Are you a school-based SLP looking for professional development? The 2023-24 Statewide SLP Webinar Series is for you!

This series was developed through the thoughtful collaboration of the state's education service centers and hosts respected presenters delivering high-level content around topics related to school-based speech-language pathology. The webinars are held from 9:00 a.m. to noon CST, and 2.5 TSHA CEUs are provided.

• May 10, 2024 - Gestalt Language Processing: What Is It?
• June 14, 2024 - Addressing Complex Communication Needs for AAC Users and Gestalt Language Processors

We are offering three separate asynchronous webinars this summer! Not only will you get amazing training and ASHA CEUs, but you will also get the curriculum that is discussed in the session! After registration (Starting June 1), Participants will receive an email from Social Thinking with instructions on how to access the course. You will have 90 days from the day you receive the email to access the course.

Helping Early Learners Build Social Competencies Using the We Thinkers! Curriculum Series-Click to Register

This online on-demand, course delves into crucial aspects of building social competencies in preschool and early elementary-age students (ages 4-7). Explore how flexible thinking, social language, self-regulation, and social and emotional development are vital for developing collaborative interactions in group settings, both on the playground and in the classroom. Gain insights from a research perspective on the impact of executive functioning, social attention, and social problem-solving through the lens of our award-winning We Thinkers! curriculum series. Walk away with practical strategies and examples to seamlessly integrate social learning concepts into your existing teaching methods. 

Participants will receive the We Thinkers! Vol 1 & 2 Curriculum for free upon course completion.

This course explores how research on early social competencies can translate into best practices in the classroom through implementing our award-winning We Thinkers! curricula; Social Thinking Vocabulary concepts that have been adapted for social learners ages 4-7; Concepts such as the role of play and working as part of a group in the development of self-regulation, social problem solving, and executive functioning

0.55 ASHA CEUs offered through Social Thinking

Social Thinking School-wide/ Bringing the Concepts into Classrooms and Beyond-Click to Register

The same social thinking abilities required to relate effectively to others are also essential for success in academics. In this online and on-demand course, we explore how to get set up for social connection and academic success throughout the year and beyond. We’ll focus on practical strategies and ideas for school wide implementation, building a bridge between environments and people.

Participants will receive Visual supports for 10 Key Social Thinking Vocabulary Concepts for free at the completion of the course.

0.35 ASHA CEUs offered through Social Thinking

Superflex Basics + New Superflex curriculum-Click to Register

This Online On-Demand course is a crash course in how to use the brand new Superflex curriculum bundle with fidelity. Learn how to empower your students to activate their superpowers of flexibility, self-awareness, executive functions, self-regulation, and more.  This curriculum provides a structured teaching approach with 25 evidence-informed, interactive quests (lessons), and a step-by-step guide for how to introduce each lesson, and ideas for what to say and do. Core tips for each lesson will be covered. 

Participants will receive the NEW Superflex Series Dynamic Duo Basic Bundle for free upon completion of the course.

0.2 ASHA CEUs offered through Social Thinking

Location: Virtual

This is a Texas Tech initiative to address a state need for educators and evaluators who specialize in teaching and evaluating students who have a dual diagnosis of an Intellectual Developmental Disorder and a mental health condition. Developmental disabilities are severe, chronic disabilities that occur before the age of 22, such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy. This series will assist educators in gaining knowledge in the areas of identification, referral, assessment, behavior, and academic best practices. They will also receive advanced training in collaboration and communication, crisis intervention, and working with families. New knowledge will enable educators to make meaningful changes in their LEAs and support collaboration with agencies outside of school settings serving individuals with dual diagnosis.

0.15 ASHA CEUs offered for each session

1. Identification and Referral: June 18, 2024  11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
2. Screening and Assessment  June 20, 2024  11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.| Register Here
3. Behavior Supports: July 8, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
4. Academic Supports: July 9, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
5. Crisis Intervention: July 16, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
6. Working with Families: July 18, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here

July 29-30, 2024

Register here

Join education professionals from across the state for this exciting virtual conference as we explore child find, evaluation, and admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) support topics. The Aligned! 2023: From Child Find to IEP Implementation conference provides expertise, best practices, and networking supports to assist public school district and charter schools.

Sessions

Conference sessions will cover a variety of topics, including information from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and related network projects, evaluation of deaf and hard of hearing students, independent education evaluation, properly constituted ARD committees, and standards-based IEP process (writing present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) and drafting goals).

As a result of this conference, the participant will be able to:

• Identify effective child find practices
• Identify comprehensive and integrated evaluation processes
• Develop appropriately ambitious individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities and provision of free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the Least restrictive environment (LRE)

TSHA Credits

Up to 12 TSHA credit hours will be available for all attendees who participate in the live, synchronous sessions. Recorded, asynchronous sessions will be available for 30 calendar days following the conference. CPE credit hours are not available for recorded, asynchronous sessions. The session costs are fully funded through state and/or federal grants.

July 22, 2024 • noon - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Register Here

To ensure increased achievement and access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities, an individualized education program (IEP) process, called "Standards-Based IEP," has been recommended as a best practice for achieving academic goals. This session focuses on learning more about the standards-based IEP process from the perspective of the school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP). This session is aligned with the child find and IEP content and development component(s) of the TEA-required self-assessment. As a result of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

1. Develop present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) that connect to the full and individual evaluation (FIE).
2. Draft measurable annual academic goals and short-term objectives/benchmarks that are aligned to state academic grade-level content standards.
3. Draft measurable functional goals and short-term objectives/benchmarks that support access to the general education curriculum.
4. Identify methods to measure and report student progress on goals and short-term objectives/benchmarks.

0.3 ASHA CEUs offered

ESC Region 11

Special Programs