2026-2027 Trainings and Training Series Schedule
All trainings and training series are contingent on the receipt of continued START Project funding from the Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.
The 2026-2027 Training and Training Series schedule is subject to change.
Start Date
12/8/2026
Title
Peers Matter: Fostering Social Communication and Friendship for Students Who Use or Would Benefit from AAC
Training Type
Training
Sessions
1
Location
Virtual
Start Time
12:00 p.m.
End Time
3:00 p.m.
Fee
$10
Training Information
Positive peer relationships are essential for all students, including those with limited speech. This session shares evidence-based strategies to support social communication and language development using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and peer engagement. Attendees will leave with tools they can use to foster friendships and empower every student to express themselves so they can be heard and understood.
Intended Audience: Special and general educators, service providers such as speech-language pathologists, paraeducators, autism consultants, instructional coaches, and educational leaders and administration who work with students with autism and/or intellectual disability who have limited speech
Topic
- Communication Supports and Strategies
- Peer to Peer
Glossary of Terms
- Training: A professional development opportunity designed to improve the knowledge and/or skills of attendees in a particular topic or practice. A training is at least two hours. While participants may be encouraged to attend all parts of a training, they are not required to do so and will still have a meaningful experience if they do not attend all parts.
- Session: Individual segments within a training, each focusing on a specific topic or key concept.
- Training Series: A collection of multiple trainings or webinars that focuses on the same topic or theme. A training series can be offered as (1) a sequence of trainings or webinars that build upon each other or (2) independent trainings or webinars on the same theme. Participants are required to attend all modules in a training series.
- Module: An organized collection of content presented together as a cohesive training/learning unit, usually on a particular topic in an in-person or virtual format.
- Bootcamp: A collection of modules on a related topic or theme in a condensed, often consecutive timeframe.
- Webinar: A live professional development opportunity or discussion focused on a single topic or practice. Webinars are less than two hours.