Posted by Shirley Lawson on the 29th August, 2019
Are you looking for Professional Learning opportunity to learn more about how to use technology to support communication?
We have 2 online learning opportunities coming up, both focussing on Alternative Augmentative Communication apps on the iPad. These courses will be delivered by CALL Scotland’s two specialist Speech and Language therapists who have extensive experience and expertise in this area.
Joanna Courtney - Specialist Speech and Language TherapistJoanna has 11 years' experience of working in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, spending her first 7 years working in a Special School. She has an Honours degree (BSc) in Speech and Language Pathology from Queen Margaret University and her particular area of interest is enabling peer interaction and group opportunities for people who use AAC.
Gillian McNeill - Specialist Speech and Language TherapistGillian's specialism is in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, drawn from 25 years working within a regional AAC team in Fife, before joining CALL Scotland in 2011. Through this she has built experience from developing a multi-agency AAC partnership, carrying out assessments, implementing support services, delivering training and contributing to AAC projects. Having worked with people with complex communication support needs of all ages - children and adults - her key area of interest presently, is supporting pupils to access learning and communication, through technology.
The first session on 19th September will explore the range of symbol based communication apps (e.g. Proloquo2Go, Clicker Communicator, Touch Chat) that are available for iPad, using CALL Scotland's 'Wheel of AAC Apps' as a guiding structure. This will include symbol-based grid apps as well as simple communication apps which use photo/picture images.
Date: 19
Sep
Choosing and using symbol-based AAC communication apps on iPad
£30 - Online learning (4:00pm - 5:30pm)
The second session is aimed at staff supporting people with communication difficulties who wish to use text-based communication apps. (e.g. Proloquo4Text, Predicatable, Quick Type AAC).
Date: 7
Nov
Choosing and using text-based AAC communication apps on iPad
£30 - Online learning (4:00pm - 5:30pm)
Both sessions are interactive, online sessions that you can view from a location of your choice via a computer or tablet. You will have the opportunity to ask questions via a chat box and there will be live links to click on for further information and resources.
Later in the year, on 26th March 2020, we are running a course on ‘Creating a Communication Friendly environment’ which will explore how CALL Scotland’s Symbols for All resources can help to create an inclusive and accessible environment in your school / nursery. This will be a great opportunity to have hands on practice creating resources using selected software and apps with CALL tutors providing support and advice.
Sign up today to any of these three courses for a unique Professional Learning opportunity today to raise your confidence levels in the use of technology to support your learners with communication impairments.
This type of training works really well as everyone learns together and we provide laptops and iPads so everyone has a hands on experience. We will create a bespoke course for you and your staff based and pitch it at whatever level of expertise is required. Have a look at our Professional Learning page on our website for details and prices. Email Shirley shirley.lawson@ed.ac.uk, who heads up the Professional Learning team at CALL Scotland for an informal chat.
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