ASHA Learning Pass

SLPs who work with individuals with development disabilities across the life span are often confronted with myths that may limit the communication of their clients, students, and patients. This webinar will examine some of these myths and how they affect the delivery of communication services and supports. The speakers will share evidence and case examples that debunk these myths and explain strategies you may use to change perceptions.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Identify myths that hamper communication service delivery for individuals with developmental disabilities
• Communicate the evidence base to debunk myths
• Offer strategies to challenge false beliefs

Presenter Information

MaryAnn Romski, PhD, CCC-SLP (she/her/hers) is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and Regents Professor of Communication, Psychology, and Communication Sciences & Disorders at Georgia State University. She is the Director of the Center for Research on Atypical Development and Learning (CRADL) and a founding member of the Center on Research on Challenges to Acquiring Language & Literacy. She is a Fellow of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), ASHA, and the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. She received the Honors of ASHA in 2015, the AAIDD Leadership Award in 2019, and the AAIDD President’s Award in 2021. Her research and practice program focuses on the communication development of children and adults with developmental disabilities who do not use speech as their primary means of expression. She has developed and evaluated computerized communication interventions including a self-guided app to teach parents communication strategies to use with their children at home. Dr. Romski has published three books and more than 150 articles and chapters and has given numerous national and international presentations. She is the past chair of the National Joint Committee on the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities and remains a member. She is the co-editor of AAC.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Member of the National Joint Committee on the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities

Rose A. Sevcik, PhD, is Regents’ Professor of Psychology at Georgia State University and Co-Director of the Center for Research on the Challenges of Acquiring Language and Literacy. She is a Fellow of ASHA, the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), and the Association for Psychological Science (APS). She is past president of AAIDD’s Communication Disorders Division and former coordinator for ASHA’s Special Interest Division 12. Her funded research program focuses on the language, literacy, and communication development of children and youth with developmental disabilities. She has an extensive publication record and has given numerous presentations to national and international audiences. She is Co-Chair of the National Joint Committee on the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities and the co-editor of AAC.

Financial Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Co-chair and member of the National Joint Committee on the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete and submit the learning assessment by the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Live webinar date: August 29, 2023
End date: August 31, 2028

This course is offered for 0.2 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Related area).