Coaching

for Communication

Partners 

About Coaching for Communication Partners

Using the "Empowering Parents for AAC" Approach. A two day workshop for professionals who support children to use AAC. 

Coaching for Communication Partners is a 2-day professional development workshop that is grounded in current AAC research. It provides professionals working in the field of AAC a framework for coaching communication partners (including parents, family, and educators) in how to use supportive AAC strategies. The workshop combines information sharing, demonstration, videos, group discussions, and multiple opportunities to practice the coaching skills. Participants will leave with a framework for coaching communication partners, as well as a set of instructional resources. 

Day 1 - Shares evidence-based strategies that have been shown to help children develop their communication skills using AAC, and how to break down into achievable goals. 

Day 2 - Introduces a coaching model that can be used with the communication partners of children who use AAC. 

Learning Outcomes

This course will enable participants to have:

• A clear understanding of the level of support required by communication partners when implementing AAC with children
• The evidence-based strategies that communication partners need to know to support children to be successful with AAC
• A way to break down and provide instruction on these strategies
• A comprehensive coaching model (based on practice-based coaching) that they can use to support communication partners
• A plan on how to integrate this into their own practice 

Registration includes morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Please specify dietary requirements when registering for the workshop.

Target Audience

This course will be of interest to AAC professionals such as educators, speech pathologists and other allied health professionals. 

About the Presenter

Sam Brydon qualified as a speech language pathologist in 1993 from Manchester University in England. Since then, she has worked as a social worker and then as a speech language therapist, with over 20 years' experience in the areas of early intervention and, more recently, AAC. Sam emigrated to Aotearoa / New Zealand in 2007. Her passion for evidence-based AAC led her to undertake doctoral research at Massey University in New Zealand, starting in 2018. She has completed a year-long piece of research in 2022 that followed six families as they implemented a core board with their young children. The parents were provided with training and coaching to support their skills as communication partners, and the results for both children and parents were outstanding. Sam's doctoral thesis won the Dean's List award for exceptional theses. This workshop is based on her research, as well as grounded in other current AAC research. 

Workshop details 

Session dates:

• 14th October 2024, 9am - 4pm
• 15th October 2024, 9am - 4pm

Where: 

Kedron Wavell Services Club 

21 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside, Queensland 

Registration and Cancellation Policy

Registration is only confirmed upon full payment of fee. To access the discounted rate for members you must be logged into your AGOSCI member account prior to registration. 

• 100% refund until 60 days before event.
• 50% refund between 8-59 days before event. 
• No refunds within 0-7 days of event start date.

Applications for registrations are subject to final approval by AGOSCI to ensure fair and equal access to events across organisations. Waitlist registrations will be taken upon all positions being filled.

COVID Safety

If you are experiencing any cold/flu symptoms or don't feel well on the day, please support the safety of others by staying at home and not attending the workshop in person. 

Disclosure 

AGOSCI is grateful to Sam for presenting this workshop to the AGOSCI audience. 

AGOSCI is an independent body and does not endorse individual expertise, products or brands over others.

AGOSCI acknowledges the presence and contributions of all suppliers and expertise in the Australian and International communities of AAC and diverse communication.

This workshop is proudly brought to you by AGOSCI and Liberator