Language Aquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP)
Communication without limitations
(LAMP) seminar on Thursday 3rd April 2008
0930-1230 hrs. Novita: 171, Days Rd, Regency Park.
R.S.V.P. nigel@liberator.net.au
Come learn about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies, tools and techniques for promoting the development of communication among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This half day introductory seminar is aimed at parents & therapists of those living with ASD.
Russell Cross, Vice President of Prentke Romich Company (PRC) USA and Dave Hershberger, President of Saltillo USA, will guide attendees through the LAMP programme as developed by John Halloran over the past 12 years. John, a consultant with PRC since 1994, is a speech-language pathologist actively involved in exploring ways to best implement assistive technology with autistic children. He is currently working with the Arkansas State University to develop a training program for autistic children and their families. LAMP represents a fresh treatment protocol for children and older people on the spectrum,
Using PRC’s LAMP training program, John Halloran & other American Speech Pathologists have witnessed a remarkable increase in communication in individuals with ASD. Eighteen months after an original beta test involving 13 autistic children, 10 of the 13 continue to use AAC as part of their communication repertoire. Several of the children are using AAC devices to communicate requests and concepts on a regular basis. Others have used the AAC devices as a foundation to begin or expand their extremely limited verbal skills.
Various studies have estimated that 25% to 61% of children with autism remain essentially mute (Weitz et al., 1997). As many as 80% of these children, who go onto enter public school, demonstrate virtually no functional communication. They either use no speech or other formal language or produce non-functional vocalizations (Bondy and Peterson, 1990).Recent literature, case studies, and interviews with parents and AAC specialist in the field are indicating that after the initiation of a voice output communication aid (VOCA), some non-speaking individuals demonstrate an increase in verbal production. The Prentke Romich Company is dedicated to individuals' success. This success is defined not only as how well the individual is communicating with our product, but also the understanding of why some individuals become more verbal after working with a communication device. PRC is currently participating in evidence based studies to pursue a greater understanding of those variables that make some individuals successful in communicating with our equipment while helping some others become verbal to the point of no longer needing a VOCA.
Liberator Pty. Limited: a Prentke Romich Company
Suite 36, Steadfast House,
239 Magill Rd, Maylands, SA 5069, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)88366 6536
Fax: +61 (0)88366 6501
Email: info@liberator.net.au
Learning Objectives
1. Participants will recognize the role of readiness to learn
and shared focus in the implementation of AAC with children with ASD.
2. Participants will recognize the importance of using motor patterning to develop motor automaticity in children with ASD
3. Participants will examine the use of a form/function profile as well as an interest inventory for use with children with ASD.
4. Participants will recognize implementation strategies for
teaching children with ASD to use AAC.
5. Participants will gain strategies for analyzing the efficacy of communication treatment.
The workshop examines the current research and the history of augmenting speech for people with ASD. Participants will study communication assessment and augmentative implementation procedures, with an emphasis on the use of multi-modal communication systems. Participants will also receive a complimentary copy of PRC’s LAMP Training Manual and DVD, which provide detailed instruction on using PRC’s leading AAC devices to encourage the development of communication among those with ASD.
Seminar Agenda
• 0930-1230 hrs in the Regency Park Theatre,
• Russell Cross 1 hr. What s LAMP? Where & how did it originate? How is it being applied & used in the USA?
• Networking opportunity & refreshment break 20 mins
• Dave Hershberger 30 mins. The Chat PC device: what it is & what it can do. How do people with ASD in the USA actually use this portable AAC device?
• Russell Cross 45 mins. Take-up rates, Results so far. Perceived benefits. Case studies. Relevance to Australians.
• Question & answer session 25 mins.
Russell Cross is a distinguished speech pathologist who has worked in the field of Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) for many years. He has spoken extensively at major assistive technology conferences on several continents & is an accomplished presenter. A Psychology and Linguistics graduate from the University of Lancaster in the UK, with a Post-Graduate qualification from the University of Central England, Russell has worked in the field of AAC since 1984. He is currently Vice President in charge of Products for the Prentke Romich Company (PRC), Ohio USA, which is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of communication devices. Russell is the co-author of many of the Unity series of language application programs that run on PRC devices, author of the WordCore software, and one of the architects of the PRC Distance Learning program, which offers live on-line training
Dave Hershberger is the founder of Saltillo Corporation (USA), a company dedicated to “improving the lives of individuals with disabilities,” through “developing, manufacturing and distributing augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) devices for individuals with speech impairments”. His Chat PC product has been successful in providing many individuals with a portable, unobtrusive communication device. Dave is a vastly experienced speaker who has presented at numerous overseas conferences in the disability sector.
Liberator is a PRC company. Since 1966, the Prentke Romich Company of Wooster, Ohio, has pioneered the development of communication (AAC) devices, computer access products, and other assistive technology for people with severe disabilities. To learn more about PRC, go to www.prentrom.com