ASHA Learning Pass

Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 stating that people with disabilities should have access to their communities, a critical component has often been overlooked – training emergency first responders to communicate with people who have complex communication needs. In this session, two SLPs demonstrate how they have trained nearly 2,000 emergency first responders. The presentation covers the curriculum presented to the first responders (via lecture, videos, and the use of small-group activities with role-playing scenarios) since starting their method of training in 2017. 

Content disclosure: This session focuses on a specific training program for emergency first responders.

This course is a recorded session from the 2022 ASHA Convention Virtual Library (session 2026V).

Related Courses

See more sessions from the 2022 ASHA Convention.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• State why it is important for emergency first responders to have information on how to communicate with individuals who have complex communication needs
• Discuss information concerning individuals with complex communication needs with emergency first responders in order to meet the needs of the person with complex communication needs
• Describe ways to replicate the training for first responders in your own community

Presenter Information

Mariesa Rang, MA, CCC-SLP (presenting author) has taught undergraduate- and graduate-level courses at two universities over the last 8 years, most recently at Western Michigan University, while simultaneously working on a doctorate degree. She has been heavily involved in community outreach in the area of augmentative & alternative communication, and in 2017 she co-launched an educational program for first responders in regards to communication in emergency situations with individuals who use AAC.

Financial Disclosures:

• Conference registration fee waived for presenting at Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association conference
• Gift card as thank-you gift following a presentation at the Inclusion Conference in Michigan
• Grants from Psi Iota Xi and Answers for Autism for travel expenses related to training first responders
• Grants from START Project (through College of Arts & Sciences) and Community Engagement (through Office of Academic Affairs and the Institute for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavors) to expand training program for first responders

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Member of Disaster Response Committee for United States Society for Augmentative Alternative Communication (USSAAC)
• Linda & Jerry Vandeveer Impact Award for community service related to training first responders in the area of augmentative & alternative communication
• Voluntarily taught/trained emergency first responders about individuals who have complex communication needs and AAC

Sharon Mankey, MAT, CCC-SLP (presenting author) is a retired Assistant Professor and Director of Purdue University Fort Wayne Communication Disorders Clinic. Ms. Mankey began training emergency first responders in how to better communicate with individuals with complex communication needs in the state of Indiana in 2016 and to date has trained approximately 2.000 first responders in Indiana and Michigan.

Financial Disclosures:

• Grants from Psi Iota Xi and Answers for Autism for travel expenses related to training first responders
• Grants from START Project (through College of Arts & Sciences) and Community Engagement (through Office of Academic Affairs and the Institute for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavors) to expand training program for first responders
• Conference fee waived for Michigan Speech Language/Hearing Association conference
• Gift card for presentation at Michigan Inclusion Conference

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• Membership in ISAAC and USSAAC
• Membership in the Indiana Speech/Language/Hearing Association

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 the learning assessment by the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Content origination date: November 2022
End date: February 1, 2029

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level, Related area).