TRAINING AND EVENTS
FOR 2022-2023

Click here for our events calendar. Many events are added to the calendar
and open for registration approximately 30 days before the event.

LAST UPDATED ON 5/9/23

Select a link below to jump to disability-specific training opportunities.

Autism Training and Resource Center

Blind/Visually Impaired

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deafblindness

Orthopedic Impairment

Traumatic Brain Injury

 AUTISM TRAINING AND RESOURCE CENTER 

Conducting Autism Evaluations and Determining Eligibility
October 6, 2022
8:30 - 3:30 PM
Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two Rivers Conference Room

2-Day OrPATS Workshop: Implementing ABA & Evidence-Based Practices as used in the STAR Program
November 2 & 3, 2022
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two Rivers Conference Room

Social Communication Assessment for Autism Evaluations: Inservice for SLPs

November 30, 2022

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Format: Virtual via Zoom

Video Modeling: An Evidence-Based Practice for Autism

April 13, 2023

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two Rivers Conference Room

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Strategies to Support Autistic Students Across Settings

April 27, 2023

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two Rivers Conference Room

Additional Autism Workshops In Development
Dates to be Announced

Autism and Structured Teaching for Students Requiring Very Substantial Support (Level 3 severity)

Supporting Autistic Students: A Multipart Series for Paraeducators

Autism and Inclusive Classroom Practices (Level 1 severity)

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Students on the Autism Spectrum

Autism and Fundamentals of Effective Instruction and Skill Development

Autism and Practical Behavior Management Strategies in the Classroom

Peer Mediated Interventions for Students on the Autism Spectrum

Autism Webinars (1 to 2 hours) in Development

Autism Identification through an Equity Lens: Girls, Black and Latino Children

Autism, Bullying Prevention and Emotional Safety

Autism Guest Presenters and Special Projects

USING NATURAL LANGUAGE ACQUISITION TO SUPPORT LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN GESTALT LANGUAGE PROCESSORS: A TWO-PART SERIES
Featuring Marge Blanc, MA, CCC-SLP, author of "Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum"

ACCEPT, IDENTIFY, MOVE (AIM) CURRICULUM - TWO DAY CONFERENCE!
An evidence-based program for teaching social-emotional understanding, coping and mindfulness skills, and the tools needed to navigate the social world and develop positive interpersonal relationships.  
February 1 & 2, 2023

Featuring Adam D. Hahs, PhD, BCBA-D
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University

PRACTICAL FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT AND SKILL-BASED TREATMENT (PFA SBT)
An evidence-based approach for supporting neurodivergent children and youth with very significant behavioral support needs. This is an extension of the 2021-2022 apprenticeship, train-the-trainer

Offered in collaboration with Dr. Gregory Hanley and FTF Behavioral Consulting

Check back for additional guest presenters and opportunities!

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - 2nd (ADOS-2) Workshop 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

March 14 & 15, 2023
Toddler Module May 24, 2023 (separate registration required)

Featuring Dr. Tanya St. John, Autism Center at the University of Washington

Looking for training on the STAR or LINKS curriculum in Oregon? Click here

REGIONWIDE AUTISM
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

Regionwide Autism PLC meetings are held on second Mondays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The purpose of the Regionwide Autism PLC is to foster collegiality among educational professionals specialized in supporting children and youth on the autism spectrum, to share information and resources, and to participate in professional development. 

If you play a specialized role in your district leading or providing autism and behavioral services (e.g., autism specialist, BCBA, inclusion specialist) and would like to be included in the Regionwide Autism PLC? Email Darthea Park at dpark@pps.net.

Autism PLC Meeting Dates for 2022-2023

• October 10, 2022
• November 14, 2022
• December 12, 2022 - Special Guest! Amy Gravino on autism, relationships, and sexuality  
• January 9, 2023
• February 13, 2023
• March 13, 2023
• April 10, 2023
• May 8, 2023

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BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED (BVI)

Designing an Accessible Academic Experience for Students with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)

Featuring Matt Tietjen, M.Ed., CTVI  

March 20 - April 6 - April 17 - May 4

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Format: Virtual via Zoom

Effective AAC System Design for Students with CVI

March 23, 2023

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Format: Virtual via Zoom

What to Expect When You Have a Visually Impaired Student in Your Classroom
Date TBA
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Presenters: Teachers of the Visually Impaired & Orientation and Mobility Specialists

Working with Visually Impaired Students as a Paraeducator in the Classroom
Date TBA
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Presenters: Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility Specialists and Paraeducator Trainers

Statewide CVI Conference
October 6-7, 2022

This is an opportunity for Oregon Regional Inclusive Services TVIs to collaborate and come together and learn about current CVI research, promising practices and some amazing new strategies and tools to use for students with CVI.

Topics will include CVI and AAC focus, sensory balance for LMAs, learn to make animated books, active learning and O&M, what’s new in the world of CVI, babies and CVI.

COMING SUMMER 2023!

For information regarding the ECC Summer Camp for students who are
blind and visually impaired, contact Scott Wall at swall1@pps.net

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DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (DHH)

DHH Play Group!  

Who is this for?
Children and families birth-to-age five, Deaf and Hard of Hearing

What time does it occur?
10:00 AM to 11:15 AM 

Where is Play Group?
At our Wilcox Elementary School building, offices for Columbia Regional Inclusive Services (CRIS) 
833 NE 74th Avenue
Portland, OR 97213

What are the dates?

• September 30, 2022
• October 28, 2022
• November 18, 2022
• January 13, 2023
• February 24, 2023
• March 10, 2023
• April 14, 2023
• May 12, 2023

Please contact Jennifer Goshman with any questions.

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DEAFBLIND (DB)

2022-23 Oregon Deafblind Multi-Tiered Training Scope and Sequence

Contact Information: Lea Cook at lcook@pps.net or 503-916-5570 x 78235

Enroll with the following link: Oregon Deafblind Multi-Tiered Training Registration  

The Oregon Deafblind Multi-Tiered Training is structured with independent, synchronous, and in-person components. Participants will be expected to participate in synchronous virtual meeting scheduled for 60-90 minutes to review topics, answer questions, and support participants' implementation of strategies. Participants have the option to complete monthly modules in their own time. Most Open Hands, Open Access (OHOA) modules are approximately 4-6 hours to view and complete the tasks. Lastly, participants are offered opportunities for the Statewide DeafBlind TOSA to visit their sites, or virtual program, to provide direct consultation. 

Thursday November 3, 2022 - Zoom Welcome, 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives:

• Successfully access the online learning platform.

• Recognize that deaf-blindness is a disability of access to information that results in significant challenges in interactions and learning.

• Understand the key areas of impact on students who are deafblind.

• Describe key instructional principles and strategies that are effective in educating and interacting with these learners.

• Understand the Principles of Intervention.

November 2022:

Module 2: Sensory Systems, The Brain and Learning 

Zoom Meeting December 1, 2022 from 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives

• Understand the importance of each of the seven senses.

• Understand the brain-senses connection and its impact on learning.

• Understand some general strategies for supporting a student's learning.

• Understand basic information about all seven senses.

• Know how to identify additional resources to learn more.

December 2022:

In person simulations

Module 4: Building Trusting Relationships and Positive Self-Image

Module 5: Availability for Learning

Zoom Meeting December 15th, 2022 from 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the internal and external factors that influence a student’s availability to learn.

• Be able to identify a student’s state of arousal and how to influence it so the student is available to communicate and learn.

• Be able to identify a student’s likes and dislikes and know how to use those preferences to support the student‘s availability to learn.

• Be able to identify the strongest sensory channels for a student and know how to adapt activities and actions in ways that take advantage of those channels.

• Be able to identify a student’s stress level and identify strategies that can support the student’s availability for communicating and learning. 

January 2023:

Field Visits: Visiting the school site (virtual or in-person).

Module 25: Touch for Connecting and Learning

Zoom Meeting January 26, 2023 from 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives:

• Reflect on your own experiences with touch and learn about the varying cultural, personal, and physical boundaries that influence how human beings relate to one another with touch.

• Be able to explain the importance of touch as an access point for students who are deaf-blind and how to use touch in a variety of environments.

• Discover the spectrum of touch support needs and how to provide the appropriate amount of touch support to students on an individual basis. 

February 2023: 

Module 7: Emerging Communication

Zoom Meeting February 23, 2023 from 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives:

• Develop knowledge about "movements," "sounds," and "touching objects," and recognize them as meaningful, concrete, purposeful behaviors.

• Know how to establish "shared experiences" with a student.

• Gain insight into how experiences leave bodily-emotional traces in the memory and how students express these memory traces in their behavior.

• Understand strategies that can be used to develop gestures, meaningful sounds, and objects of reference (object cues) based on forms of communication.

• Understand the steps that need to be taken to expand concrete communication forms before moving on to abstract communication forms.

March 2023:  

Module 9: Routines

Zoom Meeting March 23, 2023 from 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives:

• Describe routines as a foundation for early learning, concept development, and interactions.

• Describe how routines support and organize learning for students who are deaf-blind by compensating for sensory gaps.

• Explain the importance of collaboration with family members and the use of routines in both home and school environments.

• Identify how routines support the student, the intervener, the teacher, and the family.

• Identify how routines are a framework for assessment and intervention.

• List the prerequisites and considerations for designing and using routines.

• Identify the steps for reviewing routine materials with a student and the process for developing a dialogue for communication.

• Create and evaluate an effective routine for a case-study student.

• Describe ways to expand on routines to help a student make progress.

• Summarize the importance of routines for learning all types of skills. 

April 2023:

Module 10: Concept Development

Zoom Meeting April 27th, 2023 from 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the impact of deaf-blindness on an individual’s development of concepts and incidental learning.

• Compare and contrast skill development and concept development.

• Recognize that trusting relationships are essential for the development of concepts about the self (and concepts about the self are essential for learning).

• Recognize the role of touch and exploration in the development of concepts and active learning.

• Identify the role of language and communication in the development of concepts.

• Describe methods for incorporating experiential learning and functional tasks.

• Apply deaf-blind strategies in the development of routines that support active learning and concept development.

May 2023:

Field Visits: Visiting the school site (virtual or in-person).

Zoom Meeting May 25th, 2023 from 4-5:30pm

Learning Objectives:

• Review topics covered throughout the year and create implementation plans for the end of the year and beginning of the next school year.

Enroll with the following link: Oregon Deafblind Multi-Tiered Training Registration

Questions? Please contact Lea Cook at lcook@pps.net or 503-916-5570 x 78235

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ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, AUGMENTATIVE & ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION

Adapted Play for Students with Complex Motor and Communication Needs

December 5, 2022 

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two-Rivers Conference Room

AAC for Emergent Communicators in EI/ECSE

January 19, 2023

12:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two-Rivers Conference Room

Communication Evaluation for Beginning Communicators

February 15, 2023

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Format: Virtual via Zoom

Effective AAC System Design for Students with CVI

March 23, 2023

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Format: Virtual via Zoom

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Strategies to Support Autistic Students Across Settings  

April 27, 2023

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two-Rivers Conference Room

Obtaining Funding for Assistive Technology, AAC, and Motor Equipment: A Panel Presentation and Discussion

Date TBD 

Format: Virtual, estimated 2 hour duration

OI Guest Presenters and Special Projects

EVERY MOVE COUNTS: CLICKS AND CHATS: A VIRTUAL FOUR-PART TRAINING SERIES
Featuring Jane Korsten, M.S., CCC-SLP

March 15  -  April 5  -  April 19  -  May 10
8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Virtual via Zoom
 

Make Learning Accessible, Inclusive and Awesome for All - including AAC Users!
Featuring Christopher R. Bugaj, M.A. CCC-SLP. Educational Experience Designer - Inclusive Design Facilitator - Speech-Language Pathologist - Author - Presenter

MAY 26, 2023
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Format: In-Person at CRIS, Two Rivers Conference Room

Working Together to Create and Monitor Interprofessional Collaborative Goals: A Workshop for OTs, PTs and other Service Providers
with Peggy Morris, OTD, OTR/L, BCP & Carlo Vialu, PT, MBA

Date TBD 

REGIONWIDE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PLC

The AT PLC emphasizes support for students with complex communication and motor needs with low incidence disabilities, with a focus on access (e.g., ability switches, adapted toys, accessing computers and devices) and AAC. SLPs, special education teachers, OTs, and others with specialized expertise and interest in this area are welcome to attend!

AT PLC Meeting Dates for 2022-2023

• October 20, 2022
• December 1, 2022 
• January 12, 2023
• March 2, 2023
• April 6, 2023
• May 18, 2023

Would you like to join the AT PLC or have other questions? Contact Ruth McKee. 

ORTHOPEDIC IMPAIRMENT PLC

The OI PLC emphasizes services provided by physical therapists and occupational therapists for students with complex motor needs. Mobility, standing, transferring, positioning, seating, and various professional issues are discussed. If you are an early childhood or school-based therapist in Multnomah, Clackamas, Hood River, or Wasco counties you are welcome to join the OI PLC!

The OI PLC is facilitated by our consulting physical therapist, Erin Bompiani.

Meetings are held on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM via Zoom.

2022-2023 Dates

• October 5, 2022
• November 2, 2022
• December 7, 2022
• January 4, 2023
• February 1, 2023
• March 1, 2022
• April 5, 2022
• May 3, 2023
• June meeting TBD

AT & AAC TRAINING TOPICS AVAILABLE PER DISTRICT REQUEST

Did you know that districts in our region may request custom trainings specifically for their staff?

The following list represents topics that we can focus upon, combine, or customize based upon staff interests and needs. To request a workshop, contact Darthea Park at dpark@pps.net or contact any member of the OI team.

Assessment of Children with Complex Communication Needs: Assessing children with Complex Communication Needs for eligibility and program planning purposes can be challenging.  In this training, we will review state eligibility requirements and share assessment tools and strategies that school districts have found helpful in this process.

Communication Partner Training: Successful communication is dependent not only on the augmentative communication tools available but also on communication strategies. This training will teach partner skills, in addition to student skills, that are critical to allow students to develop effective communication.

Partner Assisted Scanning: Partner assisted scanning is a way for communication "partners" to "assist" students by listing or "scanning" through possible choices.  It is an especially valuable strategy for those who have severe motor challenges and limited functional vision.

AAC Implementation Ideas and How to Get Started: May be customized to emphasize different age groups (EI/ECSE, School-Aged).  This training will focus on providing educators and therapists working in early intervention or in school-aged settings with evidence-based techniques for teaching and implementing AAC. Topics will include incorporating the use of core vocabulary for motivating activities and also for communication for academic tasks (Science experiments, etc.).

No tech and light tech AAC Ideas: Have you wondered why, in this fast-paced world of technology, no tech or light technology tools should be considered? Confused about all the names for these tools (PODD, PAS, PECS, PCS, Pixon). This training offers an overview of how to create and use individualized no tech or light tech tools to enhance your students’ communication, and it reinforces how vital these tools are.

Student Environment Tasks Tools (SETT): Framework for Identifying and Implementing Assistive Technology Interventions: The SETT Framework is a tool that helps teams gather and organize information that can be used to guide collaborative decisions about services that foster the educational success of students with disabilities. Participants will learn why considering the Student, Environment and Tasks are just as important as considering the features of the Tools. Individuals will learn a team-based, approach to implement AT and AAC tools and strategies.

Aided Language Stimulation and Core Vocabulary: AAC is not just about tools, it's about using effective strategies and techniques to teach communicative competence.  Very few students begin communicating immediately when a tool is presented to them, they need to be taught how to use the tool. This training focuses on one of the most important strategies for teaching students to communicate using AAC tools, Aided Language Stimulation. The Importance of modeling core vocabulary within authentic and motivating strategies will also be discussed.

Programming and Use of Specific AAC Apps (Proloquo2go, LAMP, GoTalk Now, TouchChat, etc.): With all of the AAC apps that are available now, it can be challenging to keep up with how to go about programming the app so that it can be individualized for a particular student. This training is ideal for Speech & Language Pathologists that may not be familiar with a specific app and would like to learn more about how to program the device for their student.

Mastering the Art of Switch Assessment and Switch Access: Switches help people with disabilities access a range of equipment and technology. The aim of a switch assessment is to determine which switch, movement and switch position is the most appropriate for the student. This involves a process of trial and error, trying a range of switches, movements and positions to determine which combination provides the most successful method of access to an activity for the user.

iPads:  Switch it up!: This provides a hands-on class with iPads provided by CRIS that covers an array of apps that are specifically designed with built in switch access as well as switch access within iOS.

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 TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)

The Oregon Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) in partnership with Regional Inclusive Services offers TBI professional development opportunities for school-based and early childhood professionals via the CBIRT events page. 

You can also access a treasure trove of recorded TBI presentations via this CBIRT link providing access to recorded webinars featuring experts in the field of brain injury.

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