Multi-Modal Communication and Learning Strategies For Children Who Face Significant Challenges: Including Severe Multiple Disabilities And Children On The Autism Spectrum

This two-day presentation focuses on children who face significant physical and multiple challenges as well as those children on the more severe end of the autism spectrum. It will address questions such as: What are we learning from brain research that can help us understand how children learn? How do we motivate children and provide opportunities for active learning? What strategies help give these children a sense of control and facilitate interaction and communication? How does the child on the severe end of the autism spectrum perceive the world and how does this impact learning and communication? How does Cortical Visual Impairment impact learning? This workshop will introduce the concept of providing a receptive aided language-learning environment, and demonstrate how learning alternative and augmentative forms of communication can and should parallel the developmental process that typical children go through in learning speech.