Multi Modal Communication in 2022

Course Outline
Children who face significant physical and multiple challenges as well as those children on the more severe end of the autism spectrum, often struggle to access communication, interaction and learning. Some of these children may have very little control of moving their bodies. Others have difficulty taking in and processing sensory information from their environment. Many find communication and interaction skills challenging.

Children who face significant physical and multiple challenges as well as those children on the more severe end of the autism spectrum, often struggle to access communication, interaction and learning. Some of these children may have very little control of moving their bodies. Others have difficulty taking in and processing sensory information from their environment. Many find communication and interaction skills challenging.

This workshop is for anyone working with young children or children functioning at young levels, who have difficulty communicating and interacting with others. This includes children with significant physical and multiple challenges and/or young children on the more severe end of the autism spectrum. Information shared will be useful to parents, teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other supportive personnel.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to learn to:

• discuss how the brain develops and describe implications for teaching and learning for those students who are developing differently,
• describe strategies for increasing motivation, cognitive engagement, and active participation in the learning process,
• discuss a variety of ways to adapt materials to facilitate cognitive and communication skills in young children,
• list characteristics of students who have cortical visual impairment along with other multiple disabilities, and describe useful strategies to help develop vision and communication skills,
• describe strategies that help the child who are on the severe end of the autism spectrum, develop skills in receptive, expressive and cognitive processing language skills,
• describe how to utilize what is known about how typical children learn language and apply these principles to creating a multi-modal communication learning environment for children who face complex challenges,
• briefly explain how the use of Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD) provides an appropriate tool for children at the beginning stages of language development and describe how to implement this in natural contexts.

Course Instructor

Linda Burkhart is an internationally known teacher and leader in the field of simplified technology for children with severe challenges. She has developed numerous adapted switches and innovative strategies for using these devices with children. She is the author of a number of books and software titles on topics of assistive technology and augmentative communication. Linda was a classroom teacher for fifteen years. Then for eight years, she worked as an Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology Specialist for the Center for Technology in Education – a joint project between the Johns Hopkins University and the Maryland State Department of Education. Currently, Linda works as a private consultant and technology integration specialist.

.

Terms and Conditions
– Participants from SSAs will be eligible for the VCF subsidy based on certain criteria and on first-come-first serve basis, as only limited seats are given by NCSS.
– We are in the midst of applying for VCF funding for eligible participants. Outcome of the application will be known by end of July 2022
– Participants who registered before 22 July and did not receive VCF funding will have to pay full course fee.
– Registration will be confirmed only upon receiving invoice or full payment.
– In the event of no show up for the course, course fee will be charged with no refund.