Our sessions at Communication Matters 2025
Co-constructing Communication with Emergent AAC Users: An Interactive Workshop.
Presenters: Euan Robertson and Rachael Langley
Date: Monday, September 14 | Time: 11:15-12PM | Room: Stage@Leeds, Dance Studio
Emergent communicators often rely on familiar partners to interpret their non-verbal communication and determine communicative intent. As communication skills develop, communication partners traditionally rely heavily on modelling as a means of implementing AAC. In this hands-on workshop, we will demonstrate strategies that support co-construction of meaning, shared attention, and increased symbol awareness. We will present a resource developed by the presenters, designed to support clinicians in describing emerging communication skills in a strengths-based way.
It's not about Mastery: Writing Quality Goals for Emergent Communicators.
Presenter: Erin Sheldon and Rachael Langley
Date: Monday, September 14 | Time: 1:20-2:05PM | Room: Stage@Leeds, Dance Studio
Emergent communicators often pose the biggest challenge to classroom teams. These students are often learning language through AAC and they need learning goals that are both relevant and attainable. Students with emerging skills often make progress in small increments, so we need tools that capture those smallest gains. Instead of relying on mastery criteria, we will discuss goals that target increased duration of attention, increased engagement, or improved levels of participation in classroom activities. We will explore goal-writing from a supportive, strengths-based lens while offering tools and resources for participants to share with their teams.
Is Modelling Enough? - Balancing Implicit and Explicit Instruction in AAC.
Presenter: Euan Robertson and Rachael Langley
Date: Monday, September 14 | Time: 2:15-3PM | Room: Stage@Leeds, Dance Studio
The field of AAC has become increasingly comfortable with the idea of "Modelling without Expectation" as a primary strategy for implementing AAC. Whilst modelling is critical, is it enough to "model, model, model" and expect our learners to develop meaningful communication skills? Join us in this interactive workshop, where we will examine the balance between explicit and implicit instruction. This will include in-depth discussion on the role of a well-designed vocabulary in leveraging opportunities for learning. We will demonstrate a range of strategies and supports to ensure communication partners have access to the tools required to provide AAC implementation.
This workshop is suitable for anyone implementing AAC, including teachers, speech and language therapists, and parents. You will have the opportunity to get hands-on with all the tools and resources discussed via an iPad, which is available to borrow for the duration of the session.
Increasing learning opportunities for all students: a hands-on iPad workshop.
Presenter: Erin Sheldon and Rachael Langley
Date: Monday, September 14 | Time: 3:30-4:15PM | Room: Stage@Leeds, Dance Studio
This hands-on workshop will explore new, innovative tools and strategies to make teaching easier, while increasing the learning opportunities for all students, including AAC users. These tools and strategies are designed to help you deliver lessons to effectively support students with diverse learning support profiles. Together we will walk through a sample lesson and the resources required to differentiate instruction.
Participants will explore ‘hands-on’ how these tools and strategies can be applied to lessons across a range of different subjects. They will also discover how to embed language and literacy in a consistent way across a range of developmental profiles.
This workshop is suitable for any professional supporting learners in the classroom. Parents are welcome to attend and explore how the tools and strategies we explore may support their learner. You will have an iPad to borrow for the duration of the session allowing you to follow along with the presenters.
Teaching Generative Language Through Therapy Routines.
Presenters: Rachael Langley and Euan Robertson
Date: Monday, September 14 | Time: 4:25-5:10PM | Room: Stage@Leeds, Dance Studio
Children with developmental disabilities often pose challenges for speech and language therapists. Limited intelligibility, such as from issues with motor speech, often mask a child’s emerging cognitive and communication capabilities. It can be difficult for clinicians to determine a child's speech and language skills when they struggle to communicate using spoken words.
Research indicates that many of these students produce longer and more complex utterances when AAC is implemented. But few assistive technology teams can easily acquire AAC for all students who may potentially benefit.
This hands-on workshop will explore innovative new tools and strategies to support speech and language goals for children with developmental disabilities. We will work through a series of direct child-focused interventions to develop receptive and expressive language, including grammatical morphology. These tools and strategies support children with a broad range of speech and language difficulties, but are also an effective add-on for students learning to use a variety of AAC technologies. Best yet, these new tools and strategies are provided at no-cost to all clinicians through their free AssistiveWare professional license.
