FREE online training: Assistive Technology to Support Communication Development in Early Intervention

The Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP) will present a FREE online interactive training, Assistive Technology to Support Communication Development in Early Intervention, on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. 

This free training presented by Stacey Sessions will cover various types of assistive technology used to support symbolic communication development, specifically:

-       No-tech communication supports such as picture communication boards, and object symbol communication devices,

-       Communication devices with voice output, and,

-       High tech communication devices such as PRC, Dynavox, and iPad. 

Also, Stacey will cover initial strategies to teach children how to communicate using these various communication devices, to reduce children's dependency on prompting. The training is useful for parents, teachers, speech language pathologists or other professionals who work with children who would benefit from using assistive technology to support communication.

Stacey Sessions is a Speech Language Pathologist at Utah State University working as a clinical supervisor and instructor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Deaf Education.  She works mainly with children and adults with severe communication impairments.   Also, she works for the Up to Three program at the Center for Persons with Disabilities, providing assistive technology equipment and education to families in the community.

In order to participate, you will need a computer with high-speed internet access.   If you are interested in participating please RSVP by Monday, January 16, to Storee Powell via email storee.powell@usu.edu, or call 435-797-7412. Participant instructions will be emailed to you.

If you are a screen reader user please contact Sachin Pavithran at 435-797-6572 or sachin.pavithran@usu.edu no later than Thursday, January 12, to make arrangements to participate via phone. If you need any other accommodations in order to participate in the training please let Sachin know by this date also.

Please feel free to pass on this information to anyone that you think might be interested.