This course is on hold due to covid -19. Please apply for our In House Outreach Service
This course equips parents with the hands on skills they need. Our highly experienced team of professionals will provide excellent theory workshops covering the types of communication systems available and how to utilise them. Followed by a 5 week hands on Saturday school where parents and children learn how to increase communication through play and everyday activities in the natural environment.
REACH North West is committed to empowering parents and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to enable their children to flourish. As Parents/carers spend more time with their child than any other professional ( eg. school/college/therapist) it is vital that parents are equipped with the skills to teach their children how to communicate with the world to ensure they blossom.
This course equips parents with the hands on skills they need. Our highly experienced team of professionals will provide excellent theory workshops covering the types of communication systems available and how to utilise them. Followed by a 5 week hands on Saturday school where parents and children learn how to increase communication through play and everyday activities in the natural environment.
Course Outline
This 5-week course will be delivered by professionals including a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), a Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT), as well as highly experienced ABA therapists.
- Meet and Greet – Parents and child attend a 30 minute ‘meet and greet’ session where we will observe how your child typically communicates with you and agree on an individualised communication system.
- The Theory Bit! – Parents attend a workshop that will equip them with the theoretical knowledge needed to develop communication effectively in a fun engaging way.
- Weekend 1-5: Hands on training - the fun bit! Time to put the theory into practice. Each week the professional team will support parents and their child by guiding and modelling how to put the skills into practice. Written and video feedback will be used to enable parents to take the skills home and use in every environment and maybe even teach the wider family how to support your little one
Communication systems taught during the workshop:
Communication is the passing of information from one person to another. For some children verbal communication is a very difficult skill. This course will enable parents to introduce alternative communication systems all of which are evidence based and promote verbal communication. The systems we are able to support include;
- PECS (picture exchange communication system– phases 1-3 (single words)
- Makaton Sign – (single words)
- Echoics (copying sounds/words) – (single words or approximations)
(Please note this is based on each child’s pre-requisite skills and a joint decision will be made with parents on which communication system will suit the child)
The following criteria must be met in order in order to access the course:
- No alternative communication system currently in place or a communication system (e.g. PECS) has only recently been introduced
- Pre-verbal or limited vocal repertoire
- Between the ages of 2-7
To apply for this course please click here for the Application Form