Kia ora Visitor,

Welcome to our Autumn newsletter. We have so many exciting professional development events coming up in 2025 please see below. 

News from the world of Assistive Technology

Proloquo trials 

We are now able to trial Proloquo on our trial devices and a 5 year licence for Proloquo can be applied for through EMS.

There is a new trial process that can be found here - it requires you to create an AssistiveWare login so that any trial pages can be transfered to future system. This process also allows a free 90 day trial of the software (equipment software is still the normal length of time) 

Trial equipment 

Please make sure all trial equipment is returned on time to ensure a smooth transition for the next trials. If the device comes back broken or missing parts, then an invoice will be sent.

We have recently spent over $500 replacing chargers and cases, this impacts on others being able to trial devices. 

Please include a note with your return equipment if you are going to proceed with a funding application or not. This means that we don't have to chase up for further trials.

2025 Recent and Upcoming Professional Development Courses 

Recent Rethinking AAC and AAC practice with Erin Sheldon and Dr David Niemeijer, February 2025, very positively received!

It has been an absolute privilege for ATANZ to be able to host the four face-to-face workshops facilitated by Erin Sheldon and Dr David Niemeijer.

We were very pleased that we received so much interest for these workshops. Allowing it to go ahead at all four different locations, spread over both the North and South Island. Feedback has been extremely positive. We would like to thank Erin and David once more for including New Zealand in their Down Under tour and for generously sharing their latest research and the responsive way they presented the workshops.

Fully booked first 2025 offering of the New Online LAMP Course Words for Life & the LAMP therapy approach.

Presented by Dr Sam Brydon for Aotearoa/ New Zealand.

This year ATANZ is offering a total new learning opportunity with the well-known content specialist Sam Brydon.

In response to feedback, the first day of the 2-day LAMP course will now be available as an online course in NZ, comprising of three 2-hour sessions spread across 6 weeks. This will be offered twice yearly. 

The first and upcoming course in May-June was already fully booked long before registrations were supposed to close.

Which is why we are very excited to announce that Dr Sam Brydon has agreed to facilitate a second course this year and that...

Registrations are now open for the 2025 October/November offering of the New Online LAMP Course Words for Life & the LAMP therapy approach for Aotearoa/ New Zealand. 

Presented by Dr Sam Brydon.

The 2^nd round schedule:

• Day 1, 15 October 2025
• Day 2, 29 October 2025
• Day 3, 12 November 2025

Just like the first course this workshop will be fully participatory, with group discussions, practice elements, small group work, and action plans to put new knowledge and skills into practice. Support will be provided via an online chat thread in between workshops so that participants can give feedback about how they have implemented their action plan, engage in peer support, and receive feedback / guidance from the presenter, Sam Brydon. Numbers will be capped at 25 per workshop, and workshops will not be recorded.

This course is suitable for all professionals and whānau supporting autistic children who use AAC.

Registrations have now opened at the events page on our website www.atanz.org.nz/events and will close on the 7^th of October or when sold out!

Feel free to share the attached flier with your networks.

Please contact us with any questions at events@atanz.org.nz

Breaking News!!

Sam Brydon has just confirmed with us, that towards the end of this year, she plans to offer the second day of the 2-Day LAMP Words for Life & the LAMP therapy approach as a one-off online session, for all participants who by then will have completed either the 2025 May/June or October/November online course!  Final date and details for this session still to be confirmed!  

Registrations have opened for the first of its kind, 2025 Switch access and switch -adapted technology.

Presented by Jacki Mayne-Davis, Auckland, 24 September

Another very exciting new opportunity presents itself with this 5-hour, face to face workshop. It is suitable for teachers of PMLD learners, VNTs, CDT OTs and SLTs, school-based OTs and SLTs, day program coordinators/teachers. Whānau and their therapy teams are also welcome.

This workshop is the first of its kind in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Not only will you be getting hands-on experience with the latest technology and trialling practical ways to help people with complex bodies use it. In this workshop you will be directly linked to the curriculum (Te Whāriki and the New Zealand Curriculum) and to therapy goals.

Jacki Mayne-Davis is a New Zealand registered Occupational Therapist, who was trained at James Cook University, Townsville Australia and who runs her own private practice.

Registrations close 16 September 2025  or when sold out – places are limited!

 
Please check out all the additional details on the  events section of the ATANZ website where you can register online!

Ensure you always log in with your ATANZ membership to access the member discount rate!  

The attached flier for this event can also be spread freely!

More professional development opportunities for 2025 are being lined up as we speak. We will notify you with all the details as soon as those are confirmed.

For all your questions about ATANZ professional development events and learning opportunities please contact us via events@atanz.org.nz 

Keep in Contact

ATANZ loves to hear from you - whether you have success stories to share, questions, comments, feedback, suggestions or new ideas - let us know. 

Our next meeting is Friday May 16th 
 

    
As always you can email us at admin@atanz.org.nz