R-1 Battery Not Included: Assessing Complex Communication Needs of Students Who Cannot Access Formalized Testing
Presenter
Format and Time
- In-Person Training: 5 hours (8:30-2:30)
Content
When students can't access formal test batteries, teams are often left without clear next steps. Yet meaningful assessment is essential for developing appropriate goals and interventions. This training focuses on evaluating students with extensive and multiple support needs—including those with complex bodies and communication profiles where learning, behavior, and access are deeply intertwined. Participants will explore how cognitive, perceptual, and motor differences impact communication. We'll bridge theory with practical strategies, emphasizing how to identify purposeful response patterns, select appropriate tools, and build a comprehensive understanding of students who cannot participate in traditional assessments. This session will equip you with tools and perspectives that are often missing in standard training.
Intended Audience
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). Audience may include multidisciplinary teams working to conduct preschool or Augmentative-Alternative Communication (AAC) assessments, e.g., SLP with school psychologists, childhood special education teachers, and/or occupational therapists.
Participants Will
- Differentiate between intentional behavior and intentional communication.
- Determine potentially communicative acts in persons with complex physical/sensory impairments.
- Understand the most current and supported theories on the development of symbolic representation.
- Explore testing materials with a current student's case in mind to cultivate an assessment plan to reveal the student's strengths and reliable abilities.
