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2012 CE Workshop |
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Functional Applications for Sound Generating Devices (Voice Output Communication Aides) |
Instruction Level IntermediateProposed Audience Teachers, occupational therapists, behavior specialists, behavior analysts, and other professionals or paraprofessionals who work with children or adults with significant disabilities Program Description SGDs or VOCAs are often found in settings serving individuals with multiple disabilities. Often, individuals activate the devices if they are present, but without regard to whether the time is right for the recorded messages. We have applied an evolving protocol of operant conditioning techniques to build key discriminations among times and opportunities for assisted communication. We also have developed an observation-based scale for measuring early indicators and predictors of communication success. This workshop will relate our methods to parallels in teaching triadic eye gaze to toddlers and to possible insights in the loss/lack of language in very young children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Oral language is emerging in some of our participants who have been mute for years; why will be a topic for dissection and discussion. The potential for iPad technology in our interventions will be developed, especially for toddlers with cortical vision impairment. Learning Objectives On completion of the workshop the participants will be able to describe: 1. basic simple and conditional discriminations that must be acquired for the development of communication. 2. a successful conditioning protocol designed to establish those discriminations in toddlers and children with few indications of prior learning. 3. why adaptive switch programs for cause-and-effect often fail in typical educational and therapeutic settings. 4. how to teach and generalize a functional request response using an SGD.
Proposed Activities Lecture, demonstration, videos and handouts
References Brady, N. C., Fleming, K., Thiemann, K., Olswang, L., Dowden, P., & Saunders, M. D. (in press). Development of the Communication Complexity Scale. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Saunders, M. D., Timler, G., Cullinen, T. B., Pilkey, S., Questad, K. A., and Saunders, R. R. (2003) Evidence of contingency awareness in people with profound multiple impairments: Response duration versus response rate indicators. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 24, 231-245. Saunders, M. D., Smagner, J. P., & Saunders R. R. (2003). Improving methodological and technological analyses of adaptive switch use of individuals with profound multiple impairments. Behavioral Interventions. Murphy, K. M., Saunders, M. D., Saunders, R. R., & Olswang, L. B. (2004). Effects of ambient stimuli on measures of behavioral state and microswitch use in adults with profound multiple impairments. Research in Developmental Disabilities,25, 355-370. Saunders, M. D., Saunders, R. R., Mulugeta, A., Henderson, K., Kedziorski, T., Hekker, B., & Wilson, S. (2005). A novel method for testing learning and preferences in people with minimal motor movement. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26, 255-266.
The Presenter Muriel Saunders, Ph.D. has an extensive history in education and research. She is currently an Assistant Research Professor in the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies. She began her career teaching in regular and special education classrooms. She has been recognized for her excellence and innovation in teaching by the Council for Exceptional Children, receiving the Kansas Special Educator of the Year Award in 1990 and the international Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Award in 1991. Since then, she has conducted research funded by NICHD, first on positive behavioral interventions and recently on establishing communication in persons with multiple profound physical and intellectual disabilities. She is a Co-Investigator on a grant funded by NIDDK to study methods of reducing obesity in people with developmental disabilities. She is currently a Co-Principal Investigator on a grant funded by NIDRR to compare two weight loss programs for people with physical disabilities.
Richard Saunders, Ph.D. is a Senior Scientist in the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies at the University of Kansas. He has had continuous research funding from NICHD since 1984 in the areas of stimulus equivalence/classification, treatment of aberrant behavior, and establishment of communication skills in persons with severe disabilities. Recently, he has received funding as a Co-Investigator from ADD, DED and NIDDK for weight loss and weight maintenance strategies for adults with intellectual or physical disabilities. Throughout his career, he has consulted extensively to agencies supporting persons with disabilities in educational, vocational, and residential settings. Presently, he is a consultant to the programs of the Junior Blind of America in Los Angeles.
Date and Time Friday, February 19th, 2011 On-Site Registration: 8:00 am – 1:30 pm Workshop: 1:30 pm. – 4:30 pm
Credit 3 Hours Category A Continuing Education Credit for NC psychologists and/or 3 hours Type II BACB Approved Continuing Education Credit.
Attendance To receive credit, you must be present for the entire workshop, and you must sign the sign-in and sign-out sheets. No credit will be given for participants who are more than 15 minutes late at the beginning of the workshop. No credit will be given to participants who leave before the close of the workshop. You must complete an evaluation form and turn it in at the close of the workshop to receive credit. Participants will receive a certificate documenting their attendance following the workshop and credit certificates will be mailed to the address provided during registration.
Registration Deadline and Refund Policy There is currently space available in this workshop. Registration will be limited to 50 people. If you register on or before January 23rd, 2012 there is a special early registration fee of $55.00 to attend this workshop. There are also special rates available for anyone who would like to attend both this workshop and any of the three pre-conference workshops offered on Wednesday February 16th, 2011 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.. A student rate of $25.00 is available with proof of current full time student status. Please select the registration button at the bottom of the page to view all fees. You will receive a full refund for cancellation received on or before February 8, 2012. No refund will be provided for cancellation received on or after February 9, 2012.
Facility Information Marriott, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. You can reserve a room at either the Marriott by calling 336-725-3500 or at the connecting Embassy Suites by calling 336-724-2300. Ask for the “NCABA Group Rate” to get reduced room pricing for either hotel.
Continuing Education Credit The program is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Psychological Association and the North Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis. The North Carolina Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The North Carolina Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program is offered for 3 hours of continuing education credit. In addition, this workshop is BACB approved for 3 hours of Type II continuing education credits.
Special Needs If you have special needs please note this on the registration form. This must be received at least two (2) weeks in advance of the workshop.
For Further Information Contact: Beth Schmitt, NCABA Secretary Phone: (919) 575-1261 Email: beth.schmitt@dhhs.nc.gov |
