Session #1
January 12
Multi-Modal Communication Strategies for Children on the Severe End of the Autism Spectrum
This presentation will focus on practical strategies for motivating and communicating with young children on the severe end of the autism spectrum. We will look beyond teaching simple requests and compliance to the three components of communication that can be adapted for these children: Receptive language, expressive communication, and language used for cognitive processing. Developing effective communication skills can have a significant impact on increasing participation, reducing frustration and minimizing behavior challenges. Learn how to structure the child’s natural environment for multi sensory input and output to reduce frustration, improve behavior and teach social skills. What types of supports increase motivation, attention and cognitive processing? How do you facilitate communicative interaction? Light tech to high tech suggestions to answer these and other questions will be shared.

Session #2
January 13
Multi-Modal Communication and Adaptive Play for Young Children and Children Functioning at Young Levels: “Light Tech” to “High Tech”
Play is the young child’s most powerful mode for learning. The child uses play to experiment with how the world works - endlessly discovering and revising those experiments to refine and practice understanding and skills. Children learn about communication and interaction from people playing and talking with them within natural daily interactions. When a child faces challenges that make play, interaction, and communication difficult, this process is interrupted.

This presentation will focus on adapting play and communication for young children and children functioning at young levels, from "light tech to "high tech". Special emphasis will be on strategies for those children who have severe multiple challenges. Which children will benefit from adaptations and augmentation? How can you structure the play environment to teach basic cognitive and language concepts? What types of supports increase motivation, attention and cognitive processing? What adaptations will allow the child to experience more control and actively participate in the learning process?

Children who will need to learn to access their world through adapted switches face additional challenges in learning to play and communicate. A “Stepping Stone Process for Switch Access” will be explored. Strategies for systematically introducing a single switch and moving to using two switches for two functions with increased cognitive engagement for play will be shared. Examples will span the use of adapted toys as well as adapted software on computers. Two switch step-scanning to provide additional control and active learning will also be discussed.

Activity Web Site

---

Learning Outcomes:
Session #1
As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Explain what we are learning from current research about how the brain develops and how this impacts leaning for children on the autism spectrum.

2. Describe strategies that help the child who is on the severe end of the autism spectrum, develop skills in receptive, expressive and cognitive processing language skills.

3. Describe strategies for increasing motivation, cognitive engagement, and active participation in the learning process.

Session #2
As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss a variety of ways to adapt play materials to facilitate cognitive and communication skills.

2. Discuss the three basic motivational drives and show how these can be used to motivate learning in play situations

3. Describe the progression for learning to use a single switch, two switches for two functions and finally, two Switch Step-Scanning.

---

CEUs
This activity is approved for a total of up to 1.3 CEUs (13 professional development hours). Paticipants can earn 0.7 CEUs (6.5 professional development hours) for attending only one day.

To register for CEUs, download the Session Attendance Report Form, complete the form, and save the file using this file name model:

2009-LTVEC-Burkhart1-Lastname-Firstname.xls.

Then send the file as an email attachment to ceus@aacinstitute.org. This is a spreadsheet file (.xls). If any difficulty is encountered in using this form, write to ceus@aacinstitute.org to request an alternative file format.

---

Evaluation and Learning Assessment
Please take a moment to download, complete, and return the Evaluation and Learning Outcomes Form. After completing the form, save it, attach it to an email message, and send it to ceus@aacinstitute.org.

Download Evaluation and Learning Assessment Form now.

---

Certificates will be sent to those submitting all forms.