SAC Webinar: Getting Started with AAC and Autism

Presented By Megan Wood Pagonis, M,Sc,. S-LP(C); Samantha Dame, MSLP; and Jennifer McGibbon

Overview

Access to SAC webinars and webcasts are an exclusive benefit of SAC membership.

Level

Introductory – Assumes little or no familiarity with the literature and professional practice within the areas covered.

Intended Audience
  • speech-language pathologists
  • audiologists
  • speech-language pathology assistants
  • audiology assistants
  • speech and hearing assistants
  • students
This Session Pertains To:
  • Pre-School (0-4)
  • School Aged (5-17)
  • Adult (18-64)
  • Senior (65+)

Abstract

An introductory discussion on how to implement AAC in your practice with Autistic individuals and across various settings.

Learning Objectives:

  • how to identify when an Autistic client would benefit from AAC.
  • how to support augmentative communication needs that are consistent with communication development.
  • how to make AAC planning a collaborative process (e.g., with clients, family and support team members).
  • when an Autistic client should be referred for high-tech AAC solutions.

We ask that people respect that this presentation is only 45 minutes and will be limited to the above learning objectives.

CEEs
  • This webinar is eligible for SAC CEEs.
Recording
  • This webinar will be recorded and will be available as a webcast in our webcast library within a week of the live event.
Cancellation Policy
  • Because we have limited spaces available for participants, if you are unable to attend the webinar you registered for, please contact Bev Cooper as soon as possible.
Zoom
  • Zoom is used to host this webinar. Before joining, be sure to check system requirements to avoid any connection issues.
  • We suggest you DO NOT use a Wi‑Fi connection to view the webinar as it can be unreliable and you may lose connectivity during the presentation.

Presenters:

Megan Wood Pagonis, M.Sc., S-LP(C)

Megan Wood Pagonis has been involved as an SLP with AAC for adults for the past 16 years in home and community care and re-joined the ACCS team in January 2023. Megan is also an Assistant Clinical Professor for McMaster University’s School of Rehabilitation Science Speech-Language Pathology program.

Samantha Dame, MSLP

Samantha Dame is an SLP who has worked with autistic individuals and their families to best support their functional communication and feeding needs for over 10 years, in a variety of environments, including  homes, daycares, schools, and children’s treatment centers.

Jennifer McGibbon

Jen McGibbon is a CDA with over 30 years’ experience working with autistic children. The past 13 years of her career has focused on AAC, both as a service provider with the Children’s Treatment Network and as an AAC instructor for Georgian College’s CDA program.

Registration Fees

SAC Members & Associates* FREE
Non-Members Not eligible
* All registered participants must be SAC members/associates.

 

Registration closes on October 18 at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

Access to SAC webinars, general knowledge webinars and webcasts are an exclusive benefit of SAC membership. Links to online SAC Professional Development opportunities are not to be shared with non-members/non-associates. SAC reserves the right to terminate participation of a non-member/associate in any SAC online Professional Development event.

Non-members or non-associates must join SAC in order to have access to SAC online professional development. Information on joining SAC can be found on our website at https://member-membre.sac-oac.ca/page/Registration.

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