Innovation Plan Update

Reflection on My Innovation Project: The Future is Vocal

Looking back at everything I’ve built through this project, I’ve realized how much ground I’ve covered—and how much I’ve grown along the way. My innovation plan centers on introducing and sustaining the use of iPads with Proloquo2Go to support students with complex communication needs. From the early stages of brainstorming to now having a full three-year implementation plan, this journey has been both practical and deeply personal.

So far, I’ve developed:

• A clear three-phase roadmap (foundation, expansion, and full integration)

Innovation Implementation Outline/ Plan

• Stakeholder engagement strategies involving teachers, parents, therapists, and students

• Professional development plans and family workshops

• A data-driven reflection cycle to guide continuous improvement

• A strong research foundation backed by literature (Crowe et al., 2022; Lohmann et al., 2019; McCarty, 2022).

  
  

Where I Am Now

Right now, I’d say I’m finishing up the pilot and reflection phase. I’ve mapped out how the plan will look in practice and created materials that could easily roll into a real district initiative. What’s left is mainly fine-tuning.

• Building visuals and infographics to share with leadership and staff

• Drafting family communication templates

• Aligning it all with 504/IEP compliance checkpoints I plan to complete those deliverables by the end of this semester so that the project is fully implementation ready.

  
  

Learning Through the Process

This project has taught me how innovation really works. It’s not just about new tools but about culture and mindset change. I learned to balance creativity with structure, to back ideas with data, and to listen to every voice in the room, even the quiet ones. The action research framework helped me see how reflection, feedback, and adaptation create sustainable impact.

What worked

• Involving multiple stakeholders early, people bought in when they felt included.

• Grounding the plan in real classroom needs instead of theory.

• Connecting technology to post-secondary independence, not just academic goals.

What I could do better:

• I could have simplified some of the jargon and visuals earlier.

• I’d also start collecting preliminary data sooner, even informal feedback from teachers using AAC apps.

  
  

Lessons Learned

Innovation is relational. You can have the best plan, but without collaboration, it won’t stick. I also learned that patience is key. Systemic change doesn’t happen overnight, especially in special education. It’s about small, intentional wins that lead to long-term culture shift

Promoting and Communicating the Project

To spread this initiative, I plan to:

• Host an AAC Awareness Week highlighting success stories from pilot classrooms.

• Share outcomes at staff PDs, SPED conferences, and maybe even through a Journal of Special Education Technology submission. Communication needs to be both data-driven and heart-driven. Showing not just the stats, but the smiles behind them that can link all stakeholders to the “why.”

  
  

What I’d Do Differently

If I could start over, I’d spend more time aligning leadership priorities at the beginning. Having admin buy-in early would help secure funding and tech support faster. I’d also build a more formal evaluation plan from the start to track lag and lead measures tied to student progress and staff proficiency.

Applying It to the Next Innovation

For future projects, I plan to use this same cycle: collaboration, pilot, feedback, and expansion. Whether I’m introducing new tech tools, redesigning compliance systems, or developing teacher PD programs, I’ll remember that innovation thrives when people feel COVA.

This project didn’t just teach me how to implement AAC. However, it taught me how to lead change with empathy and evidence.