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2550
Literacy for the Nonverbal Child with Autism: Tweaking the Four Block Model- ASHA CEU Session
Saturday, July 14, 2007: 10:00 AM-11:15 AM
Cushing A & B (The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa)
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This fast paced workshop will focus on teaching nonverbal children with autism to read and write utilizing the Four Block Model. It will help the learner undersand the unique reading needs of chidlren with no verbal language. These needs will then dictate how to “tweak” the Four Block Model to work for a particular child. Extensive videos illustrate key points and techniques as well as help the learner understand how to integrate reading and augmentative communication. Children highlighted will be those who are noverbal with significant motor-planing issues. The integration of augmentative communication and technology as a platform for giving children with disabilities a reaserach based approach to reading similar to their more typcial peers is the focus.
The development of reading skills for children on the autistim spectrum is a skill area that is often neglected in lieu of daily living skills. It is easier to accomodate and istruct those who are hyperlexic with only comprehension challenges. Largely ignored, are those who are non-verbal. What techniques and strategies are effectove, in helping them become readers? How can and does augmentative communication and technology play a significant role for these children in acquiring basic reading skills. The underlying philosophy tying this workshop together is the idea of a balanced reading instruction program (The Four Block Model) that has solid research behind it and how the various pieces of it can be tweaked and adapted to instruct children with autism who are nonverbal. Literacy skills are a birthright and have proven to be an effective avenue for developing augmentative communication skills, language comprehension and reciprocity and regulation for chidlren with autism who are nonverbal with even the most severe motor planning challenges.
Learning Objectives:
- • Participant will understand the 4 blocks that comprise the four block model
• Participant will understand the 4 blocks that comprise the four block model
- • Participants will understand the connection between literacy and language/communication
- • Participants will be able to adapt a simple story to meet the needs of nonverbal readers.
- • Participants will understand how to work on the all important area of comprehension through explicit video examples
- Participants will be able to adjust the four block model for a nonverbal child.
Content Area: Education
Presenter:
Susan H. Norwell, M.A.
Educational Specialist - Private Practice
Focused Learning Solutions
Susan Norwell M.A. Special Education, has with students with autsim for the last 31 years. She is trained in "Greenspan's Floortime" model and would consider herself a relationship based educational specialist. She has focused in the recent past on augmentative communication, play and literacy for children on the spectrum especially those without verbal language. She consults to various school districts on successful inclusion of children with autism and has presented workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada. Susan is a high-energy presenter whose presentations are known for her broad knowledge base as well as practical and creative ideas.