Training
About the More Than Words® Workshop
This three-day Advanced Hanen Workshop provides intensive, small-group training to Hanen Certified Speech-Language Pathologists/Therapists (SLP/Ts) on More Than Words – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It addresses the integration of current research on best practice in the treatment of children with ASD with the Hanen approach, which empowers parents to facilitate their child’s language skills in everyday contexts.
The More Than Words workshop:
- Is only for Hanen SLP/Ts who have taken the It Takes Two to Talk® Certification Workshop prerequisite and have current certification.
If you are not a speech language pathologist/therapist, click here.
- Is aimed at SLP/Ts who work with preschool children (0-5) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.
- Covers key principles which guide the provision of intervention to children with ASD, such as: understanding and accommodating the child’s sensory preferences; the importance of positive affect as a means of promoting learning; and the child’s need for predictability and structure.
- Focuses on the core strategies in the More Than Words Program, such as when and how to follow the child’s lead, structuring routines to maximize interaction and using visual supports within everyday interactions, and helping parents apply these strategies flexibly and across contexts.
Workshop Objectives
After completing this three-day workshop, SLP/Ts will be able to:
- Lead More Than Words – The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Discuss current intervention approaches for children with ASD and how More Than Words integrates principles of best practice in the treatment of children with ASD.
- Teach parents language facilitation strategies that are specifically adapted to the needs of children with autism spectrum disorder.
- Utilize principles of adult education to provide parents with the training and support they need to apply program strategies flexibly and across contexts.
- Select appropriate communication goals for individual children with ASD based on program content.
- Assess videotaped parent-child interactions and provide appropriate feedback to parents in terms of their application of program strategies within these interactions.
Workshop Format
Throughout the workshop, SLPs participate in experiential, hands-on activities as the Instructor guides them through the process of leading a More Than Words Program. Principles of adult learning and family-centered practice are incorporated throughout. IMPORTANT: Full attendance and participation in all three days of the workshop is mandatory.
Click here to download the More Than Words Workshop Agenda
Prerequisites:
The More Than Words workshop is open to all Hanen Certified speech-language pathologists/therapists whose who have completed the It Takes Two to Talk Hanen workshop and whose certification is current. It is strongly recommended that:
- Participants have led an It Takes Two to Talk Program since completing their initial Hanen Certification Workshop
- Three months elapse between attendance at the initial Certification Workshop and this Advanced Hanen Workshop, so that participants have an opportunity to apply the program information in their work with families before attending the Advanced Workshop.
Workshop Fees & Materials
See individual workshops for Early bird and Regular fees. Included in your workshop fee is the full set of More Than Words resources.
- More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Sussman, 1999)
- An Introduction to Hanen DVD
- Powerpoint slides with embedded video clips
Upon Completion of the workshop
Participants are certified to run More Than Words– The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder according to specified guidelines and to use the Hanen name and logo when running these programs. Certification renewal for this program occurs at the same time as It Takes Two to Talk certification renewal (at no extra cost).
Continuing Education Credits
This course is offered for 2.1 CEUs (Advanced Level: Professional Area).
Non-North America/International
Hanen registers all workshops scheduled in Canada and the United States for ASHA CEUs. If Canadian or American participants attending a workshop outside of North America require ASHA credits, please email ceu@hanen.org to contact the ASHA CEU Administrator for The Hanen Centre at or Requests must be received no later than six weeks prior to start date of the workshop.
Accommodations
Workshop participants are responsible for researching and arranging their own travel and accommodations.
About the Hanen Workshop Instructor
All Hanen Workshops are led by a Hanen Instructor who has successfully completed rigorous training from The Hanen Centre on how to train other SLPs to run Hanen Programs. In addition to leading Hanen Workshops for The Hanen Centre, all Hanen Instructors are SLPs who practice in a variety of settings, and lead Hanen Programs as part of the clinical services they offer in their respective places of employment.
Non-SLPs
Currently Hanen’s certification workshops are only available for speech language pathologists/therapists. However, from professional conferences to local community-group meetings, The Hanen Centre's professional staff speaks at a variety of venues throughout the year to increase understanding of how the adults in a young child's life can truly make a difference to the child's language, social and literacy development.
For more information on bringing a presentation to your organization or community please email presentations@hanen.org.