Kia ora Visitor,
 

New EOI: A rare opportunity in New Zealand! 2027 5-day Teaching Movements for Communication workshop - Gayle Porter, Speech Pathologist & Claire Cotter, Occupational therapist  - CPEC Australia.  

Please register to express your interest in this unique learning opportunity that ATANZ is hoping to organise in Auckland, in July 2027

This intensive 5-day workshop will provide participants with an in-depth opportunity to explore the movement differences associated with cerebral palsy, other significant neurological movement impairments (e.g. Rett Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome) and severe sensory processing challenges. There will be a focus on identifying these posture and movement challenges in relation to their impact on communication development, assessment and intelligibility. A range of strategies and a process to teach movements for communication will be demonstrated.

We will need a substantial number of participants to make this premium training opportunity possible. Presented by two highly regarded Australian facilitators, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Please review the full details and register to express your interest here before 15 August!

New promotional video series: Coaching for Communication Partners 2-Day Workshops - Dr Sam Brydon - In Person - Auckland & Christchurch - August 

Other upcoming ATANZ 2026 Professional Learning and Development events 

Check out all our scheduled PLD events on the ATANZ Events webpage We also encourage you to review all the attached flyers and share them widely within your networks.

2026 Online Whānau workshop - Switch Access and Switch-Adapted Technology - By Jacky Mayne-Davis, 31 July via Zoom - 

Please notify your families about this 3-hour online workshop specifically designed for whānau, caregivers and their support teams. And they can bring you along for free!

2026 Full Online LAMP Words for Life & the LAMP therapy approach

• Four online sessions via Zoom, 12 & 28 October, 9 & 23 November, stretched over 8 weeks by Dr Sam Brydon. Fourth session Professionals only. Now fully booked but you can still register online to be added to the waiting list. 

• ​Three additional spots left for the fourth 'Professionals Only' session on 23 November. These places are offered by email request only via events@atanz.org.nz.

Feel free to use this email address to contact our events manager with all your other events related questions!


 

Exciting PLD line ups for 2027!

We are aware many of you like to plan your professional learning and development (PLD) schedules well in advance. To help with this, we aim to open registrations for most of our 2027 events well before the end of this year. 

Here is a quick preview of the events we are lining up for next year:

• 2-Day Intro PODD workshop - Helen Bayldon (following recent EOIs)
• Communication for Partners Workshop - Helen Bayldon 
• Switch Access and Switch-Adapted Technology (Auckland) - Jacki Mayne-Davis 
• Reconceptualising AAC Abandonment webinars - Dr Andy Smidt & Chloe Wine, (rescheduled to 2027)
• 5-day teaching movements for Communication workshop - Gayle Porter & Claire Cotter (When we receive enough expressions of interest!)
• Online Full LAMP Words for Life & the LAMP Therapy Approach - 8 weeks course. - Dr Sam Brydon 

Other news from the world of Assistive Technology

Reminder to complete ATANZ Strategic Planning Feedback survey before 6 June!

A reminder that this year, ATANZ is updating our strategic plan, and we would love your insight on what this could look like. Please find below a link to our survey to share your voice and insights: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCXTEFBlaIntfRnyye1-0dAZErqqwLyT946AqIFZiMlVIRNQ/viewform

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!

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