For 40 years, the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference has been a global leader in accessibility innovation, connecting experts, advocates and tech pioneers. This year, the “CSUN Conference” marked its milestone anniversary March 10-14 at the Anaheim Marriott, drawing more than 4,000 attendees to explore cutting-edge assistive technology and its impact. From founder Harry Murphy reflecting on its beginnings to a moving keynote by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, the event showcased how technology continues to transform lives.
Murphy helped kick things off at the opening keynote ceremonies on March 11. He spoke of starting the conference in 1985 on the CSUN campus. He thanked everyone for sharing what they have learned at conferences over the years.
“Over 40 years, the CSUN Conference has touched the lives of millions of people with disabilities,” he said. “Millions.”
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was the keynote speaker at the event. She appeared with her longtime therapist, speech-language pathologist, Fabi Hirsch Kruse, Ph.D, CCC-SLP. Hirsch Kruse led the conversation with Giffords about her long recovery after she was shot in 2011 outside a shopping center in Tucson. Fourteen years later, Giffords said she still actively works on her recovery from the resulting brain injury.
Hirsch Kruse explained that aphasia, which Giffords continues to live with, is the partial loss or loss of using words to communicate. It affects more than 2 million Americans. Hirsch Kruse, a specialist in therapy for aphasia, touched on the technology that she and Giffords use, including Google Lens, a visual search tool and speech-to-text apps. Hirsch Kruse said they have worked a little bit with generative AI in creating longer language structures.
In addition to the ever-popular exhibit hall, this year’s conference featured nearly 400 educational sessions, as well as many opportunities to network and catch up with longtime conference attendees.
If you missed this year’s event, stay tuned! Next year’s conference has already been scheduled. It’s happening March 9-13, 2026.
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