Illinois Assistive Technology Program - IATP

Registration is now open for the AAC Summer Workshop on August 4th and 5th. This two-day, hybrid workshop will feature speakers from various backgrounds to help you enhance and grow your AAC skills. We will have both in-person and virtual presentations and presenters. The workshop courses will be for everyone, including beginner to advanced AAC professionals, teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, parents, Paraprofessionals, and anyone wanting to learn more about AAC. Visit https://iltech.org/event/aac-summer-workshop-2026/ to learn more and register.

For many college students with visual disabilities, cooking can be a daunting challenge, particularly when preparing for independent living. IATP staff recently organized a group cooking class for a few students at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, aimed to alleviate some of this anxiety. The students participated in a hands-on cooking experience in a dorm kitchen, making spaghetti, meat sauce, garlic bread, and salad while learning essential kitchen safety techniques using adaptive tools like safety knives and induction burners. The class not only boosted the students’ cooking confidence but also provided them with practical skills and support from peers and instructors. The attendees expressed their gratitude, highlighting how the experience was life-changing and revealing new cooking possibilities. IATP staff will continue to assist these students as they prepare for graduation and future careers, helping them to navigate the transition to living independently.

To learn more about IATP’s Tech Kitchen program, visit https://kitchen.iltech.org/

The central and southern Illinois Low Vision Technology Fair is on Wednesday, June 24th. This is a free event for individuals who experience any type of vision loss and/or blindness. There will be door prizes and much more.

For more information, visit the event page at https://iltech.org/event/low-vision-technology-fair-2026/

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). The purpose of GAAD is to get people talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion. For more resources on digital accessibility visit https://ict.iltech.org/ and https://accessibility.day/.

Stop out and see IATP tomorrow at the 26th Annual Central Illinois Senior Celebration, presented by Senior Services of Central Illinois. Free Admission with the donation of a canned food item for the Central Illinois Foodbank.

When? May 20th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where? Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds

The LGBTQ+ and disability communities intersect in meaningful ways. One in three LGBTQ+ adults identify as having a disability. This weekend, on Saturday, May 16th, visit the IATP booth at Springfield PrideFest to learn more about assistive technology devices and services available to Illinoisans of all ages with disabilities and health conditions, including family members, friends, and caregivers. Check out IATP at www.iltech.org for more information on our programs and events.

Smart glasses are a helpful assistive technology device for people with low vision. They can read text out loud, identify what objects are, and describe what is around. Smart glasses can be used every day. From picking out greeting cards at the store to reading cooking instructions in the kitchen.

To find out more about how smart glasses make life easier, contact the IATP Demonstration Center at [email protected].

On Friday, May 8, Mary Lazare, the Principal Deputy Administrator for the Administration on Community Living (ACL), and Caroline Ryan, ACL Deputy Director, Center for Innovation and Partnership, visited to learn more about IATP. Staff from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Illinois Department on Aging were also on hand to provide insight on their respective programs.

Look for IATP at these events! Our staff will be out and about in May and June. For the list of events and more information on each, visit our event webpage at https://iltech.org/events/



Image description: A promotional graphic detailing upcoming events where IATP will be attending. It features a gradient background transitioning from light purple at the top to mint green at the bottom. In the top left corner, large purple text reads "Upcoming Events," with a red underline. Below, in black text, it states, "for more information and other events, visit our website at www.iltech.org/events!" The image includes details for four events, each boxed with a red outline:

Springfield Pride Fest Downtown Springfield, IL May 16th 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Central IL Senior Celebration Orr Building – State Fair Grounds May 20th 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Abilities Expo - Chicago Schaumburg Convention Center June 12th to 14th 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. on Sunday)

Low Vision Technology Fair Christ the King - Springfield June 24th 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.