Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Category: Member News
This month's member spotlight features Elizabeth Christensen and Sayard Bass. They will be presenting "AAC for the ATP" on behalf of RESNA at National Seating and Mobility's annual meeting in 2026!
Elizabeth Christensen, MA/CCC-SLP/L, ATP
What first inspired you to get involved with RESNA, and how did that connection begin?
When I started taking AT classes at University of Illinois Chicago, one of my professors (Glenn Hedman) was the President of RESNA at the time. He explained what RESNA was and after completing my AT certificate program, I sat for the ATP exam. It was a professional decision I am very glad I made. I have attended many RESNA conferences and have participated in committees, PSGs, and SIGs. I have been on the Professional Standards Board and helped work on creating updated material for the exam and much more. I am proud to be an ATP.
Can you share more about your professional background and how it aligns with or has been shaped by RESNA’s mission?
I am a speech/language pathologist who has had all of the jobs. I have worked in skilled nursing facitilies, schools, hospitals and clinics. I now have a private practice providing AAC assessment, intervention and support to as many people as I can. With the clients/students/patients I have worked with, I am often tasked with solving a complex problem to help them have better access or function with the AT they are using. Just recently, I drew up a dream of a floor stand so my client could access her two switches for her communication device when in bed, on the couch, up in her stander or on the floor and not just when in her wheelchair. "Access and Opportunity" is my mantra. RESNA has encouraged me to think outside the box. I tell people if I want to know what tech is out there and what people are using, I can go to a number of different conferences. But if I want to know what might be coming in the FUTURE, I go to RESNA.
Your session “AAC for the ATP” has been presented at ISS and ATIA, and now you’re bringing it to National Seating and Mobility’s (NSM) annual meeting. What can attendees expect from this presentation, and what motivated you to develop it?
Sayard and I have worked together for years and one obstacle we have come across has been Non-SLPs struggling to know what we do and WHY. We created this presentation to demystify AAC and help non-SLPs understand the basics, be able to ask questions without criticism, and find ways to incorporate AAC into their practice without being overwhelmed or defeated.
How has your involvement with RESNA supported your professional development and contributed to the evolution of this project?
Being a part of RESNA has shown me how we as ATPs all work together rather than staying in our individual silos. AT is a complex world that involves many facets of diagnosis, accessibility, environments, equipment, tools and PEOPLE. When we all work together to problem solve accessibility, we don't have to worry IF someone can achieve a goal. We can figure out HOW they can achieve everything they want to achieve.
Sayard Bass, SLP, ATP
What first inspired you to get involved with RESNA, and how did that connection begin?
As I began to more formally enter the world of assistive technology I was looking for spaces where I could have community and build my skills. Beth Speaker Christensen and Daniel Cochrane were local friends and mentors of mine who recommended looking more into RESNA. Knowing that there was national guidance and collaboration happening was great to bring back to my individual practice.
Can you share more about your professional background and how it aligns with or has been shaped by RESNA’s mission?
I grew up surrounded by AT before I even had a definition for it. Family members had prosthetics, wheelchairs, adapted equipment, used voice to text and Audiobooks, it was just part of what they did. Professionally I went into the field of speech pathology and focused in AAC, though even as an SLP that is a niche that if done right requires a lot of interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing. Though, there are SLPs who go out and conduct evals without outside input -almost gatekeeping the process. Then the others working with them feel cut off from that domain but everyone belongs where communication is involved. Learning from experts in seating, positioning, access, and more has definitely benefited the communication aspect for my students and clients. You get people what they need and the tasks become easier, or become possible.
Your session “AAC for the ATP” has been presented at ISS and ATIA, and now you’re bringing it to NSM’s annual meeting. What can attendees expect from this presentation, and what motivated you to develop it?
Our first goal is to always have fun. People get so much more out of a session when they feel engaged and when the speakers are really into it! As I learned more from other disciplines and studied for my ATP it strengthened my ability to support AAC. Many times what I would hear was other professionals saying “I don’t get the AAC stuff…there’s too much AAC on the ATP exam…AAC is for the SLP to cover.” As Beth and I talked about it, our thought was, “Could we help people boost their knowledge and see their role in AAC?” Instead of being SLP gatekeepers of AAC, could we create a presentation that explains why we make decisions, what information OTs, PTs, and others give us that is helpful, and how they can be a part of AAC assessment and intervention. My big hope is that it can go from an “extra” for studying to a clarification of how everyone on the team can play a role in making an AAC user’s experience successful! Every time we present the audience has given us more to think about with questions and scenarios so audience experience over the years has helped to continually develop the presentation to their lens and needs.
How has your involvement with RESNA supported your professional development and contributed to the evolution of this project?
The more involved I have been with organizations the more I have been able to see AAC through different lenses. Users, SLPs, teachers, developers, therapists, PTs, OTs…and when it all comes together it has taught me that there are no experts, but rather teams that come together for the best outcome. RESNA is a unique melting pot of professionals, work settings, research, and conversation. Going to ISS gave me new perspective. Just like the RESNA conference, ATIA, Closing the Gap, ASHA, and DCDT (transition). Everyone has their focus, and leaning into that world and sharing about AAC is helping this presentation to continually develop. It’s fun to try and put it all into just one hour, and we have fun doing it!