Learning Opportunity

Communication Circles: Supporting Communicative Competence for AAC Users

This session has been completed.
Facilitator: Caroline Musselwhite
Date:October 03, 2016
Time:9:00 am to 3:30 pm MTN
Cost:
$150.00
(includes lunch, which is not prepared in a nut/gluten-free environment)
Location: Edmonton (Fantasyland Hotel)
17700 - 87 Avenue
Google Map
Session Code: 17-IE-116
Focus: Inclusive Education English Language Arts & Literacy

Target Audience

Teachers, Educational Assistants, Instructional Leaders and Therapists of Students and anyone working with students who are nonverbal or using an AAC system

About this Learning Opportunity

Janice Light (1989) defines communicative competence as “". . . the ability to communicate functionally in the natural environment and to adequately meet daily communication needs." 

For students who use AAC and are in inclusive settings, this goal is very appropriate . . . and challenging! 

WHERE do we find the time to support students in learning the linguistic, operational, social, and strategic skills they need to engage in successful interactive communication?  

One approach is to form ‘Communication Circles’ or circles of peers who support AAC users in learning and practicing skills.  These circles work with students weekly, keeping data and anecdotal notes.

This learning opportunity will include lecture, demonstration, brainstorming, and case studies.

Accommodations:

Fantasyland Hotel/West Edmonton Inn is pleased to offer ERLC an “open block” for this event. Individual Reservations can be made by contacting our Hotel Reservations Department directly at (780)444-3000 or toll-free 1-800-737-3783. Callers MUST mention they are attending the ERLC (Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium) event and the specific date to receive the negotiated rate of $170.00 weekday rate and $210.00 weekend rate at the Fantasyland Hotel; and $129.00 weekday rate and $149.00 weekend rate at the West Edmonton Inn.

This session is being offered on a cost recovery basis.

About the Facilitator

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite is an assistive technology specialist with more than 30 years of experience working with children and adolescents with severe disabilities, in a variety of settings, including Head Start, developmental day programs, and the public schools. She has also taught courses at several universities, including West Virginia University, and Western Carolina University. 

Dr. Musselwhite has authored a number of textbooks and “how-to” books on a range of topics, including Emergent Literacy Success, Communication Programming for Persons with Severe Handicaps, and Reading Activities Project for Older Students (R.A.P.S.). She has also authored a number of software programs (Write to Talk, Social Scripts) and books (Learning to Work) for youth with disabilities. She has presented thousands of workshops throughout the world, and is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication.