We are excited to present TalkTools live webinar offering 2.0! We introduced speech & feeding live webinars in May 2017, starting with subjects like Oral Placement Therapy, Feeding, Autism and Apraxia, reflecting TalkTools most popular courses in other Continuing Education options (live workshops and self study). We now have new courses that are offered exclusively as live webinars, in a shorter format, more affordable, addressing different audiences, and always based on the latest research conducted by TalkTools presenters themselves. Here's what's new:

• Dysphagia: Aspiration & Oral Care (0.3 CEUs) with Colette Ellis M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BCS-S

This three-hour webinar looked at current statistics and information on dysphagia. Discussion included a sensory-motor approach for evaluation and therapy for individuals with dysphagia, and targeted prevention and treatment of aspiration and aspiration pneumonia. 

• SPD: Becoming an advocate for your child (no CEUs) with Monica Purdy, MA, CCC-SLP & Michele Gianetti, RN

Next date: Saturday, September 16, 2017

This one-hour free webinar is offered to parents to help them overcome the difficulties of back-to-school with a special needs child and prepare them for IEP meetings. Monica & Michele will help parents know the signs of SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), get a proper diagnosis for their child, and develop a holistic plan that includes the entire team involved in their child's life.

• OPT for TBI Clients (0.2 CEUs) with Renee Roy Hill, MS, CCC-SLP

Next date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017

This two-hour webinar will be discussing how OPT (Oral Placement Therapy) can be highly effective when working with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) clients. Renee includes real-life examples and scenarios, allowing participants to see firsthand how the quality of life for these individuals has improved through integration of OPT as part of a holistic therapeutic approach.

• Feeding Disorders in Schools: Ethics and Remediation (0.2 CEUs) with Robyn Merkel Walsh, MA, CCC-SLP

Next date: Friday, October 13, 2017

This two-hour webinar will focus on ethics and service delivery models for feeding disorders in the school based setting. Robyn, who has served in the NJ public schools for the past 23 years as a full time employee and independent feeding consultant, will provide an overview of the medical and functional etiologies of feeding disorders in school-aged children. She will describe how a multidisciplinary team can be a beneficial part of an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).

• Insider's Guide to Straw Hierarchy (0.2 CEUs) with Renee Roy Hill, MS, CCC-SLP

Next date: Tuesday, December 5, 2017

This two-hour webinar will cover what the straw kit instructions don't tell you! Renee will provide in-depth information on incorporating the TalkTools Straw Hierarchy as part of your OPT techniques in your everyday practice. She will demonstrate best practices and hands-on demonstrations that she utilizes in her therapy practice.

Still in the making - stay tuned!:

• TOTs (Tethered Oral Tissues)
• Another course on Sensory Processing Disorder
• Swallowing studies
• Orthodontics and OPT
• OPT for clients in palliative care

Who's excited? 😁😁😁

We are proud to introduce WEBINARS as a new option for your Continuing Education!

Web conferencing allows participants to enjoy real time interactions with TalkTools Instructors in the comfort of their own home or office.

As summer approaches, Continuing Education offers are going to thin out, but we have you covered.

We are starting with a choice of four one-day courses, each offered for ASHA & AOTA CEUs. Registration is open!

• June 9, 2017 - OPT to Improve Speech Clarity and Feeding Skills (0.5 CEUs)
• June 23, 2017 - Solving the Puzzle of Autism: Using Tactile Therapy Techniques (0.6 CEUs)
• July 13, 2017 - Feeding Therapy: A Sensory Motor Approach (0.6 CEUs)
• Coming soon - Sensory Motor Approach to Apraxia of Speech (0.6 CEUs)

Early Bird Pricing is offered up to 15 days before each date for $120, then fee raises to $150. Group rates are available as well: buy 4 tickets get 1 free!

And here is the best part yet: we are giving away ONE webinar ticket this month! Enter below for a chance to win:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

As we navigate together through this new experience, please let us know of any feedback you may have!

"A Systematic Approach to Teaching Speech to Non-Vocal Individuals with Autism" (1.2 CEUs)

Developing functional speech in non-vocal clients with Autism as well as those with challenging behaviors can be one of the biggest challenges when they do not respond to traditional verbal modeling approaches.

Developed by TalkTools Instructors Renee Roy Hill, MS, CCC-SLP & Risca Solomon, MS, BCBA, this new course is a comprehensive program that combines principles of Applied Behavior Analysis with Oral Placement Therapy and is readily applicable to Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Behavior Analysts. It is available live since 2016, now online and in DVD.

For Behavior Analysts, the course demonstrates the importance of using specific techniques within hierarchies to develop the oral placement skills for speech and feeding. For Speech and Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists, this course demonstrates techniques developed within the Applied Behavior Analysis field to maximize learning for functional speech using reinforcement based procedures. The course guides all participants through a complete program beginning with developing cooperation and ending with functional vocabulary. 

The course is offered for 1.2 ASHA & AOTA approved CEUs, or 12 Contact Hours.

Learning outcomes:

Participants will be able to: 

• Describe how the science of Applied Behavior Analysis in conjunction with oral placement and tactile therapies can be used to teach non-verbal or non-imitative clients with autism to speak.
• Identify the prerequisite skills necessary to teach vocal speech and apply 3-4 techniques in the applied behavior analysis research that have been used to develop vocalizations.
• Describe the sequential steps of developing functional communication beginning with motivation, reinforcement, motor imitation and specific shaping strategies that can be used to maximize learning of functional speech.
• Explain how many non-verbal clients with autism have underlying oral motor and motor planning deficits that should be addressed.
• Apply specific task analyzed techniques to assist the therapist in applying TalkTools hierarchies to individuals with autism.
• Identify the connection between oral placement skills and the motor aspects of speech
• Apply specific sequential techniques to transition oral placement skills to functional speech for those clients not responding to traditional verbal modeling and shaping techniques.

Learn more 

And here is the best part: we are giving away 1 FREE online course / month. Enter now to participate!

"Everyone really enjoyed the course.  All of the feedback I’ve gotten has also been positive.  Lori did a wonderful job presenting.  Chad did a great job handling everything on site.  It all went very smoothly.  And Linda was great to work with as well.  I appreciate all her help as we were getting ready for the course. We wanted to share one story with you from the weekend. One of our SLP’s was unable to make the first day because her child was sick and Chad and Linda took care of her.  She was able to watch a presentation of the first day on line at home and join everyone on the second day.  I got the following text from her around lunchtime that day “These people are wonderful!!!! They sent me great email with easy steps to follow and then called me to follow up.  I am watching the video now and will try to be ready tomorrow.  Loving the great customer service from TalkTools and SpeakAbility.”  We really appreciated all they did to help her. And we were also pleased with how good it was for our company.  Thank you for asking us to host the course."

        ~ Frances, Host in Charlotte

"The interest that the course of last Saturday generated was so high that some professionals are talking about traveling to continue with deeper training. The demand is there, the opportunity is real."

      ~ Nellie, Host in Puerto Rico

"We have already seen improvement with many of our clients using the skills Monica taught us!"

      ~ Erica, Host in San Diego

These testimonials come from organizations that hosted a TalkTools® workshop in their facility. What it means is that you host the workshop of your choice (see the list below) at your facility, TalkTools® provides all learning material and markets it to professionals in your region. Hosts can be private practices, non-profit organizations, parent groups, or other types of organizations able to meet the requirements. This is how we get to travel across the country (and more!) to train therapists of all horizons.

Here's a list of workshops available for hosting:

• A Three-Part Treatment Plan for Oral Placement Therapy (1.2 CEU)
• Feeding Therapy: A Sensory-Motor Approach (1.2 CEU)
• A Sensory Motor Approach to Apraxia of Speech and Related Motor Speech Disorders (1.2 CEU)
• Oral Placement Therapy: Assessment and Program Plan Development (1.2 CEU)
• Developing Oral Sensory Motor Skills to Support Feeding in the Down Syndrome Population (0.6 CEU)
• Rehabilitative Feeding and Speech Techniques for Teens and Adults (0.6 CEU)
• Oral Placement Therapy to Improve Speech Clarity and Feeding Skills (0.6 CEU)
• Pediatric Dysphagia: Interpreting the MBSS and Planning Treatment (0.6 CEU)
• Adult Dysphagia: Interpreting the MBSS and Planning Treatment (0.6 CEU)
• Oral Placement to Speech: Transitioning Muscle Memory into Speech Sound Production (0.6 CEU)
• Partnering Effectively with Parents: Maximize the Potential of Children Receiving Therapy (0.6 CEU)
• Solving the Puzzle of Autism: Using Tactile Therapy Techniques (0.6 CEU)
• Oral Placement Therapy: Clinical Implications for Tongue Thrust and Lisp (0.6 CEU)
• Sensory Intervention Techniques for Speech-Language Pathologists (0.6 CEU)

• TalkTools® has been known for its quality, clinically relevant Continuing Education since 1996.
• 75,000+ SLPs have attended our workshops with over 95% recommending them to their colleagues.
• Our email database has over 30,000 contacts, with the possibility to send geo-targeted campaigns.

• EDUCATE YOUR STAFF with unique learning material, appropriate CEUs, free products and other advantages.
• BE A KNOWLEDGE GENERATOR by educating your audience to cutting edge clinical strategies that can be implemented right away.
• DEVELOP PUBLIC RELATIONS with professionals and families affected by speech and feeding disabilities in your community.