Workshop – “Teaching Movements of Communication: Accessing AAC for Children Who Have Complex Communication Needs”

An intensive five-day workshop for family members and professional teams who are working with children who have severe physical and sensory challenges

Join the University of Illinois Chicago’s Institute on Disability and Human Development and the Assistive Technology Unit for “Teaching Movements of Communication: Accessing AAC for Children Who Have Complex Communication Needs” on June 20 to 24 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The workshop will be held at the Continuing Education Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted Street, Rm 302, in Chicago.

For some children with complex communication needs, it is the method of accessing the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system that significantly affects their communication development. These children, who have significant physical and/or sensory challenges, often need to learn movements to access (electronic and non-electronic) AAC systems and produce early communication signals, gestures or signs.

This intensive five-day workshop will provide participants with an in-depth opportunity to explore:

• Movement differences associated with significant neurological movement impairments
• Severe sensory processing challenges
• Identifying posture/movement challenges in relation to communication development
• Assessment and intelligibility

The workshop will demonstrate a range of strategies and a process to teach movements for communication.

Download the workshop flyer, which has a complete course description and information on the speakers.

Individuals are welcome and will gain valuable knowledge. However, this workshop will be most effective for teams who are working with children who have severe physical and sensory challenges and are struggling to access augmentative communication systems (electronic and non-electronic) and gestural communication.

Teams may include speech-language pathologists, educators, family members and support personnel. It would be helpful, but not a requirement, for one of the members of the team to have previously attended an Introductory PODD (Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display) communication training.

Register for the workshop and get additional information.

The registration deadline is May 20 (early bird registration is due by April 15).

If you have questions, please contact Stephanie Bay at (312) 995-2353 or sbay2@uic.edu.