Communication: Where to start?
Newly Diagnosed? Started an AAC Journey? Or starting to support a person with Rett Syndrome? No worries we have the information here!
Jennifer Weigert and Corrina Duffitt are both Registered Speech-language pathologists working with clients who use augmentative alternative communication as a means of communication.
Presented via zoom, Corrina and Jennifer take you through the step by actions needed to help complex learners access communication even without a device. This session is geared to those who have never accessed AAC or are just at the early stages of learning. Both Corrina and Jennifer offer helpful tips and tricks to engage with both young children and adults. The PDF chart for reference is available below.
Corinna completed her graduate studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C., and has been a speech-language pathologist for 24 years. She has worked in the health unit, public and private school settings, and has recently moved into full-time private practice, Chickadee AAC, with Jennifer Wiegert as her partner. She specializes in AAC and works almost exclusively with children and young adults with complex communication needs.
Jennifer completed her graduate studies in speech-language pathology at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. Over the past 25 years, she has provided therapy services to children and families in public and private schools (preschool through high school), a private clinic setting, and most recently on the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) team in the Surrey School District. Corinna and Jennifer’s passion for providing home-based services for families and their loved ones with complex communication needs resulted in their joint private practice, Chickadee AAC Communication services.
-The RSSBC Team
See the video here:
“The Demanding Device: The lived experience of aided communicators”
This presentation will explore the many demands that Speech Generating Devices make of the people with speech impairments that seek to use them to share their voices audibly in the world. The overarching question explored is what does the device demand? What are the cognitive, technological, and physical demands that must be met by the user to express themselves through audible voice? How are these demands experienced in the day-to-day lives of people who use SGDs? Also brought to light are other demands, demands that are perhaps more subtle and more societal but demands that nonetheless will be shown to shape if, when, and how devices are used. Exploration of Ableism and its role in the Demands of the Device will be explored.
Dr. Kathy Howery received her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Alberta in 2017. She is currently an educational consultant and a sessional lecturer at several Universities in Alberta. Her doctoral research drew upon hermeneutic phenomenology to seek to understand what is it like for young people with complex communication needs (CCN) to speak with speech-generating devices.
Kathy has presented at scores of educational conferences at both the national and international levels, including the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) Conference, the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference, and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Conference. Kathy has also presented her research in the area of CCN, and in the area of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), at numerous conferences in Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec.
-The RSSBC Team
“Shared Reading and AAC – Supporting Language AND Literacy”
Shared reading is one component of comprehensive emergent literacy instruction. The focus is on reading with learners, not to them. This workshop will suggest ways to fully include students with physical impairments and students who use AAC (with a primary focus on individuals with Rett Syndrome). The session will cover classroom, small group, and 1:1 instruction. Targets include interactive, engaging supports for goals such as vocabulary growth, text-to-self connections, and attending to print.
Dr. Caroline Musselwhite is an assistive technology specialist with more than 45 years of experience working with children and adolescents with significant disabilities in a variety of settings, including Head Start, clinics, developmental day programs, homes, and in public schools. Dr. Musselwhite has written a number of textbooks and “how-to” books on a range of topics and has authored many books and software programs for youth with disabilities. She has taught courses at several universities and presented thousands of workshops throughout North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Africa. She has also supported Communication Circles and Balanced Literacy Clubs in multiple cities in the US and Canada.
-The RSSBC Team
“Supporting Communication and Independence with Grid”
As an AAC platform, Grid software offers every chance to participate, learn, and express yourself. Join us to learn about our symbol-based communication pathways, core word strategies, and adapted keyboards. We’ll demonstrate basic editing and how every grid set is accessible from touch to eye gaze.
Chris Gibbons has worked in a variety of AAC clinical, research, and industry settings as a private practitioner, assistive technology specialist, and policy level consultant. For more than 20 years he has focused solely on advocating for and contributing to SGD user success through increased access efficiencies and by working to improve funding for SGDs. Chris is the Head of Smartbox, Inc.
Melanie Gylling (she/her) is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist with extensive experience working in a variety of settings including outpatient rehabilitation, schools, and long-term care facilities. She is passionate about AAC and providing education and support to SGD users and their support teams. Melanie is employed full-time for Smartbox Inc., the developers of Grid 3 software and speech generating devices
very form of communication by providing access to social media, email, text, phone, web browsing, and our unique Symojis for spontaneous expression.
-The RSSBC Team
AAC in School: Tips for Parent Advocacy
Are you tired of explaining Rett syndrome and AAC to each new teacher and each new support worker? Do you have a child starting school soon? Are you worried about a transition to a new school? Join us for tips and tricks for effectively communicating with school staff to help them to understand what works best for your child.
Karen Congram has years of experience as a parent of someone with Rett syndrome, advocating for best practices in schools. She is also an Ontario teacher and the Head of Special Education at Stratford District Secondary School. Previously, she was a Learning for All Coach for the Avon Maitland District School Board, providing professional development on inclusive education and universal design for learning. This year, Karen will complete her Graduate Certificate in Teaching Students with Complex Communication Needs at the University of Alberta.
-The RSSBC Team
Watch parts A and B here:
Advanced Access with Eye Gaze
Listen and explore with the pioneers of modern eye tracking! In this session, we will cover topics such as desktop accessibility, accessible applications, environmental controls, available supports, and more! Come learn about eye tracking for communication and beyond – as a tool for life.
Charles Poeppelman works as a Solutions Consultant for the Canadian Division within Tobii Dynavox North America. In this role, he covers a wide range of AAC-related interests for Tobii Dynavox from coast to coast across Canada and the United States. This includes presenting at public and private training, supporting AAC users and their teams, and working directly with provincial and federal funding sources and our clinical partners in Canada. By background, Charles is a certified speech-language pathologist with clinical experience working in AAC across the lifespan.
-The RSSBC Team
The Evolution of Inclusion
In this session, we will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity.
Originally from Edmonton, and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after teacher, researcher, speaker, and storyteller and has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world, in supporting and promoting equity for all learners. Her first book entitled, “One Without the Other” was released in July 2016 to follow up on her TEDx talk. Shelley completed an undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her master’s at Simon Fraser University, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia.
-The RSSBC Team
“PODD: How to apply to everyday life and literacy”
Are you interested in learning about PODD? Do you already know a bit about it but aren’t sure how to use it effectively to create communication and literacy opportunities for your child? Join us as we talk about PODD and learn how it might be useful for your child. Much of the information will also be transferable to other types of vocabulary systems and communication devices.
Jenn Markosky attended Minot State University and has been a speech-language pathologist for over 20 years. She has worked for non-profit organizations as well as healthcare and recently moved into full-time private practice. She specializes in promoting communication for children and adults with complex communication needs. She enjoys coaching and supporting families and teams who use AAC.
Julia Drabble has been a speech-language pathologist for over 20 years. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Minot State University and has worked in health, education, and the private sector. For the past 18 years, Julia has been employed as a school SLP, working with children from preschool through adulthood. Julia is particularly interested in the area of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and believes every person should have an opportunity to find their voice.
-The RSSBC Team