Building Emergent Literacy in Children on the Autism Spectrum: The Power of Shared Reading

Format: Recorded video
Access: 30 days unlimited

Course Overview

Research now shows that emergent literacy skills are just as important for children on the autism spectrum as they are for any other children. What’s more, the areas of literacy where children on the spectrum have the most difficulty mirror the areas they struggle with in oral language and communication. So when we promote early literacy in these children, there’s a double benefit: we support the key literacy skills that predict academic success and we support the areas of communication where these children need the most help.

In particular, verbal children on the autism spectrum often need extra support in the area of comprehension. They may be able to read words on a page, but may not fully grasp the meaning of the words. They may understand what’s happening on a basic level, but may have trouble understanding why it’s happening or why characters in the book do or feel what they do. This is related to the common characteristics seen in autism, such as challenges with “theory of mind” (perspective-taking), executive functioning, joint attention and language development.

This 2-hour e-Seminar considers the unique challenges of verbal children on the autism spectrum, and offers evidence-based strategies to help them develop the early literacy skills that can positively impact all areas of their life. You may use these strategies directly with the children you support, or share them with parents to help them continue to promote their child’s literacy development in their daily lives.

Course Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify emergent literacy skills and describe the connection between language and literacy development.
2. Relate the difficulties of children on the autism spectrum with the development of both meaning- and code- related emergent literacy skills.
3. Describe the current research that informs our knowledge of both meaning- and code- related emergent literacy skills in children on the autism spectrum.
4. Apply evidence-based practices that promote literacy development while considering the unique difficulties of children on the autism spectrum in the areas of joint attention, social reciprocity, theory of mind and language development in the home and in early childhood settings.

Professional Development Hours

• This seminar (Introductory Level, Professional Area) is registered for 0.2 ASHA CEUs. Full attendance and participation during the two hours is required. This course focuses on aspects of the Hanen approach to early language intervention and will include no or limited information on other similar or related products or services.
• 2 professional development hours

Presenter Info

Financial: Janice Greenberg, B.Sc., D.S.P., Reg. CASLPO, is Director of Early Childhood Education Services at The Hanen Centre. Her responsibilities include leading Learning Language and Loving It™, ABC and Beyond™ and I'm Ready!™ workshops, and developing resources and materials for use in these workshops and other related trainings. Janice develops resources for Learning Language and Loving It™ – The Hanen Program® for Early Childhood Educators, ABC and Beyond™ – The Hanen Program® for Building Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood Settings and the Hanen I'm Ready™ Program for Building Early Literacy in the Home. She is co-author of the Learning Language and Loving It™, ABC and Beyond™ and I'm Ready!™ guidebooks. She is the author of the Learning Language and Loving It™, ABC and Beyond™ and I'm Ready!™ Leaders Guides and the creator of the Learning Language and Loving It™ DVD. The Hanen Centre holds the copyright to these materials and Janice receives no financial benefit from the sale of these materials. Non-financial: No other relevant non-financial relationships exist. 

 

Financial: Fay McGill, MA CCC-SLP, Reg. CASLPO, is a speech-language pathologist who has worked with children with complex needs, including autism spectrum disorder, and their families since 2004. Fay is employed by The Hanen Centre and leads More Than Words® and 4 “I”s to Socialize™ workshops. She also offers Hanen programs to parents and contributes to program and resource development. Non-financial: No other relevant non-financial relationships exist. 

 

Eligibility

• Professionals who work with young children and their families
• Speech-language pathology and early childhood education students

Note: If you are a parent, this e-Seminar will not meet your learning needs. Find out how Hanen can help you.

Technical Requirements

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Note: This e-Seminar focuses on the information outlined above, and will include no or limited information about similar products or services.