October Update
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| Newsletter October 2025 | ||
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Kia ora Visitor, News from the world of Assistive TechnologyAnnual general Meeting 2025 upcoming.We would love to invite you to join us for our AGM that is scheduled for the 11th of November from 1-2.30pm ATANZ Zoom is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: ATANZ's AGM 2025 Meeting ID: 819 7113 9451 --- One tap mobile Join instructions GrantsATANZ offers a number of grants to support excellence in AAC service provision. Grants for professionals are open to ATANZ members to apply, as well as some grants available for Maori, whanau and AAC users who do not need to be members of ATANZ. All grants will be reviewed by ATANZ board of trustees. For more information look here Private PractionersOn our website we have a list of private practitioners who offer CAT 1 and CAT2 assessment. Please check it out here. We are in the process of updating this list. If you are working in private practice and would like to be added, please fill in this Google form Call for board membersThe ATANZ board is looking for some new members to join the board. If you would be interested in joining the team please contact us!
Equipment pool update.This term we have an incredible 91 equipment trials scheduled. We are planning on significantly increasing the number of iPads in the pool in time for the start of 2026. All members can request equipment here. Please return equipment intact and on time so that the next team can start their trial (and to avoid late fees).
Update & upcoming Professional Development, reminder Expressions of Interest for Whanau course!Wonderful delivery of the Switch access and switch-adapted technology with OT Jacki Mayne-Davis!On Wednesday the 24th September we were very excited to welcome a large group of 50 participants in the Kiwi room from JetPark Auckland Airport Hotel, to listen and participate in the newly developed 'Switch' workshop, faciltated by Jacki Mayne-Davis and her 'Brains Trust', Helen Bayldon, Amelia Lawton and Laura Westerdaal. In this practical workshop Jacki, with the help of her co-facilitators, shared evidence based strategies to progress client's switch skills. Participants were treated to practical hands on experience with a variety of different switches, programmes and toys and considered how to meet the needs of each individual client. Because this event was fully booked with an additional waiting list, we plan to offer this event again in Wellington, in April next year. Dates TBC. People on our waiting list will be given priority to register. You can email our events manager to still be added to the waiting list for next offering! Testimonial from one of our grant recipients:"As a recipient of an ATANZ grant I was able to attend the following:
2025 Switch access and switch-adapted technology workshop presented by Jacki Mayne-Davis and supported by her 'Brains Trust', Amelia Lawton, Helen Bayldon, Laura Westerdaal. I have been aware of Linda Burkhart's Stepping Stones and Ian Bean's Road Map so the child centred switch framework (Thompson, Ferguson & Donner) was new learning for me. I loved the & Switch Heroes and in a special school setting I think these would be embraced by teaching teams and students. I will definitely be looking into their supporting resources as well. I plan to introduce this to one of my classes next term as switch progression has stalled so I think Switch Heroes would be a fun positive way to progress switch use in this particular class. Overall I found that the training to be very practical and I appreciated the extra resources such as the Active with AAC traffic light system as that will support the Core Word of the Week I am currently implementing in my classes.
The practical afternoon session on writing sequenced social scripts to support learner's interaction with others, I will definitely be implementing in my classrooms. So thank you ATANZ for this learning opportunity. This training was both relevant and impactful for my practice going forward with my learners in the Special School setting" Paula Morrison, Speech Language Therapist Coming Up soonIntroductory 2- Day PODD workshop with SLT Helen BayldonIn-person, Auckland 16 & 17 October 2025 In-person, Christchurch workshop was delivered last week, 1 & 2 October and was very well received. In our next PD events newsletter, we will report more in detail about the delivery of these two 2-day Introductory PODD workshops presented by Helen Bayldon. Online LAMP Words for Life: the LAMP therapy approach for Aotearoa/ New Zealand with SLT Dr Sam BrydonOnline, 15 October, 29 October, and 12 November 2025. Moving Forwards with LAMP Words for LifeFollow up session, open to those who have completed the 3 day online and want to go deeper. Online, 26 November 2025 Reminder Expressions of Interest - LAMP online course 2026 dedicated for whānau of AAC usersPlease remind Whanau and family members to sign up for this Expressions of Interest. We are having people sign up and when we have enough interest we'll select a date and time that suits the majority of the group. Please share the sign up link below with whānau who you think might be interested: https://www.atanz.org.nz/expressions-of-interest-2026-whanau-offering-online-lamp-course Please also remind families about our Whānau Professional development and Learning Grant. Check out our ATANZ events webpage for all current Professional Learning and development notifications.For all your questions about ATANZ professional development events and learning opportunities please contact us via events@atanz.org.nzKeep in ContactATANZ loves to hear from you - whether you have success stories to share, questions, comments, feedback, suggestions or new ideas - let us know.
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