Home Training Conferences AAC Talks 2025 AAC Talks 2025—AAC Without Limits: Voices, Stories, and Possibilities Session 4B - Expanding Language Through Story Writing
Print

Session 4B - Expanding Language Through Story Writing

Speakers: Andrea Zern & Dana Vermilya

Session Description:
Storytelling is a powerful way to expand language, spark creativity, and engage students in meaningful communication. In this interactive session, discover how tools like calendar books, Bitmojis, AI, and digital resources can transform the storytelling process for all learners. Learn how to support students in generating ideas, developing characters, and crafting their own unique narratives—regardless of their writing abilities. Ideas will be shared for writing fun stories through the use of calendar books, Bitmoji, AI, and other resources. Participants will leave with practical ways to make story writing fun, accessible, and engaging for every student. Anyone can write a story and have fun doing it!

Objectives:
  • Recognize that storytelling is an inclusive activity that all students can participate in
  • Explore tools and strategies for supporting story writing with finding backgrounds and story ideas
  • Learn tools for developing characters to put into stories so students can write about them
Presenter Dana Vermilya smilingSpeaker Bios:
Dana Vermilya, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and a member of the Training and Consultation Team at BLAST IU17. She is an assistive technology consultant and a member of the TaCTICS team.  She is passionate about giving all learners opportunities to communicate and write stories, regardless of their diverse abilities.

Presenter Andrea Zern smilingAndrea Zern, M.S./CCC-SLP, currently serves as a trainer and consultant (TaC) at Appalachia IU 8 in the assistive technology and inclusive practices initiatives. Andrea supports #STEMinPA as the STEM TaC, focusing on providing equitable STEM and CS programming for diverse learners. She has provided speech and language services in a variety of educational settings, where her passion has become augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).