National Tour 2026
The power of peers: supporting meaningful social relationships for AAC users
Presented by Dr. Elizabeth Biggs
Workshop overview
Friendships matter for everyone! But, students who use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) often face challenges engaging, interacting, and developing authentic relationships with their peers without disabilities.
This online workshop will focus on how schools can promote inclusion and belonging through meaningful peer engagement and relationships. Drawing on research and lived experiences, we will consider the “stuff of friendship” and identify factors that support true connection among AAC users and their peers.
Participants will leave with practical, evidence-based strategies for promoting friendship and inclusion.
Dr. Elizabeth Biggs will be joining us live from the United States.
Learning objectives
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Identify barriers and facilitators to positive interactions and authentic relationships among students who use AAC and their peers
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Describe practical, evidence-based strategies to promote meaningful engagement, interaction, and relationships among students who use AAC and their peers
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Apply insights from research and the lived experiences of students who use AAC and their peers to build classroom and school communities that foster friendship and belonging.
Target audience
This workshop is ideal for teachers, speech pathologists, other school staff members, and families who work with school-age students with disabilities who use or would benefit from AAC, across primary and secondary school settings.
Workshop date
Wednesday 16 September 2026
Online workshop schedule
VIC/NSW/ACT/TAS/QLD
11am - 12pm: session 1
12:15pm - 1:15pm: session 2
SA / NT
10:30am - 11:30am: session 1
11:45am - 12:45pm: session 2
WA
9am - 10am: session 1
10:15am - 11:15am: session 2
Ticket prices
Early bird tickets are available until Sunday 19 July @11.59PM AEST or until sold out.
AGOSCI member: $120 including GST
Standard: $190 including GST
After the early bird period, ticket prices will increase to:
AGOSCI members: $150 including GST
Standard: $220 including GST.
Presenter
Dr. Elizabeth Biggs is an internationally recognised AAC educator, researcher, and speaker. As an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University (United States), Dr. Biggs leads research focused on developing evidence-based practices to promote authentic peer relationships and meaningful language and literacy learning for children and youth who use or could benefit from AAC. She also teaches courses related to inclusion and literacy instruction for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Biggs has published widely, with over 55 research articles and book chapters. She was also the recipient of research awards from TASH and the American Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and her research has been funded by multiple agencies including the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), and the Spencer Foundation. As a speaker and teacher, Dr. Biggs is known for her ability to translate cutting-edge research into practical, real-world strategies to improve outcomes for children and youth who use AAC.
In-person sessions
If you’re interested in watching the live-streamed session with fellow attendees, click on the event pages below to find an event in a city near you.
Please note spots are limited!
If you do not see an event in your local city and would like to help, please contact education@agosci.org.au or your local state/territory branch.
If you are interested in sponsoring the 2026 National Tour, please contact Andrew at execofficer@agosci.org.au.
Elizabeth Biggs introduction video