Functional Communication Plans: An Essential Tool for Supporting Non or Minimally Speaking Students

Functional Communication Plans: An Essential Tool for Supporting Non or Minimally Speaking Students

An xMinds Event

Date and Time:  Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location:  Online

Cost: Free

FLYER

The ability to communicate is essential for all students. Are you satisfied with how your student is developing communication skills? Do you feel there is more that could be done to help your student express their thoughts, make requests, and demonstrate what they know?

Join us on October 21 for an online panel discussion to learn about Functional Communication Plans (FCPs), an effective tool that many parents are unaware they can request. 

Our guest panelists will discuss the best practices for creating and implementing FCPs, as well as how to overcome common pitfalls, monitor the FCP,  and make course-corrections along the way.  FCPs, used well, can help reach the goal of meaningful, functional communication -- not just at school, but also at home and in the community.  You'll also have a chance to ask our panelists questions.

Each panelist has extensive experience working with students who have communication challenges, and Joy Johnson brings, in addition, her unique perspective as someone who was a nonspeaking child. 

Registration is Required:  When you register, you will receive a confirmation email containing your link to join the webinar. Check your junk email if you don't see your confirmation email immediately.

Guest Speaker Bios:

Lesley Fontana, M.A., CCC-SLP: Speech–Language Pathologist.

Lesley has over 20 years of experience working in pediatric speech-language pathology. She has worked in the hospital and private practice settings (CA, VA, MD) as well as early intervention and public school settings (OH, CA, VA). She has experience writing Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) and has worked with many special education attorneys/advocates to provide appropriate services for children. Lesley has received training and has had extensive experience using a variety of low technology and high technology augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems to support functional communication and social interaction. Lesley moved to MD in 2018 and currently works for The Children’s SPOT, Inc. Her first love is collaborating with fellow therapists and establishing home programs with her families.

Paul Livelli, Ph.D.: Educational Consultant and Behavior Intervention Specialist 

Paul has been a special education teacher for students with autism, emotional disturbance, and juvenile offenders in both public and private programs. He worked for eight years at Sheppard Pratt Health System supervising nine special education schools for students with autism throughout the State of Maryland. Paul has also served as a research associate for the University of Maryland in College Park, where he taught courses on autism, classroom management, social communication and supervised graduate students in their practicum placements. Paul has presented at many conferences both nationally and internationally on educating students with disabilities who exhibit significant behavioral difficulties. Currently, Paul is an educational consultant at Weinfeld Education Group, serving families and school systems in Maryland, DC and Virginia. 

Joy F. Johnson, M.Ed, M.S.: Behavior Specialist, Inclusion Specialist, Autism Advocate, and Founder of Spectrum Support.

 Joy partners with organizations, individuals, and families to improve the lives of autistic people. After spending years working in clinical settings, non-profits, and schools, her experience enables her to truly serve and represent autism community members in various contexts. Joy holds a Masters in Education, a Masters in Psychology with a specialization in ABA, and is currently a PhD candidate. In addition to her extensive educational and professional experiences, she has the lived experience of being autistic, which  provides her with a unique perspective, knowledge, and source of passion.