Overview

Discover proven strategies to enhance AAC professional development and empower instructors to create sustainable change. Explore the crucial factors identified by Guskey, including teacher motivation and the process of change. Traditional approaches focused on attitudes have fallen short. Instead, shift the focus to immediate instructional practices, leading to improved student outcomes and subsequent changes in teacher beliefs. Gain insights from experts like Katie Milkman, who specializes in positive, lasting change, and the Heath brothers, renowned for their work on decision-making and behavioral change. Learn practical techniques from psychology, economics, sociology, and education, such as gamification and motivators, to develop positive instructional change. Join us to become effective trainers and drive lasting change in AAC classrooms.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify at least two crucial components in a process of change model in professional development.
2. Identify three strategic concepts to increase habitual use of proven techniques in supporting AAC learning in students.
3. Design one implementation activity based on the concepts presented.

Strand(s)

Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Leadership

Target Audience

Administrators; AT Specialists; Communication Specialist; Consultants/Trainers; Educators; Occupational Therapists; Paraprofessionals; Rehabilitation Counselor; Speech-Language Pathologists; Special Education Educators

Experience Level

Intermediate

Primary Life Cycle Addressed

All

Session Delivery Format

In-person presentation with live stream

Course Schedule

This course was given at the ATIA 2024 Conference on Friday, January 26 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EST)

Continuing Education Credits

For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Online Education CEUs

This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; ASHA; CRC; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours

Speaker/s:

Vicki Clarke, MS CCC-SLP

Dynamic Therapy/DTA Schools & Clinic, CEO/Director

Biography

Vicki Clarke is the CEO of Dynamic Therapy Associates, Inc and Director of DTA Schools & Clinic, supporting individual communication, language and cognitive development through assessment, treatment, consultation and system-wide training and resources development. Ms. Clarke has expertise in augmentative and alternative communication in practice for over 30 years.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Mrs. Clarke is a co-owner of Dynamic Therapy Associates, Inc (DBA DTA Schools & Clinic) offering private therapy, professional continuing education, school based contracts and AAC related products.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Mrs. Clarke consults pro bono for various speech generating device manufactures, app developers (educational, AAC and speech pathology related). She regularly shares information and resources regarding special education, AAC, speech pathology and Autism on social media. In her capacity as a AAC evaluator and school district consultant, Mrs. Clarke is given access to professional copies of News-2-You products, the majority of popular AAC apps and long-term loans for speech generating devices from Tobii Dynavox, Prentke Romich, Saltillo, Control Bionics and Able net.

Stephanie Ekis, MS CCC-SLP

Dynamic Therapy Associates, AAC Consultant

Biography

Stephanie Ekis, MS CCC-SLP is a co-owner of Interact Therapy, providing speech, language and augmentative communication services to individuals and school districts through education, consulting, materials development and dissemination of resources. Stephanie also works with Dynamic Therapy/DTA Schools as an AAC consultant training and consulting with special education teachers and therapists. She started her career as an augmentative communication consultant and has taught graduate level AAC courses at the University of Louisville. Stephanie has provided assessment, therapy, and consultation services for individuals with complex communication needs for over 28 years. She worked for over 25 years with a major speech generating device manufacturer, managing new product development, customer outcomes/consultation, implementation training and therapy resource development.

Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Stephanie receives reimbursement for her services with both Interact Therapy and Dynamic Therapy Associates contract.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No