, current SHAA President. This engaging session will highlight the power of mentorship in shaping future professionals and strengthening our field.

In addition, student poster presentations will be available for viewing in Ivory’s, offering an inspiring look at the innovative work of emerging scholars in speech-language pathology and audiology.

SHAA knows there’s no better way to cultivate community than by partnering with Unless U! Join us for Cultivate with a Scoop on Thursday, February 19th from 4:30–5:15 PM, a free ice cream social featuring the Unless U Scoops cart, serving over five delicious flavors for all to enjoy. This event is open to all attendees and is the perfect way to relax, connect, and grow new relationships.

Unless U is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering growth for adults with developmental disabilities—academically, physically, socially, and vocationally. Their ice cream initiative, Unless U Scoops, is one of the many creative ways they support their mission and engage with the community.

While you’re enjoying your ice cream, be sure to visit our exhibitors. They play a vital role in supporting SHAA and offer valuable products, services, and resources to help you flourish in your work.

The Quest for the Cup will begin immediately after the Student Awards and Scholarships presentation, which starts at 5:15 PM on February 19th. The Quest will run from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM for one hour of intense academic competition.

The Quest for the Cup is an intercollegiate scholar’s bowl, where graduate students from participating universities compete in a challenging series of Praxis-style questions. Each university team will present and answer questions, with each correct answer earning them one point. The team with the highest score will take home the prestigious “traveling” trophy, proudly displayed at the winning university until the next year's event.

Join us to witness the intellect, collaboration, and competitive spirit that defines Quest for the Cup!

The Quest for the Cup and student honors and awards are free for all to attend and will be located in Wynfrey ABC.

** Box lunch is available to purchase on registration for $15 but is not required to attend the meeting**

Committees are a great opportunity to connect and contribute to the important work of SHAA. If you're not currently involved in a committee, this is the perfect time to get involved and make a difference! 

Click here to contact someone on the committee

Click here to learn more about committees

If you do not want to attend a committee meeting, you can visit the Hyatt Regency food court. 

SHAA invites students to attend our Convention by volunteering!

Step 1: Become a SHAA member.

• Visit alabamashaa.com → Join SHAA.

• Register as a student and pay the $15 membership fee.

Step 2: Sign up to volunteer.

• Register as a student volunteer on our registration page by Monday, December 1, 2025 (spots may fill earlier).

• Student volunteers receive free admission to enjoy the SHAA Convention.

If you are unable to volunteer, you can still attend by registering as a student for $75.