Ian Bean
Ian is a special needs teacher with over 20 years of experience working with children and young adults with severe and complex additional needs .
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Ian was the ICT teacher and curriculum coordinator at Priory Woods School in Middlesbrough before moving on to lead the Information and Training Team at Inclusive Technology where he trained thousands of education and therapy staff around the world . Ian now works independently and with organisations such as UNESCO to raise awareness and deliver training on the use of assistive technology and ICT to support the communication and learning needs of people with SEND.
Joel Bueno
Joel Bueno is 14 years old and has cerebral palsy that affects his mobility and verbal communication. He communicates through a device and plays music thanks to the Eyeharp, a software that allows him to play music through his gaze.
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This innovative project was created by Zacharias Vamvakousis, an IT specialist and musician, and was developed at the Music Technology Group of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Ruth Candela
Doctor of Medicine (Universidad Complutense de Madrid [UCM], 2017), Specialist in Psychiatry (2008), and Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2015).
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With more than 15 years of professional experience in the National Health System, she has participated as an assistant researcher in several research projects with the Science History Institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Master in Integrative Psychotherapy Perspective (Universidad de Alcalá [UAH]), from which she is currently a professor. Assistant professor of the Degree in Psychology at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya since 2019. Master in Neuropsychology and Training in learning difficulties and speech disorders (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya [UOC]). Specialist in augmentative and alternative communication systems (CAA) and speech (Universidad Nacional de Educaciόn a Distancia [UNED]). Professor in the Specialist Degree in technology-assisted CAA and the CAA Diploma Course of the Universidad del Desarrollo of Chile. Member of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). Co-founder of AlfaSAAC.
Camacho Cantón Family
The Camacho Cantón family, from Albal (Valencia), consists of Miguel, Gádor and Miguel.
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Together they have demonstrated how, thanks to assistive technology, Miguel, of 15 years of age and with the absence of verbal language as a result of a congenital neuromuscular disease, has been able to grow as one more family member. Their experience and daily challenges in the use of assistive technology make the Camacho Cantón family a key testimony in this experts committee. Their experience and daily challenges in the use of assistive technology make the Camacho Cantón family a key testimony in this experts committee.
Paloma Cid
Paloma Cid is an occupational therapist with more than 20 years of experience in the field of assistive devices and workplace adaptations. She specializes in geriatrics and augmentative communication systems.
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For 15 years, she has developed her work as a coordinator in the area of augmentative communication and sensory stimulation support products in ILUNION Salud (ILUNION Health), being responsible at a corporate level for the adaptations of workplaces.
She has participated in different national and international projects related to interaction and access to devices. She is currently carrying out an innovation project on the adaptation of workplaces for the Fundación ONCE (ONCE Foundation) and the Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad (Royal Board on Disability).
Marc Coronas
Degree in Psychology from the University of Barcelona. He is the Associate Professor in the Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology at the University of Barcelona.
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Marc is part of the team at the Unit of Augmentative Communication Techniques (UTAC) in the University of Barcelona. Additionally, Marc is a Specialist in Augmentative Communication and assistive technologies for the disabled.
John Costello
John has been a Speech Language Pathologist in the Augmentative Communication Program (ACP) at Boston Children’s Hospital for nearly 37 years and is the director of the Pediatric Augmentative Communication Program and the Jay S. Fishman ALS Augmentative Communication Services.
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John founded the first dedicated AAC in the Pediatric ICU/Acute Care Setting Program in the early 90’s and has founded a full-time ALS Augmentative Communication Program being used as a model for other programs internationally. He pioneered work in message banking and double dipping for personal voice preservation. He is a full-time clinician providing clinical care to children and adults with non-speaking conditions and is adjunct faculty to the graduate at Boston University. John has lectured nationally and internationally on topics of AAC and authored/co-authored several articles and chapters related to AAC.
Bethany Diener
Bethany Diener, MS, CCC-SLP is the Manager of Implementation Resources at Tobii Dynavox.
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She received her Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Purdue University and has provided speech‐language services for adults and children with a variety of diagnoses since 1987. Her deep interest in AAC began during her graduate studies and has continued throughout her career while providing AAC services in schools, rehabilitation hospitals, home health, early intervention, etc. In addition provision of clinical services, Bethany has spoken internationally on a variety of subjects related to augmentative communication and communication needs of individuals with severe communication impairments. As part of her current responsibilities, she participates in product development and creates training and implementation resources that are used in clinical and academic settings. Bethany is dedicated to encouraging independence and success in the use and implementation of augmentative-alternative communication in daily lives of augmented communicators and their communication partners .
Gil Dori
Gil Dori is the creative director of the Asociación EyeHarp (EyeHarp Association). He is a composer, sound designer, music teacher and graduated with a Ph.D. in musical arts from Arizona State University.
Bibiana Escribano
Occupational therapist and assistive technology consultant.
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Master in Neurorehabilitation and trained in psychomotricity, music therapy, and other associated techniques (Snoezelen, Basal, Bobath, Perfetti, Sensory Integration, etc.). Experience in direct care for the elderly, people with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, adults with multiple disabilities, young people with intellectual disabilities, and people with acquired brain injury.
Alexandra Freixes
2014 – Degree in Social Work. Universitat de Girona.
2019 – Degree in Social Education. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.
2020 – Postgraduate in Management and Revitalization of Active and Healthy Aging projects. Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Enrique García
Technician at the Accessible Technologies Department of the Accessibility and Innovation Department of the Fundación ONCE (ONCE Foundation).
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PhD candidate by the Universidad de Jaén, Master in IT Project Management by the Universidad de Alcalá. In addition to working daily with emerging technologies, he also works on the standardization and visibility of the disability.
Melania García
Special Education Teacher, Early Childhood Education Teacher, and Occupational Therapist. Postgraduate in Early Childhood Care and the use of low-cost technological devices. She is currently doing a Master’s in Early Childhood Care focused on the family.
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National and international training in augmentative and alternative communication in a formal and natural setting. Specialist in support aids and intensive therapy for children with functional diversity of neuromotor background.
Co-Director of the Intensive Therapy Camp on the use of Alternative Communication Systems (CAMPASAAC) held in Madrid. In addition, she has also provided assistance to families of children with functional diversity.
Marisa Gómez
Marisa received a degree in Psychology from the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid in 1989 and a PhD from the University of A Coruña in 2003; her thesis dealt with the lexical access to reading for people with cerebral palsy using augmentative and alternative communication.
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Since 1997, Marisa has been a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Psychology at the University of A Coruña. She is the author of numerous scientific publications in Spanish, including her recent book “Comunicación Simbólica. Comunicación Aumentativa y Alternativa” published in 2020.
Garbiñe Guerra
Graduated in Occupational Therapy, with specialization in psychomotor skills, neurodevelopment, and sensory integration.
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Since 2001 she has been working in the training and educational innovation centers of Berritzegune in Bizkaia. Among her functions are the assessment, counseling, and intervention with assistive technology for students with special educational needs.
Candela Imbernón
Doctor of Education.
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Teacher of Primary Education, Kindergarten, and Occupational Therapy at the Higher Center for University Studies (CSEU) La Salle Campus Madrid, in the area of Inclusive Education and Assistive Technologies for Communication.
Begoña Llórens
Psychologist and speech therapist. Specialist in augmentative and alternative communication (CAA). Founding partner of Integración Digital Ingeniería (Digital Integration Engineering).
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Experience as a speech therapist in special education, as an assistive technology consultant, and as a teacher in educational programs in Generalitat Valenciana. Guest lecturer in the Master of Early Intervention at the Universidad Católica de Valencia (UCV), in the Diploma Course in CAA at the Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) of Chile, and in the Specialist Degree in technology-assisted CAA at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM). Professor trainer in different autonomous communities through the Spanish public education system. Specialist in advice and support for families and professionals in the implementation of CAA. Representative for Spain on the ISAAC governing board
Founding partner of AlfaSAAC
Elena Martín
Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the Universidad de Salamanca.
Specialized in neurological physiotherapy.
Physiotherapist at Colegio El Camino of the Spanish Confederation of Organizations and Associations for the Care of People with Cerebral Palsy and Related Disorders (ASPACE), Salamanca.
Ana Medina
Ana Medina is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Translation at the Pablo de Olavide University in Seville.
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She is the head of the research group on translation for accessibility COMINTRAD, organizer of three editions of the Conference on access to communication (INCLUTRAD Conference) and the researcher responsible for the projects ‘Capaces de Comunicar’ (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology – Ministry of Science and Innovation) and the governmental R+D project “Pictographic systems and visual elements to understand heritage” (Call for Proposals Challenges of Society, Ministry of Science and Innovation). Ana is also the editor of the book “Accesibilidad a la comunicación. Techniques and procedures for an inclusive society” (Editorial Tragacanto, Granada). She is an AAC teacher in the Accessibility Expert of ISTRAD (Seville), in the Assisted AAC Specialist of the UCLM and in the AlfaSAAC Association.
Mario Montero
Doctor of Educational Sciences. Director of the Autism Master Class at the Universitat de Girona. Director of the SYnC Child & Adolescent Center at the Clínica Bofill (Bofill Clinic).
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More than 20 years of experience working with people with autism and other types of neurodiversity.
For 10 years, he lived in London and managed a unit specialized in including people with autism in general education. There he specialized in communication difficulties and intervention through the family.
He has trained professionals throughout Spain, South America, England, and Italy.
Daniel Morales
Telecommunications Engineer from the Universidad de Sevilla.
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After several years working in different industry sectors, he joined Orange in Spain eleven years ago to lead the renewal projects of the mobile access network. Then for five years, he developed – as regional manager in Andalucía, Extremadura, Canary Islands, and the central area – the deployment of new generation networks and guaranteeing Orange’s service to its customers every day.
Almost three years ago, he decided to redirect his career. Since then, he has been in charge of the Fundación Orange (Orange Foundation) and the Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility department, carrying out projects that encourage digital inclusion and make Orange’s business more environmentally friendly.
Soraya Muñoz
Diploma Course with specialization in Hearing and Speech, by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Specialist in augmentative and alternative communication systems (SAAC) for children with hearing disabilities. Postgraduate specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology. Advanced Technician in Early Intervention.
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She worked at the Spanish Confederation of Organizations and Associations for the Care of People with Cerebral Palsy and Related Disorders (ASPACE) for 8 years in early intervention and functional rehabilitation. She had the opportunity to implement and develop assistive technology projects with people with cerebral palsy and related conditions.
She currently works at BJ Adaptaciones, a company that develops and distributes assistive technology for people with disabilities in augmentative communication, computer access, multisensory stimulation, and environmental control, specializing in augmentative and alternative communication (CAA).
Jaume Puig
Electronics and telecommunication engineer, Master of Business Administration (MBA).
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Co-founder and CEO of Biel Glasses, a company that develops smart glasses to solve mobility problems of people with impaired vision, increasing their autonomy.
Father of a child with impaired vision. “Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Patient Innovator Award 2022” to the most innovative patient or patient’s family member worldwide.
Rachel Santiago
MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and Clinical Coordinator of the Inpatient Augmentative Communication Program (ACP) at Boston Children’s Hospital.
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She provides bedside augmentative communication strategies and communication access solutions for patients in the acute care setting through evidence based assessment and intervention practices. In addition to providing direct patient care, Rachel coordinates program development, research, and education. She is a published author of several textbook chapters and peer reviewed journal articles, and has lectured nationally and internationally on the topics of AAC and communication access in the intensive care unit and acute care hospital setting.
Sol Solís
Sol Solís is a teacher and coordinator for the degree in Specialist in Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assisted with Technology at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Toledo).
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She is a specialist in therapeutic pedagogy with a specialization in Augmentative and Alternative Communication from San Francisco State University (California). She is also director and teacher of La Fábrica de Palabras, a center specialized in teaching literacy and language to people with complex communication needs. Additionally, Sol is director and teacher at eScuelAAC, an online training platform dedicated exclusively to Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems. She also trains professionals, is a consultant for companies, associations, families and is a national and international speaker. As a continued member of the academic committee of the Spanish-speaking International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Sol has been nominated for best teacher in Spain in 2021.
Paloma Tejada
Psychologist and Speech Therapist
Teacher, School of Education
Elementary and Primary School
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Higher Center for University Studies (CSEU) La Salle
Raphael Terrier
I am Biomedical engineer degree and started as Assitive Technology consultant in 2007 at Proteor to cover North East french area and Eport. I met with thousands end-users, care givers, therapists and familiy members to help them to be more independant.
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In 2015 i took the global manager position in AT dpt in Proteor and manage a 12 members teams in the goal to grow the business.
I lead some projects with differents centers and associations such ALS and a Red Cross which build up the largest AT project in France when we equiped more than 60 centers, train 400 therapists and give the opportunity to access to AT at + 2000 patients between 2017-2021.
I did a report on AT funding situation and speak about it at ATAAC conference in Zagreb in 2018. I have been involved with the health ministry in 2018 to introduce the situation of AT and make a report about the situation and usage to draw the next model. In parallel, i joined the board of ISAAC association France in 2020 and join DATEurope association in 2019.
From febuary 2022, we built up Inclutec consulting in the goal to increase the awarness, improve knowlege and grow the business.
Kerry Vacara
Kerry is the Training & Implementation Manager for Smartbox and a qualified Teacher. She has worked in both mainstream and special schools, primary and secondary, in both a teaching capacity and developing the use of Assistive Technology (AT) and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC).
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Through her work, Kerry develops the training programmes for Grid software and works with key customers to develop AAC offerings across a whole setting. She also collaborates with schools and other organisations to offer guidance when implementing Grid 3 software in the classroom as a tool for AAC. Kerry has presented at Communication Matters annual conference, UK, Closing the Gap, USA, ASL & Technology Conference, Scotland, TES SEN, and delivered various workshops and training.