The Association of Educational Therapists (AET) is now accepting proposal submissions for the 2026 annual conference, November 6-8, 2026. All proposals must be completed in final form and submitted via the provided Google Forms link. Deadline for submission is no later than 11:59 PM PT on Thursday, April 30, 2026. 

Ensure you read through the information below to access the submission form. 

Keynote Speaker, Dr. Leah Kuypers

What is AET?

The Association of Educational Therapists is an international professional association for educational therapists. AET sets ethics and standards for the professional practice of educational therapy, provides training and support for educational therapists, and offers professional development and education for its members and the public.

What is Educational Therapy?

Educational therapy is the practice of providing individualized remedial instruction to children and adults with learning challenges, including, but not limited to, dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning deficits, and processing difficulties. The ultimate goal of educational therapy is to foster the development of self-confident, independent individuals who can advocate for themselves and fulfill their potential as lifelong learners.

What is an Educational Therapist?

Educational therapists are highly trained professionals who combine educational and therapeutic approaches for evaluation, individualized intervention, case management, and advocacy on behalf of children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities or other learning difficulties. A vital role of the educational therapist is to serve as a case manager, working in collaboration with family, teachers, and other professionals involved in the client’s life.

Proposal Topics

• Proposals should describe a relevant approach or evidence-based procedure that is grounded in research or theory and supports best practices.
• Proposals may focus on evidence-based academic interventions and methodology, formal and informal assessment, language disorders, attention and behavioral challenges, advocacy, neuroscience, educational psychology, and other areas relevant to educational therapy or its allied professions. (Refer to the description of educational therapy and an educational therapist above or visit the AET website for more information.)

Presentation Formats

Formats include standard or panel presentations of ninety (90) minutes or three (3) hours. Presentations will take place on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning or afternoon, November 6 or 7.

Standard presentation:

Standard presentations provide one or two presenters the opportunity to address broader topics in greater detail in a lecture format. In the case of two presenters, the information provided should be highly integrated. Alternatively, the presenter(s) may provide attendees with the opportunity to engage in a series of activities or explore strategy-based approaches. Standard presentation sessions are scheduled for 90 minutes or 3 hours, depending on the depth and breadth of the topic and the level of the presenter(s)’ expertise.

Workshop:

Workshops are interactive sessions in which attendees participate actively to develop new skills or explore strategies and materials. Workshop sessions are typically scheduled for 90 minutes.

Panel presentation:

Panel presentations provide the opportunity to address a topic in greater depth and breadth in a symposium. A panel discussion may include 3-4 panelists and a moderator/facilitator. This interactive discussion encourages conversation between the panelists around a complex topic or issue. Questions from the audience should be encouraged. Panel presentation sessions are typically scheduled for 3 hours.

Who Should Submit Proposals?

AET welcomes proposals from professionals of all backgrounds, including academic researchers, diagnosticians, and practitioners. Inclusivity and diversity are explicit core values for AET. We welcome proposals from individuals committed to racial and social equity and justice. By presenting, you have opportunities to:

• Share leading research in learning disabilities, social interactions, and/or interpersonal neural development.
• Support educational therapists in private practice, schools, and clinics.
• Inform allied professionals, such as educational psychologists, speech and language pathologists, and special educational teachers.
• Reach advocates, parents, and individuals who serve people with learning disabilities.
• Attend this virtual conference free of charge.

Continuing Education Statement

AET provides continuing education (CE) credits to its members and members of several allied professional organizations, including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA), the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CA BBS), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA), for attendance at workshops, conference presentations, webinars, and seminars. All presenters are required to submit a transparency statement disclosing any financial or non-financial relationships that are relevant to the session content. These statements will be shared with potential conference registrants.

When considering the content of your proposal, keep in mind its relevance to the advancement of professional development or practice management. Content consistent with the scope of practice for an educational therapist or an allied professional might relate to literacy (reading, spelling, written language), learning strategies, executive functions, math pedagogy, collaboration with other professionals, case management, ethical business practices, and so forth. Please note that content focusing exclusively on a specific product or service, marketing a private practice, or increasing a referral base may be relevant to our community but may not be eligible for CE credit.

Proposal Submission Information

The Google Form provides prompts to fill in the information. Although there may be more than one presenter, only one person fills out the form, and AET reserves the right to communicate with all applicants. To facilitate better editing, we recommend applicants first type their proposal into a word processing document, then copy and paste it into the online form. Please carefully proofread all information before final submission. If your presentation is selected, the conference committee may edit the information you provide at our discretion as we market the Conference.

You will provide:

• A curriculum vitae or resume and a 50-word biography for yourself and any additional presenters on your application. Biographical information should reflect relevant experience related to your proposal topic.
• A brief description of your presentation suitable for the website registration page and the conference program booklet (100 - 125 words).
• An extended, well-developed description elaborating on the scope of your presentation and including research-informed evidence. Effective descriptions include in-text citations of peer-reviewed research that informs sound practice in education (300-500 words) – See below for additional detail and guidance in the Proposal Submission Components section.
• Three (3) to four (4) learning outcomes that are stated in terms of observable learner behaviors – Refer to Creating Learning Outcomes for observable action words.
• Explicit rationale connecting your topic to the educational therapy milieu (e.g., business practice, networking, reading/writing/math skill building, executive function skills, building rapport).

Please note:

• This conference will be held virtually over three days.
• The official language of the conference is English. The presentation and all corresponding material must be provided in English.
• A proposal submission does not guarantee acceptance.
• If accepted, you will receive a complimentary ticket to attend the conference upon completion of the acceptance paperwork.
• Presentations will be video recorded. Recordings of presentations become the property of AET to use at its discretion. Presentation content remains the property of the presenter, and presenters are encouraged to place a copyright statement on slides and handouts.
• Presentations must not exclusively promote or sell a particular service, product, or program.
• Presenters are prohibited from distributing promotional materials solely for marketing purposes during or after their presentations.
  
  

Deadline to Submit: 11:59 pm PT Thursday, April 30, 2026

• Submit all required proposal components in full by the submission deadline. 
• Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have questions about the submission requirements.
• All applicants will be notified of the status of their submission on or before July 1, 2026.

Proposal Components

Please note: To ensure your proposal submission is strongly considered, your topic should be compelling, relevant, and designed to ensure audience engagement. Likewise, your title, description, and learning outcomes should deliver an engaging illustration of the presentation.

Your proposal should be organized, coherent, and well-written. Include in-text citations where appropriate and a reference list. Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (www.owl.purdue.edu) and the current Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition) offer guidance regarding formatting, organization, and writing style. 

The AET proposal committee will employ the linked rubric to evaluate proposal submissions. View our AET Presenter Proposal Rubric.

Title (up to 12 words) - Effective titles are concise, engaging, and capture the fundamental nature of the presentation.

Brief Description (100-125 words) - This description will appear in the printed program booklet, online registration, and continuing education documentation upon proposal acceptance.

Brief descriptions should summarize the session. Indicate how your presentation relates to educational therapy and use language that will engage prospective audience members. The text should include the objective of the presentation and its application to educational therapy, its relevance to allied professions, or its connection to the keynote topic. 

Extended Description (approximately 300 words for 90-minute sessions and up to 500 words for 3-hour presentations, including in-text citations)

Extended descriptions should be written in APA Style and provide a more in-depth elaboration of the main points, information, techniques, and strategies you intend to present. The extended description should describe a well-articulated relevant issue, innovative approach to practice, or significant new idea. It should convey why your presentation would be worth attending, what value the attendee would receive, and how your level of expertise would ensure a high-caliber session.

Expand on the supporting background for the basis of your presentation. Reference current research findings, evidence-based practices, or published materials. State how your presentation will benefit educational therapists, allied professionals, educators, or parents.

A panel format is best suited for exploring a specific subject matter more comprehensively. The proposer should discuss how the session will provide attendees with knowledge for future practice, theory, and/or research. Information about the panelists’ levels of expertise should be included.

The extended description must include citations where appropriate and a reference list. Cite all references in the text, following APA format guidelines. In the next section, you will list learning outcomes; however, your extended description should convey how the session’s learning objectives connect to current and future practice.

Learning Outcomes (3-4) 

Clearly and concisely reflect the proposal’s content and the learning objective in three to four (3-4) learning outcomes.. Outcomes must be observable and measurable. Begin each bullet with an active verb. Include at least three and no more than four clear and concise learning outcomes. Complete the statement: Participants will be able to…. Use this Learning Outcomes Guide for reference.

Accepted Proposal Conditions

If your proposal is accepted, all presenters must sign an acceptance form and disclose information regarding any financial and/or non-financial relationships that might be relevant to the content of your presentation. Presenters will be required to attend a Tech Check with a member of the AET Annual Conference Tech Team. These requirements and other deadlines must be adhered to; the failure to do so may result in a withdrawal of the invitation to present.

 

How to Submit Proposals

Use the link below to begin your proposal application. Your information will be saved for you to return for up to thirty (30) days. Please email the conference proposal committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have questions about filling out the Google Form or would like an update on the status of your proposal.

Submit Your Proposal