Past Conferences
VGTVG 2025
WHEN WAS IT?
Saturday, February 22, 2024, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM
WHERE WAS IT?
Monmouth University Graduate Center, 185 State Highway 36, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 (Building C)
INFORMATION
The 2025 installment of VGTVG was supported, in part, by a grant from 4imprint and One by One® charitable giving. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following generous sponsors for their invaluable support. Peachie Speechie, Speech Blubs Pro, Final Boss Comics, PATAsphere, SLP Video Games, AVGC, and The Therapy Garden. Lastly, thank you to the following individuals for supporting VGTVG 2025. Erin Bayer, Christina Barlik, Erica Cappellini, Dickie Cox, Grace Leslie, Megan Lopez, Stacy Nolan, and Heather Scalise.
The invited speakers/presentations were:
LINDSAY CESARI – Junior High School NBCT Librarian and Esports Coach for Baldwinsville Central School District, Baldwinsville, New York.
Level up your curriculum with video game integration
ANTHONY SANTANGELO – Special Education Teacher and Esports Advisor at The Shore Center in Tinton Falls, New Jersey
WENDY GRAY MORALES – Assistant Superintendent at Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission in Tinton Falls, New Jersey
BETTYANN MONTELEONE – Principal at The Shore Center in Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Harnessing the power of esports to foster skill development in students with autism
TAJ RAUCH – Teaching Artist and Immersive Media Designer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MATT BALLAS – Game Designer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encouraging real world interaction through XR gaming
LINDSAY ROSSILLO – Speech-Language Pathologist at Speech Warrior Speech Therapy in Westwood, New Jersey
LARISSA DE ARAUJO FORTUNATO – Speech-Language Pathologist at Wanaque Elementary School in Wanaque, New Jersey
PAULA THOMSON SCHIAPPA – Speech-Language Pathologist at TheraFit Rehad in Middletown, New Jersey
Real-time playthroughs
Also, in additional to over 10 accepted poster presentations, the following accepted speakers presented their work:
PATT DENNIS – Library Media Specialist at Forest Street Community School in Orange, New Jersey
Bridging K-12 and higher ed nursing education through game-based learning with LEGO Fortnite: A school library initiative
KELLY PENA – Speech-Language Pathologist/Doctoral Student at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Newark)
Bridging realms: Functional video game integration in interdisciplinary therapy for Spanish-speaking adults post-brain injury
FELICITA CHIPAK – Speech-Language Pathologsit at Communicate to Connect Speech Language Services in New Paltz, New York
Leveling up speech therapy: How immersive experiences with green screen technology increases engagement in students with communication disorders
PATRICIA SWASEY WASHINGTON – Speech-Language Pathologist/Associate Professor at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania
Video games: Sparking interest, promoting cultural and linguistic engagement
VGTVG 2024
WHEN WAS IT?
Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM
WHERE WAS IT?
Monmouth University Graduate Center, 185 State Highway 36, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 (Building C)
INFORMATION
The 2024 installment of VGTVG was supported, in part, by a Creativity and Research Grant from Monmouth University, as well as a Transformative Learning Grant through the School of Education at Monmouth University. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following generous sponsors for their invaluable support. Peachie Speechie, Speech Blubs Pro, withVR, Flexspeak, and Creative Vision Media.
The invited speakers/presentations were:
CHRIS AVILES – New Jersey public school teacher, esports coach, and founder and president of Garden State Esports
The power of scholastic Esports
ROBERT RICE – Professor and Chair in the Mental Health Counseling Program at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, and author of the book Video Games in Psychotherapy, published by Routledge
Video games in therapy
YAO DU – Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at University of Southern California
Neurodiverse gamers going online: Opportunities and challenges in telehealth
Also, in additional to over 10 accepted poster presentations, the following accepted speakers presented their work:
ERICA CAPPELLINI – Community Liaison/Coordinator of Virtual Services at PDS (Pediatric Developmental Services), Pennsylvania
Simple strategies and support for incorporating video games into speech sessions
CECILIA GOEDERT – Speech-Language Pathologist at Kaiser Permanente/National Therapy Center, Washington
Bridging realms: The role of digital role-playing video games (RPGs) in fostering social connection and communication
JONAH BRUCKER-COHEN – Associate Professor at Lehman College / City University of New York
Scrapyard Challenge Workshops: Redesigning the classic arcade controller
ALLISON BERKOY – Assistant Professor at New York City College of Technology / City University of New York
Creating a student-centered R&D lab for body-controlled games and interactive media
VGTVG 2023
WHEN WAS IT?
Thursday, April 27, 2023, from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM
WHERE WAS IT?
Online via Zoom (synchronous)
INFORMATION
The inaugural 2023 installment of VGTVG was supported, in part, by a Creativity and Research Grant from Monmouth University.
The invited speakers/presentations were:
JAMES YORK – Senior Assistant Professor at Meiji University in Tokyo
Let’s get ludic: Unleashing the power of games and play in educational contexts
TANNER HIGGIN – Editorial Director, Learning Content at Common Sense Education in Grand Rapids, Michigan
The future of game-based learning isn't more educational games
CLAUDETTE BAÑARES GINDRAUX – Senior Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist in Hospital-based Outpatient Clinic in Los Angeles, California
Getting on their level: Using video games in speech and language therapy