ECHO Voices 2022-23 Archives
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT COMMUNICATION
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.
The Many Roles of Communication Partners
Kelly Fonner, MS
Educational/Assistive Technology Consultant
Kelly sets up the ECHO Voices year with the considerations, roles, and points of view of those who are the known and unknown communication partners to individuals who have complex communication needs. You will have an opportunity to share your ideas, concerns and questions that will impact the presentations for the entire year of ECHO voices.
Educating Parents to Model AAC at Home
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Jill E.Senner, PhD CCC-SLP
Technology and Language Center
Matthew R. Baud, MS, CCC-SLP
Niles Township District for Special Education (NTDSE)
Parent education in AAC has numerous benefits to children and their families, including reducing the likelihood of system abandonment. However, in-service style trainings rarely result in increased AAC use at home. This session will introduce the SMoRRES® Training Program, which is based on decades of research on best practices in adult education, can be implemented with parents with young children who use AAC, and is primarily conducted within naturally occurring family routines in the home.
Down Home AAC! Bringing AAC Language Learning to Your Busy Family Life
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Tanna (Tannalynn) Neufield, MS, CCC-SLP
Founder & Director of AACcessible & The AAC Academy
Are you looking for down home strategies to weave language learning into the daily grind? This session aims to meet you and your child where you are and give the tools to make magic language building moments a part of your everyday family life.
Making the World a Bigger Place for AAC Users
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Carolyn O'Hearn
Speech-Language Pathologist
Certified PODD Trainer
Sara Pericolosi
Speech-Language Pathologist
“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.
Push Forward for Push In! Supporting Young AAC Users Directly in the Classroom Environment
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Speech Language Pathologist
As educators and therapists, many of us know that push-in services can be a home-run for our young AAC users! However, many of us still struggle to implement this service delivery model due to logistics, schedules, and the fear of the unknown. According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, therapists typically spend over 19 hours a week in pull-out service delivery, and only 6 hours in push-in services on average. In this session, we will discuss the many benefits of push-in therapy for our AAC users, as well as strategies and activities to implement this service delivery model with confidence and ease!
Coaching Communication Partners
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Authentic Expression, LLC
When you hear the word coach, what do you think of? There are many different types of coaching models and styles. During this presentation, relationship-driven, stakeholder-centered, and client-centered models will be discussed, including the pros and cons of each and how they can be used in assistive technology or AAC coaching.
Consent in the Classroom
Sarah Weber
Speech Language Pathologist
When it comes to new skills, practice is necessary for proficiency, and consent is no different. This need is amplified when supporting students with multiple disabilities and/or complex communication needs who may not have bodily autonomy. This presentation will discuss how to teach consent across educational settings.
Self-Advocacy with AAC Users and More!
AAC Mentor
Krista Howard is a single mom in her 30s pursuing her career with fervor and dedication. What you don’t know about Krista, without meeting her in person, is that she has a disability affecting her speech and the use of her left arm. In this ECHO Voices session, Krista, will share her lived experiences with AAC and her focus on AAC Advocacy.
Every AAC Family Needs a Coach
Barbara van't Westende
Speech Language Therapist with AssistiveWare
Click here for more on Barbara
Pam Harris
Support Specialist with AssistiveWare
This presentation will show you, as an AAC professional, how you can support families on their AAC journey. Get practical strategies for how you can teach AAC, step into learning and problem solve the barriers to success. Every AAC family needs a coach - someone who can cheer them, support them, and guide them on this communication adventure.
INCREASING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT WITH AAC AT HOME
Assistive Technology Coordinator
Do you feel your staff does an excellent job implementing AAC at school, but would like to provide more resources for parents at home? Come learn about how this unit school district provides coaching, training, and resources for families of children at the early childhood level to help them gain comfort and confidence with supporting their young child who uses AAC. Parent involvement begins before device implementation in an effort to empower them and create a partnership. The SETT Framework for AAC consideration (modified from Dr. Joy Zabala’ SETT Framework) is utilized as a springboard for ongoing collaboration. Many of the activity ideas, resources, and tips that we provide for families (both in person and virtual options) will be presented.
AM I MUTED? FOSTERING EFFECTIVE SELF-ADVOCACY IN AAC USERS
Melonie Melton
Speech-Language Pathologist
New Horizons Regional Education Centers, Newport News, VA
Click here for more on Melonie
Heather Patton
Speech-Language Pathologist
New Horizons Regional Education Centers, Newport News, VA
Click here for more on Heather
This session will provide information about facilitating self-determination and self-advocacy in AAC users. Discussion will include psychosocial competence and social-emotional development interventions that were utilized within a regional program for school aged students. Activities and intervention tools will be reviewed, including family/caregiver training, choices/opinions, and communication partner training.
TOBII DYNAVOX SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES
Blaire Sellers
Speech-Language Pathologist
Solutions Consultant-Tobii Dynavox
Join us for a look at AAC through the Tobii Dynavox lens. Learn how they can assist with improved implementation and troubleshooting for those who already have devices and improving the knowledge and access to resources of all who work with AAC users, including SLPs, OTs, Special Educators, and other professionals.
Executive Function and AAC
Paige Buckingham, MS, CCC-SLP
Owner, Buckingham Educational Services & Training, LLC
Executive Function Skills are the foundational skills we use daily to perform our lives
independently. What do these skills look like for a person who uses AAC? Do they have these skills, and how do we teach these skills? Together we will look at executive function skills and how they impact language and individuals who use AAC. Strategies to focus on building skill will be shared along with examples of what this can look like in the classroom or home setting.
A YEAR OF ECHO VOICES: 2022-23 EDITION
Educational/Assistive Technology Consultant
Kelly wraps up the year with the OTAP Team by reviewing the major takeaways from the year of ECHO Voices presentations. You will have an opportunity to share your takeaways and accomplishments from this 2022-23 school year.
Oregon Technology Access Program
1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd., Suite 110
Roseburg, OR 97470
(541)440-4791
