Speaker Application Information

Apraxia Kids is seeking submissions for presentations for our 2024 National Conference, July 11-13, that address a full range of topics. The theme for the conference is looking at the whole child so sessions that discuss aspects of the whole child and a variety of co-morbid challenges are of specific interest. Presentations should ideally include “how to”, “hands on”, and practical strategies with evidence-based support and include information about working with diverse languages and cultures, age ranges and severities of CAS. Apraxia Kids encourages collaboration between speakers (including parents and interdisciplinary) in the development of presentations (i.e. co-presenters or small panels [2-4 people]). Please carefully consider what type of session might work best for your proposal. Formats for sessions will be either a lecture with up to 3 total presenters, or a panel discussion which has more than 3 presenters and/or contains audience discussions such as looking at case studies or problem solving around an issue. We are also inviting students and researchers to submit proposals for posters presenting results of current research projects.

Because of the previous success of, and the demand for, continued virtual offerings, the 2024 Apraxia Kids National Conference is being planned as an in-person event with the option to watch sessions as recordings which will be available throughout the month of July. We strongly encourage presenters to pre-record their session and submit to Apraxia Kids by June 14. As part of the application process, presenters will be asked to choose an option:

  1. present the session in-person in Pittsburgh, PA only
  2. present the session in-person AND make a pre-recording to be offered virtually
  3. make a pre-recording for a virtual ONLY session

If you would like to present in-person, but then you are unable to attend, having a pre-recording of your session will allow for your information to be presented virtually instead.

Key Presenter Dates:

Presentation Submissions Due:  January 10, 2024
Acceptance Notification:  February 12, 2024
Conference speaking agreements due back: February 19, 2024
Pre-Recordings Due: June 14, 2024
Handouts Due:  June 14, 2024
Posters for virtual posting: June 14, 2024

 

Topics of Interest Include:

  • The Whole Child/Co-morbid Disorders – language disorder, autism spectrum disorder and other complex diagnoses, neurodiversity, dysarthria, developmental coordination disorder, voice, fluency, global apraxia, sensory processing disorder, fine/gross motor movements, and OT/PT/Hippotherapy
  • Scientific Research/Theory/Genetics – current research on any related topic including genetics, putting research into practice
  • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity – providing evidence-based assessment and treatment for CAS and other motor speech disorders in children who communicate in languages other than and/or in addition to English, including overall communication system of the whole child, target selection, home practice, decisions across the lifespan, AAC, and comorbidities
  • Assessment and Differential Diagnosis of CAS and other motor speech disorders – evidence bases for making differential diagnosis, analysis of data, case studies, testing minimally verbal children, assessment for older/mild cases
  • Treatment of CAS and other motor speech disorders – evidence bases and tutorials for treatment protocols, novel therapy approaches, principles of motor learning, case studies, evaluating progress, residual speech issues, therapy for different ages/severity, home practice, generalization, prosody and vowel changes, intensive services for apraxia
  • Interpersonal/Social/Emotional – social skill challenges, friendship building, dealing with classmates, bullying, difficult behaviors
  • Education/Academic/Literacy – developing goals, IEPs, advocacy, legal issues and special education, school placement options, retention, accommodations, literacy issues, phonological awareness, language processing deficits, executive functioning
  • AAC – introductory and advanced sessions on evaluation, training of device use in therapy, use at home and in the community, teaching language through AAC, pre-verbal children
  • Older Individuals with CAS (middle/high school/adult) and their challenges
  • Advanced Topics geared towards the SLP who already has foundational knowledge in assessment and treatment – challenging diagnostic/treatment case studies, contrasting speech therapy methods; therapy strategies for vowel and prosody modification; perception, phonological representation
  • Other

Additional Info:

  • Topics not on the list will also be considered.
  • ASHA CEUs will be offered for this conference.

 

Speaker Selection:

The Conference Committee will review, evaluate, and select proposals using the following criteria:

  • Alignment with, and demonstration of, current evidence-based practice.
  • Originality and relevance of topic.
  • Overall quality of proposal content, delivery method, and proposed format.
  • Alignment of learning objectives with presentation overview.
  • Qualifications, expertise, and experience level of presenter(s).
  • Practical application of education, skills, and resources.

 

Presentation Guidelines

By submitting for the 2024 Apraxia Kids National Conference, I explicitly agree to the following presentation guidelines:

  1. Principle Presenter Correspondence and Responsibility
    • The individual submitting this proposal and signing this form agrees to receive all conference correspondence and accepts responsibility for conveying conference-related information to co-presenters. Only two co-presenters, along with one primary speaker, shall be listed for any one session. Any more than three presenters for a session will be indicated as a “panel”.
    • If accepted, I agree to adhere to the deadlines as detailed in the acceptance notification regarding additional information that is required, such as presentation materials (handouts and recordings).
    • I understand that all speakers must register themselves for the conference using a speaker code and that it is recommended to wait to register to see if my presentation is selected.
    • I understand that presentations must represent evidence based practice or state the theory and references supporting its use and include information related to culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
  2. Ethical Guidelines
    • The individuals submitting or included within this proposal affirm that they have followed ethical guidelines in regards to:
      • Appropriate “Releases of Confidential Information” were obtained for all client materials that will be used or recorded as part of this presentation. The responsibility for protecting client confidentiality rests with the presenter(s).
      • Appropriate “Authorization to Present Video and/or Audio Recordings” within a conference presentation were obtained and kept by the presenters.
      • Appropriate research procedures concerning protection of human subjects and confidentiality were utilized in any research-based presentations.
      • Written permission from copyright holders for the use of any previously published material in this presentation or its handouts was obtained.
      • Provide appropriate evidence to support any claims related to efficacy, validity, or reliability of assessment or treatment approaches.
      • Offer evidence-based content in a manner that does not defame, ridicule, or demoralize individuals or groups.
      • The presentation materials will contain nothing libelous, injurious, or untrue. The presentation will refrain from any political or religious content that could be contentious.
      • Individuals submitting or included within this proposal will refrain from overt statements or pointed humor that disparages the rightful dignity and social equity of any person or group.
  1. Disclosure Requirements
    • Individuals submitting or included within this proposal will disclose to Apraxia Kids any financial or non-financial relationship that creates a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, as defined in ASHA’s guidelines concerning transparency and disclosure by answering the disclosure question on Part 1 and submitting it. Furthermore, individuals submitting this proposal:
      • will inform Apraxia Kids if a disclosable interest related to the content of this presentation develops or is acquired at any time before Conference.
      • will disclose relevant financial and nonfinancial relationships on site in formats specified by Apraxia Kids (on presentation materials such as slides, handouts…).
      • will, when discussing a specific product or service, offer information on its theoretical framework, relevant evidence, and operational details; give a balanced view and be free from bias; disclose in advance if your presentation will not address the range of competing products or services; and refrain from overt selling.
      • will contact us about vendor opportunities if interested in selling products at the conference.
  1. Apraxia Kids Photography, Data Collection, and Survey Discretion
    • Individuals submitting or included within this proposal give permission to Apraxia Kids to take photographs and to publish them in any format at the sole discretion Apraxia Kids.
    • Individuals submitting or included within this proposal agree that prior approval will be obtained from Apraxia Kids to distribute surveys or collect data at the convention.
  2. Disclaimer

Approval of presentation does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures by Apraxia Kids.

 

A principle speaker for each presentation should click the “Start Application Here” Button below to fill out the Part 1: Speaker’s Information ONE time. Once that is submitted, a confirmation email (PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER) with directions for your next step will be sent to you immediately.  Only the Principle Speaker will go to the link in the email and complete Part 2: Presentation Details once for each separate presentation submission.  All principle presenters and co-presenters need to fill out Part 1: Speaker’s Information only one time no matter how many presentation submissions they are listed on.

 

Additionally, we are inviting students and researchers to submit proposals for posters presenting results of current research projects.  All poster presenters will submit their poster information to be displayed virtually on the conference website. Poster presenters will also be asked if they will be attending in-person and would like to bring a poster physically to display at the conference. As an in-person poster presenter, you will have time built into the schedule to interact with attendees about your work.

 

If you have any questions about the application process, please email nationalconference@apraxia-kids.org.