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See below for the Session Descriptions of SHAA's 2026 Convention

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Early Bird Presentations

Thursday, February 19th 7:30-8:30 AM

How to Submit a Proposal 

This session will outline the steps for submitting a conference proposal aimed at shaping professional practice through innovative, informative, and evidence-based contributions. Professional development will be discussed as a tool to educate, update, and inspire lifelong learning. Continuing education standards will inform the process for creating and writing a conference presentation proposal. This session is meant to encourage professionals to share their clinical expertise with SHAA membership during the annual conference by participating in the call for papers process thereby strengthening the state of practice in our state.




Opening Keynote

Thursday, February 19th from 8:45-9:15 AM

Association Breakfast title


Breakout Presentations

Thursday, February 19th, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

More Than Just Bites: Supporting Connection, Development, and Joy in Feeding Therapy

Feeding is more than eating—it’s a developmental and relational experience rooted in connection, safety, and joy. For many children, especially those who are dysregulated, feeding is not the body’s top priority. This session explores a developmental, relationship-based model of pediatric feeding therapy that prioritizes regulation, engagement, and authentic connection before introducing food. Using a child-led, neurodiversity-affirming lens, we will examine how sensory strategies, caregiver collaboration, and joyful interaction support meaningful mealtime experiences. Attendees will leave with practical, relationship-centered strategies to build trust, promote participation, and support developmentally appropriate feeding for children and their families.

Measuring Medical Mistrust: A Dynamic Discussion Among Clinicians

Medical mistrust is defined as a lack of trust in medical organizations, affecting healthcare, education, and care management across the U.S. (Jaiswal & Halkitis, 2019). In this dynamic and interactive session, participants will explore practical strategies to build trust with diverse populations through cultural humility, patient-centered care, and inclusive communication. Learn how shifting perspectives and engaging with patients' lived experiences can strengthen relationships and improve outcomes in healthcare settings.

 
 
Empowering Community SLPs to Complete AAC Evaluations

Writing your first AAC evaluation report for device funding can be an overwhelming task. In this session, we will discuss how our clinic went from never completing AAC evaluations to completing 23 in one year. You will walk away from this session with a greater understanding of insurance requirements for receiving funding for AAC devices, as well as an easy-to-follow outline for completing this process from start to finish. Learn how to serve this population competently and confidently.

 
Listening for Life: Patient Focused Innovation with MED-EL

Each person’s cochlea is unique, that’s why MED-EL offers various electrode lengths for the best individual fit for each CI recipient. We have the unique tools to measure each cochlea so the right electrode can be chosen for that patient. In addition, we’ve taken the next step forward by using imaging to visualize where the electrode sits after implantation within a patient’s cochlea. For the first time, audiologists are now able to best match the frequency settings to the natural pitch information unique to each patient’s ear. What does this mean for you and your patients? More informed programming with one-click activation in the software and enhanced sound quality for your recipients!

 

Student Poster Presentations

Thursday, February 19th 12:00-12:45 PM

From Classroom to Career: Allied Health Students' AI Use and Views on Its Role in Future Practice

This poster presents results from a 2024 survey of College of Allied Health Professions students on their use of and perspectives on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), with a follow-up survey in 2025. Findings will highlight patterns and changes in AI use over the past year, compare perceptions across undergraduate and graduate programs, and explore how students view AI’s role in their future healthcare professions. Analyses will address perceived benefits, concerns, and comfort levels, as well as differences across disciplines. Results will inform discussion on how AI may shape future healthcare practice and the preparation of students entering AI-enhanced professional environments.

Rethinking the Starting Point: Using Narrative Story Cards to Drive Recovery in Aphasia

This poster presentation will provide an overview of narrative-level treatment as an approach to aphasia therapy, with a focus on the use of visual story cards to support discourse-level communication. Attendees will be introduced to the purpose and structure of narrative story cards, along with examples of how they can be used to address a range of treatment goals, including lexical-retrieval and sentence formulation. The benefits of narrative story cards over isolated word or sentence tasks will be discussed, and key evidence supporting their use in adult aphasia rehabilitation will be summarized.

Finding Your Voice: Advocacy Skills for Future SLPs

Emerging speech-language pathologists are uniquely positioned to advocate for their clients, themselves, and the field—but many feel unprepared to do so. This session will provide practical strategies for building confidence as an advocate at the micro (client), mezzo (workplace), and macro (policy) levels. Attendees will learn how to engage in professional and legislative advocacy using real-world examples, case studies, and ASHA resources. Participants will leave empowered to use their voice effectively, ethically, and meaningfully in everyday practice.

 
 

Lunch presentation

Thursday, February 19th 12:10-12:30 PM

 

Breakout Presentations

Friday, February 14th 12:45-2:45 PM

 
The People Principles: Hiring Right, Keeping Well, and Parting Ethically

This session equips clinical leaders with practical tools to navigate the full employee lifecycle—from hiring and retention to ethical exits. With a focus on real-world challenges in speech-language pathology and audiology settings, participants will learn to identify key drivers of staff turnover, implement effective retention strategies, and uphold legal and ethical standards in employment decisions. Topics include compliant interviewing, progressive discipline, and fostering a workplace culture where clinicians feel valued and supported. Through actionable strategies and relatable case examples, attendees will leave prepared to build stronger, more sustainable teams. Whether you're managing new grads or seasoned clinicians, this course blends HR best practices with the heart of clinical leadership.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Breakout Presentations

Thursday, February 19th 3:00-4:30 PM

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Student Poster Presentations

Thursday, February 19th 4:30-5:15 PM

Moving Toward Recovery: What The Evidence Says About Non-Symbolic Movement and Cortical Activity in Non-Fluent Aphasia

This poster presentation will provide an overview of the use of non-symbolic movement as a treatment strategy for individuals with non-fluent aphasia. Attendees will be introduced to the core features and theoretical foundations of this approach, along with illustrative examples of how it may be incorporated into clinical practice. Key evidence supporting the use of non-symbolic movement to stimulate cortical recruitment and promote improved verbal expression will also be summarized.

Putting Mapping Treatment into Practice: Who Benefits and How

This poster presentation will provide an overview of Mapping Treatment as a therapeutic approach for individuals with agrammatic aphasia. Attendees will be introduced to the core principles and theoretical underpinnings of Mapping Treatment, with a focus on how it supports improved sentence production by strengthening syntactic processing. Illustrative examples will demonstrate how this treatment may be applied in clinical settings. In addition, key evidence supporting the effectiveness of Mapping Treatment in improving expressive language outcomes will be summarized.

Response Elaboration Training in Action: Mastering and Adapting the Approach for Real-World Impact

This poster presentation will provide an overview of the principles, efficacy, and supporting research for Response Elaboration Training (RET), a treatment approach commonly used for individuals with nonfluent aphasia. In addition to summarizing key research findings, the presentation will explore practical applications of RET in clinical settings and highlight recent findings that support its use. Overall, this presentation aims to share real-world implications and current research findings regarding a commonly used approach for nonfluent aphasia.

Moving Beyond Impairment-Based Therapy: An Evidence-Based Look at LPAA.

This poster presentation will provide an overview of Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) principles, explore practical applications in clinical settings, and review key evidence supporting its use. Attendees will gain insight into how this approach complements traditional impairment-based therapy and supports long-term engagement in life activities.

 

Breakout Presentations

Friday, February 20th 8:00-10:00 AM

Supervision Nourishment

This session will outline qualifications and standards required to supervise graduate students, clinical fellows, and assistants. Goals of clinical education and supervision will be discussed, taking into consideration the unique needs of each supervisee. With optimal teaching and learning as the ultimate goal to support patient outcomes, strategies will be introduced which support nurturing the supervisory process. Considering that supervision should support the professional growth and development of both the supervisor and supervisee, this session will aim to cultivate a spirit of advancement for professionals across our state.

 
Linking Oral and Written Language: Approaches for Improved Literacy

Pediatric speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are often well-versed in supporting oral language development, but less competent when effectively extending their practice to fully address written language skills (reading and writing). According to ASHA’s scope of practice, SLPs play a key role in written language; however, hands-on clinical training and/or understanding of literacy development is often limited. This session will highlight the importance of integrating written language into treatment sessions and is intended to equip SLPs with practical, evidence-based methods that can be implemented immediately into clinical practice.

 
 
 
Virtual Magic: Engagement Strategies That Work in Teletherapy

This upbeat session will equip speech-language pathologists with practical strategies to transform teletherapy sessions from routine to magical. Designed with the SHAA 2025–26 theme of “Cultivate” in mind, this presentation empowers SLPs to grow their confidence, nurture student connections, and strengthen engagement techniques in virtual settings. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use tools and renewed inspiration to create meaningful, goal-driven sessions that keep kids clicking in.

 
Heads Up! Identifying Vestibular Dysfunction in Pediatric Patients

Pediatric vestibular dysfunction is frequently under-recognized, yet it can significantly impact motor development, academic performance, and quality of life. This one hour session will provide clinical audiologists with knowledge of consequences of untreated vestibular dysfunction and will provide basic tools to identify vestibular dysfunction in children. Emphasis will be placed on practical screening tools that can be incorporated into routine audiologic assessments. Common childhood disorders, such as vestibular migraine and BPV of childhood will also be discussed. Attendees will leave better equipped to identify children in need of vestibular evaluation and intervention.


Student Poster Presentations

Friday, February 20th, 10:00-10:45 AM

AI Meets SLP: Navigating the Future of Speech-Language Pathology

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are driving significant change across healthcare, compelling professionals to adapt their practices. This session will focus primarily on the evolving role of AI in speech-language pathology, highlighting its impact on clinical workflows, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic interventions. Information will be provided on how to navigate ethical use of AI, to enhance clinician workloads through AI, and to improve patient care.

Stuttering and Sleep: Does it Matter?

Within the realm of stuttering, there is insufficient research completed on adults who stutter. However, adults are able to better articulate factors that affect their severity, than children who stutter. In this presentation, research will be presented attempting to answer the question; “Does sleep affect severity of stuttering?”

Singing-Language Pathologist: Incorporating Singing into your Sessions

The intersections of singing and speech-language pathology are endless. Music can serve as a way to communicate, connect people, learn languages, increase breath support for speech, and so much more. This session will introduce ways to incorporate singing into individual and group sessions as a way to reach goals with creativity, efficiency, and fun. Information will be provided on the field of music therapy and evidenced-based health benefits of music and singing. Singing in speech therapy is a fantastic way to improve engagement, connect with patients, and grow clinical skills.

 
 

Breakout Presentations

Friday, February 20th 10:45-12:15 PM

Stutter-Affirming Therapy: Clinical Decision Making and Applications

Stuttering therapy today is moving away from fluency-based approaches and toward stutter-affirming therapy. This session is designed to help SLPs make the shift with practical therapy ideas that you can start using right away. Participants will learn to address the affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physical aspects of stuttering through a holistic lens. We’ll also discuss therapy goals that support ease of communication, participation and educational or career attainment.

 
 
 
Supporting Children on the Autism Spectrum Using DIRFloortime: DIRFloortime in speech and language therapy practice

DIRFloortime®, also known as DIR®, is an evidence-based approach to promoting development and communication for children with neurodevelopmental differences including autism and is one of the most utilized approaches by speech and language therapists. This session will provide a fun introduction to DIRFloortime with video examples and practical steps you can use tomorrow.

An SLP's Guide to Primary Progressive Aphasia

This session provides an overview of primary progressive aphasia (PPA), highlighting the speech-language pathologist’s role in diagnosis, assessment, and intervention. Participants will review current evidence-based practices for evaluating and managing PPA to support individuals and their care partners effectively.

 

Breakout Presentations

Friday, February 20th 1:15-2:45 PM

 
Beyond the Screen: Remote SLP Services, Smart Boards, and the Power of Push In Collaboration

This session explores how a remote SLP partnered with special educators in a multi-grade classroom serving students with severe communication needs to deliver AAC-based intervention using SmartBoard technology. Through push-in sessions, collaboration with the district AAC team, and IEP updates reflecting a 50-word core board, this approach led to increased student engagement, teacher confidence, and family buy-in. Attendees will learn how to align remote therapy with classroom routines using evidence-based, multimodal strategies that support carryover and inclusion—even in self-contained settings. Practical tips and frameworks will be shared to help SLPs implement this model in their own districts.

 
 
 
Resource Round-Up and Refresher: Evidence-Based Practice for Aphasia in Medical Settings

This session will provide speech-language pathologists with resources to provide evidence-based practice for the treatment of decreased verbal expression skills in relation to aphasia in fast-paced medical settings such as skilled nursing facilities, inpatient hospitals, and outpatient rehabilitation facilities. This session is open to all convention attendees, but it may be most beneficial for clinicians just starting out in an adult medical setting; however, more experienced clinicians may find the information presented to be a helpful refresher on EBP! The focus of this session is functional, and the goal is for attendees to leave the session with increased confidence in their ability to provide EBP to treat impaired verbal expression due to aphasia.

 

Breakout Presentations

Friday, February 20th 3:00-4:00 PM

 
 
Beyond Behaviorism: Strategies for Using Self-Determination Theory to Improve Outcomes in Autistic Students

This session will discuss self-determination theory as an alternative to traditional behavioral theory. The presenter will explain how self-determination theory helps support neurodiversity-affirming care. The presenter will describe strategies based on this theory to create positive long-term outcomes for autistic students, including those with high support needs in communication. The session will provide practical examples of its application and encourage clinicians to brainstorm ways to apply these strategies to their caseload. It will also address both barriers and solutions for implementation in a school-based setting.

 
Aural Rehabilitation for the Older Adult: Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline- An Overview for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists

Hearing Loss has been identified as a risk factor for dementia and / or cognitive impairment. Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists have unique roles in the assessment and management of hearing loss when working with the older population at risk of cognitive decline. This course will review tests and measures used to identify candidates for aural rehabilitation as well as discuss treatment options for speech language pathologists.

 
Elevating Hearing Healthcare in Rural Alabama

Adults with hearing loss who live in rural communities in Alabama have limited access to hearing healthcare services. Improving access and affordability of hearing healthcare in rural areas will require the use of various delivery models. The Hear Here Alabama project at The University of Alabama has been conducting research to address hearing healthcare needs in underserved communities since 2016. To help address shortages in healthcare workers, partnerships have been established to help fill gaps in hearing healthcare. This presentation will describe the specific needs of those living in rural communities and what support options can be offered by clinical practices.


The Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama

admin@alabamashaa.com

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 380124, Birmingham, AL 35238-0124

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