ECHO Voices 11/16/22

Making the World a Bigger Place for AAC Users

Purpose:

To provide equitable access to best-practice knowledge through professional development, forums of collaboration and a supported learning community to those who support Oregon learners with complex communication needs. The sessions are designed to increase the capacity of educators, therapists and families for effective Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems selection and strategies for integration into learner goals.

ECHO Voices sessions will be held the first and third Wednesdays of each month, from 8 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Pacific. Advance registration is not required. All sessions will be recorded and archived on this newsletter, for future viewing.

Each session begins with a 30 minute topic presentation plus Q&A time, followed by a case study/didactic of an unidentified student. Contact us if you would like to present a case.

Zoom Join URL for all ECHO Voices sessions: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89312436522?pwd=WkxldG1FMUZTOUtLckpFcU1tWHBFUT09

More about ECHO https://echo.unm.edu/about-echo/ (Extension of Community Health Outcomes)

Information about using Zoom Joining a Zoom webinar

Register to receive 1.25 contact hour credits

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Making the World a Bigger Place for AAC Users

Carolyn O'Hearn

Speech-Language Pathologist

Certified PODD Trainer

Click here for more on Carolyn

Sara Pericolosi

Speech-Language Pathologist

Click here for more on Sara

“People with severe disabilities are more present and visible in today’s society than ever before, yet these individuals continue to have significant communication support needs that remain unmet” (Brady, et al., 2016).

Traditional interventions for individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) focus on communication within the school setting; however, when students exit their educational programming, they need a way to communicate and people with whom to communicate. Training communication partners within a community can improve an individual’s overall independence and quality of life.

Would you like your community to be a more AAC-friendly place? You can help make this a reality! Learn practical ways educators and families can expand access to AAC, then take AACtion for your learners.