Communication Assessment Smorgasbord

– suitable assessments for adults with high support and complex communication needs.

This ½ day workshop is aimed at those people working with individuals with severe/profound intellectual disabilities and/or multiple disabilities. It will assist participants to understand the communication skills of their clients. Information will be presented about the development of communication and how we learn to communicate before we talk.  It will include different assessment tools such as The Triple C - Checklist of Communication Competencies (Bloomberg, West, Johnson & Iacono – revised 2009), the Communication Matrix (Rowland, 1996) Social Networks (Blackstone 2003) and the ACA (Affective Communication Assessment). Strategies for working with unintentional or early intentional communicators will be discussed. Ideas and resources for planning individual and group programs will also be offered. 

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• To identify the first 5 stages of communication development.
• To demonstrate knowledge of the tools/strategies that will support the communication abilities of individual clients.
• To identify situations in which to ask for support from resource staff.
• To list 3 strategies which may be useful for individuals who are informal communicators. 
• To write an appropriate program objective for an individual.

Prerequisites:

 An interest in working with people who have no formal communication skills (cannot use speech, boards, signing or other systems to communicate).

Who is the workshop for?

Therapists, Teachers, Direct support workers, Integration Aides, parents, family members, volunteers, carers, anyone who lives/works with people who have complex communication needs.

To register for this workshop you will need to complete an application form. The application form can be downloaded here or contact the Communication Resource Centre: Telephone  03 9843 2000; Email crc@scopevic.org.au; 830 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill 3128.