Pre-Conference Workshops

ETC is excited to offer two pre-conference workshops in conjunction with the 2026 Annual Conference. 

  • Map the Maze: The Truth About AV Careers 
  • Accessible by Design 

*If you would like to opt for the Pre-Conference Full Day Combination Workshop, including the Map the Maze: The Truth About AV Careers (morning) and Accessible by Design (afternoon), the cost is $150 Early Registration (thru 7/31) and $200 Regular Registration (Beginning 8/1).

Map the Maze: The Truth About AV Careers 

Date: Monday, October 12, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $75 Early Registration (thru 7/31) / $100 Regular Registration (Beginning 8/1)

Navigating a career in educational technology can feel like a maze. Standard professional development often leaves you with generic advice and zero direction. This workshop aims to changes that.

This session is a reality check. We are bringing in four industry veterans to dismantle the polite myths of career advancement and expose the hidden frameworks of academic, technical, and leadership roles. No slide decks. No lectures. Just raw, non-technical, human-to-human workflows designed to shake you out of your comfort zone. You will actively confront your blind spots, dissect powerful industry resources you have been ignoring, and map out a precise, deliberate trajectory. Stop waiting around for someone to hand you a map. Come ready to move, speak up, and take absolute ownership of your professional future.

Four Key Takeaways:
  • The Unfiltered Career Playbook: Walk away with distinct, battle-tested blueprints for transitioning between technical execution, instructional design, and executive leadership.
  • A No frills resource list: Cut through the noise with a blunt evaluation of which certifications, associations, and networks actually advance your career.
  • Crowd-Sourced Battle Strategies: Gain immediate, peer-verified solutions for navigating frustrating institutional politics and securing funding for your growth.
  • An Active Professional Tribe: Build genuine, high-value connections with peers across the country through intense, collaborative problem-solving.

Presenters: George Chacko, Bradford Terry, Gina Sansivero, Giovanni Agramonte

View Presenter Information

Accessible by Design

Date: Monday, October 12, 2026
Time:1:00 pm - 4:00 pm 
Cost: $75 Early Registration (thru 7/31) / $100 Regular Registration (Beginning 8/1)

The workshop should help participants understand how to select, design, and use audiovisual and educational technologies that support learners with:

  • Visual disabilities
  • Hearing disabilities
  • Mobility/physical disabilities
  • Learning disabilities
  • Speech and communication disabilities
  • Neurodiversity, including autism, ADHD, and sensory-processing differences
  • Cognitive or intellectual disabilities

The workshop should be grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which emphasizes giving learners multiple ways to access content, engage with material, and demonstrate what they know. UDL Guidelines were released in 2024 and are intended to help educators reduce barriers and support meaningful participation for all learners.