Kate Ahern, M.S.Ed. Educational Specialist Certified teacher of learners with complex disabilities focusing, on children and adults who use multi-modal communication including Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Kate Ahern Kate is a renowned special education teacher, consultant, and author with over two decades of experience. She specializes in helping children with complex communication needs, sensory processing issues, and profound/multiple disabilities.
Among her accomplishments, Kate has developed and facilitated comprehensive workshops on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), promoting inclusive communication practices and ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to supportive tools. Her extensive knowledge and practical guidance have played a significant role in educating professionals and advocating for the rights of those with communication challenges. She has presented at local, state, regional, national and international conferences and programs. Kate holds a Master of Science in Special Education from Simmons College and has completed advanced training/professional development programs in various sub-specialties including AAC (including Advanced PODD training), abuse prevention and sexuality education for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, trauma informed education and the Science of Reading. She has special interests in AAC for children and adults with Rett Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, Autism and other complex needs. She also is dedicated to inclusion, ending seclusion and restraint in schools and disability service agencies, abuse prevention, and especially disability justice. Kate is the recipient of the Federation for Children with Special Needs Teacher of the Year Aware (2014), The Fighting Angels Award (2016) and the knAAC Open AAC Lifetime Achievement Award in AAC (2024). 
|
Maggie Wurm Assistive TechnologisT family support Assistive Technology Specialist, who also has twenty years of experience in supporting families to support their child complex disabilities. Maggie Wurm has been inspired by her daughter which led her in this field. She has a background as a direct service provider from Early Intervention to adults. She has worked in schools and in private practice with a variety individuals who face challenges from Autism to complex disabilities. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is an Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist having completed the AT program at California State University, Northridge. She has completed a 5 day course with Gayle Porter that included Alternative Access and Teaching Movement for Communication. Maggie currently is contracted in the schools as an AT/AAC Specialist. Her clients typically use; switches, Proloquo2Go, PECS, PODD and Eyegaze.
Working in family support services under the Federation for Children with Special Needs has given her a vast knowledge of resources. State grant management service experience for families of children, skilled at organization of educational and medical information. Maggie is a trained special educational advocate and Co-President of Rett Syndrome Angels Nonprofit Organization. As a parent of young lady who has Rett Syndrome, Maggie brings the unique experience and compassion of being a parent to all her clients. |
Aliza Chagpar Administrator Coordinates scheduling, contracts and billing. Manages the mailing list and newsletter. Aliza Chagpar has over 15 years of project management, change management and process improvement experience. Aliza is passionate about human rights and spends much of her free time advocating for families with children who are excluded for their differences instead of accepted and included. A mother to a little boy with Angelman Syndrome, Aliza works to make the caregiver experience of working with AAC Voices as smooth as possible.
Financial and non-financial disclosures: various members of the AAC Voices team receive income from private clients, school districts and government agencies for providing educational services for AAC users, speaking fees, honorarium and expenses from speaking engagements for charities, school districts, and government agencies, and copies of apps and books in return for development recommendations from companies including AssistiveWare. We have memberships in ISAAC and USAAAC.
|