Overview
To ensure that children and adults who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and that AAC strategies are fully included in their healthcare, their communication partners must be equipped with knowledge to make interactions successful. For optimal results, these trainings must reflect the values and priorities of multiple stakeholders and be well suited to withstand the barriers inherent to the communication environment. This presentation will highlight (a) evidence-based strategies that promote effective communication partner training and (b) case examples in the hospital and outpatient settings demonstrating the co-design of AAC trainings and initiatives across multiple stakeholders (e.g., speech-language pathologists, parents, nurses, and educators).
Content Disclosure: This presentation focused on findings from a research study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute. The research was funded in part by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research to the RERC on AAC; the American Speech-Language Hearing (ASH) Foundation New Investigator Research grant; and the Munroe-Meyer Guild.
Learning Objectives
- Describe at least two evidence-based techniques that promote effective communication partner training.
- Identify at least two barriers that impact their collaboration with other stakeholders to develop communication partner trainings.
- Choose at least one other group of stakeholders to collaborate in the design of future communication partner trainings.
Primary & Secondary Strands
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC); Research
Target Audience
- AT Specialists
- Caregivers
- Communication Specialist
- Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
- Consultants/Trainers
- Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education
- Family Members
- Speech-Language Pathologists
Experience Level
Intermediate
Primary Life Cycle Addressed
All
Session Delivery Format
In-person presentation with recording
Course Schedule
This course was given at the ATIA 2023 Conference on Thursday, February 2 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EST)
Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Learning Center CEUs
ASHA CE Information: Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: September 15, 2023
End date of ASHA CEUs offering: June 30, 2024
This course is also offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.
End date of CRC CEUs offering: January 30, 2024
As this course was included in the ATIA 2023 Virtual Event series, please refer to the
ATIA Learning Center CEUs page for further information on how to submit your CRC CEUs for this course to CRCC.
Speaker/s:
Brittany Steinfeld, MS, CCC-SLP
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Speech-Language Pathologist
Biography
Brittany Steinfeld, MS, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist, primarily serving outpatient, pediatric and adult population at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Brittany participated as a LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Related Disorders) fellow to further her education in interdisciplinary care and disability advocacy. Brittany earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences from Boston University in 2019, and a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Pace University in 2021. Brittany currently serves as a member of the team for the multidisciplinary Autism Diagnostic Clinic as well as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic. She provides caregiver training to those who seek support in their child's communication development in addition to providing evaluation and treatment services for a variety of speech and language deficits. Her clinical interests include working with a variety of patient populations, including cognition, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (AAC), feeding/swallowing disorders, interdisciplinary care, and speech and language disorders.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Brittany Steinfeld, MS, CCC-SLP receives a salary from the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, where she is an outpatient speech language pathologist.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No
Jessica Gormley, PhD, CCC-SLP
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Assistant Professor
Biography
Jessica Gormley, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Program Leader for AAC Implementation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute. Her research and clinical interests center upon improving interactions among individuals with complex communication needs, their families, and providers in health care settings. Through Jessica's research, she aims to develop and evaluate strategies (e.g., Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (AAC) tools and trainings) to equip health care providers to become effective communication partners with individuals with limited speech. One of her current research projects involves collaborations with the Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (RERC on AAC) to develop and evaluate an app designed to create communication partner trainings. Jessica has published research articles and presented nationally and internationally on the topics of AAC and patient-provider communication. Jessica is a co-organizer for the Patient-Provider Communication Forum.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Jessica Gormley, PhD, CCC-SLP receives a salary from the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, where she is an Assistant Professor and serves as the Interim Director. The contents of this project were developed in part under grants from (a) the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90REGE0014) to the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (RERC on AAC), (b) the American Speech-Language Hearing (ASH) Foundation New Investigator Research grant, and (c) the Munroe-Meyer Guild.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Jessica Gormley, PhD, CCC-SLP is a co-organizer and content creator for the Patient-Provider Communication Network. She is also a member of the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).