As a speech language pathologist, I have spent many years working with people who have need for communication partners who are competent and confident in what they do. Workshop training is one way to deliver training to help individuals become better communication partners but on line training can be a very effective way to develop knowledge, and hone skills. This course, Setting the Scene, is the first of a series of articulated courses that aims to produce better quality of life outcomes for people with complex communication needs. It does this by hinging complex content onto fundamental and crucial information, in mediums that address a variety of learning styles. In this course there are four segments and each segment has a slide-video presentation and a referenced document complete with references at the end of the course. Blended into the course are activities, cartoons and links to other relevant information. 

Participants will learn about the components of language for both communication and conversation. Conventionally we use speech as our main method of communication. However, speech is only one vehicle for thought. Communication is a multi modal and dynamic system. Unfortunately, for some people, communication may be possible but conversation is elusive. Participants will have the opportunity to explore their own interactions with people who require their communication to be augmented or used with an alternative method to speech. At the conclusion of this segment participants will have a sound appreciation of the impact effective and efficient communication can have on quality of life.

This section provides a broad description of AAC concepts to enable participants to hinge other elements of AAC onto. In turn this will enable participants to more confidently and competently apply their understanding for informed decision making and share information with others. The segment is organised to enable participants to identify that there is no one best method of AAC, but there is a wealth of methods, tools and strategies. Participants will be able to identify aided and unaided methods and three different types of accessing. A smorgasboard of communication tools (some high tech, some low and light tech), but a paucity of time to learn and practice AAC is acknowledged in the literature. Attention is therefore drawn to the fundamentals of AAC that could accelerate the process of knowing which elements make a communication system the best fit. That includes ensuring a communication system is portable, readable, meaningful and sustainable. AAC is presented as a dynamic system where literacy and access to trained communication partners are critical components. 

Participants will be provided with the knowledge surrounding models of exclusion and inclusion in western society. In the 21st century, attention is drawn to concepts of presumed competence, symmetrical conversation and the Communication Bill of Rights. In addition, the concept of different levels of functionality for ALL individuals is discussed. Participants attention is drawn to stakeholder needs and responsibilities; collaborative and inclusive practices; and the critical role played by communication partners.

Participants will be able to identify elements that are instrumental in being able to make meaning and ‘talk the same talk’ using multimodal communication. The role of the communication partner, past and present will be discussed in light of the need to enable individuals with complex communication needs, to attain their potential and engage - not merely with communication, but conversation. In addition, this segment addresses the strategies used by communication partners in a variety of domains - not just the language domain.  In contrast to a large body of literature focusing on what a communication partner fails to do, this segment introduces participants to direction of attention to what the communication partners do well. This sets the scene for participants being able to discuss factors that may accelerate the trajectory of communication partner training and its outcomes. 

In this section you will find instructions for obtaining your certificate of completion document and all the references sourced for the creation of this course.