Staying on the Cutting Edge: AI at CEC2026
Artificial intelligence continues to make waves, with innovations, applications, and concerns emerging nearly daily. As this new technology becomes more commonplace in fields like special education, it’s vital to stay on top of these new developments to help promote student success and professional development. CEC’s Special Education Convention & Expo offers you a variety of opportunities to equip you with the AI knowledge and skillsets you need to keep up in a rapidly changing landscape.
Opening Keynote
Opportunity in the Shift: Honoring IDEA’s Legacy and the Future You’re Leading and Learning in the Age of AI
Wednesday, March 11, 5:00 – 6:30 PM
As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), we are called not only to honor its legacy but to reimagine what comes next. In this timely and strategic keynote, Dr. Jody Britten invites educators, administrators, and faculty to see disruption as a doorway—an opportunity to rethink what inclusion, innovation, and impact must look like in today’s classrooms and tomorrow’s workforce, especially with the rapid advancement of AI
Pre- and Post-Convention Workshops
CEC offers pre- and post-convention workshops on Wednesday, March 11, and Saturday, March 14. These additional full- and half-day workshops provide a closer look into a range of topics that will help you enhance your practice. Please note that advanced registration is required for an additional fee.
Workshop 3 – Success through UDL, HLPs, Evidence-Based Practices and AI Tools
Wednesday, March 11, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Presented by Stacie Dojonovic, DCDT Executive Director; Tara Frazier, DCDT President
Workshop 5 – Empowering Special Education with AI: A Hands-On Workshop
Wednesday, March 11, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Presented by James Basham, Ph.D., CIDDL; Angelica Fulchini Scruggs, Ph.D., CIDDL; Matt Marino, Ph.D., CIDDL; Sean Smith, Ph.D., CIDDL; Trey Vasquez, Ph.D., CIDDL
Workshop 19 – Accessibility Matters: The Future of Inclusive Design with AI
Saturday, March 14, 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Presented by Kelli Suding, Professional Learning Specialist, CAST; Michelle Soriano, Professional Learning Specialist, CAST
Sessions
Wednesday, March 11
AI for MTSS: Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Students At Risk or With Disabilities | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
From Opportunity to Action: Using AI to Track and Monitor Teachers' Delivery of OTRs | 2:15 – 3:15 PM
AI Tools in Special Education: Translation, Assessment, and Ethical Use | 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Thursday, March 12
Strategic AI Integration to Improve IEP Quality: Early-Stage Modeling from a Systems Perspective | 9:15 – 10:15 AM
From Chaos to Clarity: AI for Self-Contained Special Education Teachers | 9:15 – 10:15 AM
AI and Education: Use Cases, Toolkits, and Resources | 9:15 – 10:15 AM
AI Revolution: Strategic Implementation for Special Education Professionals | 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Data Blitz: Supercharge Special Education: Cutting-Edge AI and Assistive Technologies in Action | 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
AI for Special Education: Using Artificial Intelligence to Develop and Implement High-Quality Educational Programming | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Teacher Exchange: Next-Gen Math Mastery for Secondary Teachers: Financial Fluency, AI Power, and Executive Skills | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Level Up Learning: Where AI, XR, and Universal Design for All Align | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
ISET Showcase: Utilizing AI Chatbot as a Math Tutor | 2:15 – 3:15 PM
Friday, March 13
Co-Teaching with an AI Upgrade | 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Use of Generative AI to Improve Geometric Reasoning for High School Students with Learning Disabilities | 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Teacher Exchange: Collaborate to Elevate: AI, ABA, DIR, and Social Skills Support for Diverse Learners | 9:15 – 10:15 AM
AI in Education: From Research on Safeguards to Practical Classroom Implementation and Progress Monitoring | 9:15 – 10:15 AM
Using AI in Writing Feedback: Improving Student Writing Outcomes with Automatic Scoring | 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Student Vocabulary Gains from AI-Generated vs. Researcher-Created Modules: A Randomized Control Trial | 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
A Deep Dive into AI Prompt Engineering: Hands-on Activities to Bring Back to Your Classroom | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Thriving with AI: Responsive Literacy Practices for Twice-Exceptional Learners | 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Posters
Posters are an opportunity to share research projects and results. These sessions are a visual presentation with an opportunity for attendees to ask follow-up questions of the presenter. Check out just a few of the posters that touch on AI and explore more using the session browser and filtering by “AI”
Wednesday, March 11
Poster Round 1, 1:30 – 2:15 PM
Beyond the Algorithm: Reimagining the Special Educator's Role in the Age of AI
Supporting Special Education Teachers' Decision-Making Skills Through AI
Thursday, March 12
Poster Round F, 1:00 – 1:45 PM
Exploring Special Education Teachers’ Acceptance of AI Tools Using the Extended Technology Acceptance Model
Using AI and Video Coaching to Support Multilingual Learners in Early Childhood Classrooms
Friday, March 13
Poster Round I, 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Empowering Special Educators With Artificial Intelligence: Chatbots for Teacher Training
AI Alignment and Goals in Disability-Related Fields