SPALS Conferences
Save the date! Our 22nd Annual SPALS Conference will be in Lafayette on
October 2nd and 3rd, 2014!
Thank you to all who made our conference this year so memorable.
The Twenty-First
Annual SPALS Conference
CAJUNDOME Lafayette, LA
OCTOBER 3-4, 2013
SPALS Conference Program
Thursday, October 3, 2013
7:30 Registration/Exhibits
9:00-11:30 Morning Presentations (2.5 hours; 0.25 ASHA CEUs)
Dr, Teri James Bellis-“Central Auditory Processing Disorders: Current Conceptualizations”-This presentation will review current consensus definitions and neurological bases of central auditory processing with methods of screening for and diagnosing. (FULL DAY)
Dr. Diane German—“Word Finding: Differential Diagnosis and Word Finding Intervention”-This presentation will focus on differential diagnosis of semantic verses phonological base word finding errors with comprehensive strategic approach with special focus on mnemonic retrieval strategy instruction.
Dr. Barry Guitar—“Treatment of School Age Stuttering”-This presentation will focus on conducting an evaluation that will include information on: risk factors for continued stuttering; level of stuttering; amount and type of stuttering, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes toward stuttering, and appropriate treatment approach.
Rae Schaper — “Read It Once Again: Expanding Preschool Language Skills with Repetition and Literature” This presentation will focus on selecting literacy material and activities that coordinate with student objectives to provide a means of learning that will stimulate growth in language skills, cognitive goals, social interaction, adaptive and behavior skills.
11:30-1:00 Lunch and Awards (Included in conference fee)
1:00-3:30 Afternoon Sessions (repeat of morning sessions unless otherwise specified for 2.5 hours; 0.25 ASHA CEUs)
3:45 SPALS Business Meeting
SPALS Social and Dancing immediately following board meeting.
EXHIBITS (area closes at 3:30 on Thursday and Friday)
Friday, October 4, 2013
7:30 Registration/Exhibits
** 8:00-9:00 Round Table Discussion TBA. **
9:00-11:30 Morning Presentations (2.5 hours; 0.25 ASHA CEUs)
Dr. Carol Flexer — (AM only) “Classroom Acoustic Accessibility Using FM & AM Technologies: A Brain Base Perspective “- This presentation will focus on how children “learn” to listen, and how acoustic environments (both home and school), and use of personal worn FM systems and Classroom Audio Distribution Systems –CAD, affect their literacy achievement and academic progress.
Perry Flynn—“Practical Applications For The Classroom”- This presentation will focus on helping the SLP to connect to our specially designed/differentiated instruction to universally designed classroom lessons. The Louisiana State Educational Standards will be discussed and sample speech goals and interactive/hands on activities will be presented for SLPs to implement in the classrooms immediately after they return to their school.
Steve Griffin & Sara L. Smith –“Literacy Power Pack for SLPs: Multisensory Intervention & Instructional Strategies for Reading and Writing That Work”-This presentation will focus on providing the school SLP with practical intervention activities and consultation strategies that will directly impact student literacy achievements as well as the use of multisensory interventions and instructional strategies to achieve reading, writing and expressive language skills.
Sharon Edwards & Josh Miller —“Assistive Technology, The Future Is Now: Augmentative Communication for Today’s SLP’s”-This presentation will focus on how to develop a communication system for all students ranging from no tech to high tech devices and see how they can be integrated depending on the student, environment and task.
11:30-1:00 Lunch and Awards (Included in conference fee)
1:00-3:30 Afternoon Sessions (repeat of morning sessions unless otherwise specified for 2.5 hours; 0.25 ASHA CEUs)
Dr. Carol Flexer – (PM only) “Theory Of Mind Development (ToM) Development in the Child with Hearing Loss: Strategies for Social Emotional Growth”- This presentation will focus on definition of ToM and relationship to child development and children with special needs including hearing loss; neurological implications; relationship of ToM language development and literacy, tracking of conversations, and intensity of social/language exposure.
Door prizes are one of the highlights of our conference every year – Please donate a gift basket from your parish.
Presenting the 2013 SPALS Teaching Staff
Dr. Terri James Bellis- Dr. Bellis is professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Dakota and director of the USD Speech-Language-Hearing Clinics. She has lectured and published widely on the topic of Central Auditory Processing Disorders. Disclosure: Dr.Bellis is an author and receives royalties from the sales of her textbook.
Sharon Edwards – Sharon has a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and has worked in the area of assistive technology for 15 years. Before joining LATl, Sharon worked for Ascension Parish School Board as the Assistive Technology Specialist She has presented at numerous trainings and conferences on the local, regional and national levels. She has served as the AT facilitator for the South River Assistive Technology Center for the last 9 years. Disclosure: Sharon Edwards has no relevant financial relationships or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Dr. Carol Flexer- received her doctorate in audiology from Kent State University, and was at The University of Akron for 25 years as a Distinguished Professor of Audiology. Dr. Flexer lectures and consults nationally and internationally about pediatric and educational audiology, and has authored more than 155 publications. She is a past president of the Educational Audiology Association, the American Academy of Audiology, and the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Academy for Listening and Spoken Language. Disclosure: Dr. Flexer has no relevant financial relationships or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Perry Flynn- Perry Flynn is a member of the ASHA Board of Directors and Chair of the ASHA, SLP Advisory Council. He is the Consultant to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in the area of Speech Language Pathology and an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemen Certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor and an Operation Smile volunteer. Disclosure: Perry Flynn has no relevant financial relationships or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Dr. Diane German-Dr. German is a Professor at National-Louis University, Chicago, Illinois. She is a holder of the Ryan Endowed Chair in Special Education created to support her work in Word Finding. She is an ASHA 2008 Fellow and a Fellow in the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities. She has published/presented many articles, technical papers, and conducted seminars in Child Word Finding. She has authored the Test of Word Finding, Second Edition; the Test of Adolescent/Adult Word Finding, and the Test of Word Finding in Discourse. She is also author of the Word Finding Intervention program, Second Edition. Disclosure: Dr. German is an author and receives royalties from the sales of the WFIP-2.
Rae Schaper– Rae is the author of 35 language-based preschool literacy curriculum. She received her BA in Special Education from UW-O, WI, and has a M. Ed. In Early Childhood Education. She taught at Converse and Presbyterian colleges in SC. She also serves as an educational consultant and trainer. Disclosure: Rae Schaper is the author/ creator of “Read It Once Again” and receives ownership benefits.
Steve Griffin, M.A., CCC-SLP has practiced in the public schools for 14 years and is currently a district wide literacy coach for the Reynoldsburg City School District located on the east side of Columbus, Ohio. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science at The Ohio State University and works with students, teachers and parents designing literacy interventions for at-risk popula- tions. Steve owns and co-authors www.readingresource.net a website dedicated to literacy intervention. Disclosure: Steve Griffin owns and co-authors www.readingresource.net and an APP- “Sight Word Flip It” and references the product in his presentation.
Dr. Barry Guitar-Dr. Guitar is Professor of Communication Sciences at the Univer- sity of Vermont. His specialty is research, teaching, and clinical work on stuttering. He has a B.A. from Dartmouth College, and M.S. from Western Michigan University, and a Ph. D. from the University of Wisconsin. He is a Fellow of the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association and a recipient of the Malcolm Fraser Award from the Special Interest Division on Fluency. In addition to numerous research publications, he has published two books on stuttering: Stuttering: An Integrated approach to Its Nature and Treatment, 4th Edition (published in 2013 with Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins), Easy Talker (coauthored with Julie Reville) (published in 1997 with Communication Skill Builders). In 2010 he published, with Rebecca McCauley, the textbook Treatment of Stuttering: Established and Emerging Interventions. Disclosure: Dr. Guitar has no relevant financial relationships or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Josh Miller, ATP- Josh attended LSU wh ere he received a degree in Mass Com- munication. He was formerly the Program Director for the Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network. He is a certified Assistive Technology Professional through RESNA. Mr. Miller is an Assistive Technology Facilitator for the Southeast region of Louisiana. Disclosure: Josh Miller has no relevant financial relationships or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Sara L. Smith, MS, CCC-SLP, is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and founder of the Expanding Expression Tool (EET). She began her career in the Bay City Public Schools (Michigan) where she focused on developing and teaching lan- guage strategies to facilitate academic success. Her interest and continued study of language processing and multi-sensory approaches to learning have led to her develop- ment of the Expanding Expression Program for improved oral and written language. As a national speaker, Sara provides insight into learning and demonstrates strategies to use with all children. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Central Michigan Universi- ty and her Master’s Degree from Bowling Green State University. Disclosure: Sara Smith is the founder of Expanding Expressions Tool and references the product in her presentation.
SPALS Professional Development – Continuing Education
Dear SPALS members and conference attendees,
In 2012 SPALS became approved by the Continuing Edu- cation Board of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activ- ities in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology.
At the end of the conference, as a courtesy to our members and conference attendees, we will collect and submit your documentation of the SPALS Conference attendance to the ASHA CE Registry. If you are interested in this, it is your responsibility to be or become a member of the ASHA CE Registry. http://www.asha.org/ce/CEUs/usingCEregistry/
The Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology (LBESPA) also accepts continuing education activities sponsored by SPALS for licensure renewal.
We are proud to offer this service to our members and are looking forward to seeing you there,
ASHA CEU Committee
Continuing Education: This course is offered for 1.0 CEU (Intermediate level; Professional area).
SPALS offers complimentary ASHA CEU processing for conference attendees. The Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech- Language Pathology (LBESPA) accepts continuing education activities sponsored by SPALS for licensure renewal.
**Announcement**
There are some changes to the SPALS constitution and bylaws that will be voted on at our next General Business Meeting in October of 2013.
For a review of the SPALS Constitution and Bylaws in their entirety, please check www.spals.org for more information.
Proposed Changes in the Constitution:
Article VI: Officers and Duties
READS: Section 1A- Line (4) …a representative from each of the six
special education regions.
Change to: …a representative from each of the eight special education regions.
Why: To accurately reflect the current regions in the state of Louisiana
READS Section 1B- All Executive Committee Members shall serve for
one year term.
Change to: All Executive Committee Members shall serve for a two year term.
Why: To align with the changes that were voted and passed during the
2012 General Membership meeting.
Article IX: Election of Officers
Section 1: Second Sentence Reads- The terms of all officers and members of the Executive Committee shall begin immediately following their elec- tion at the September business meeting.
Change to: The terms of all officers and members of the Executive Com- mittee shall begin following their election at the annual business meeting. Why: The annual meeting may not always occur in the month of Septem- ber.
Proposed ByLaw Changes
Article V- Dues
Section 2: Reads- The membership year shall be from the annu- al business meeting in September to the business meeting of
the next September.
Change to: The membership year shall be from one annual business meeting to the next annual business meeting.
Why: The annual meeting may not always occur in the month of September.
Section 3: Reads- A membership drive will be initiated at the end of each school year and prior to the September general membership meeting by the Vice-President in charge of mem- bership and in cooperation with the Treasurer of SPALS.
Change to: A membership drive will be initiated at the end of
each school year and prior to the annual general membership meeting through the conference promotional materials. Why- The general membership meeting may not always occur in September. We do not have a Vice-President. The Conference promotional materials are the most efficient and cost effective way to promote membership.
Article V-Dues
Section 4: Reads- Any new member may pay his/her dues at any time during the year with the understanding that dues paid during or after the September annual meeting will expire on September 1 of the next school year.
Change to: Any new member may pay his/her dues at any time during the year with the understanding that dues paid during or after the annual meeting will expire on September 1 of the next school year.
Why- The general meeting may not always occur in the month of September.
Proposed ByLaw Changes (cont.)
Article VI- Officers and Duties
Section 3: Reads- In addition to those duties outlined in the SPALS Constitution, the President shall be responsible for: (Bullet Point 3)- providing written goals and short-term ob- jectives for the Association’s Executive Committee for that particular year of service.
Change to:-providing job responsibilities for the Associa- tion’s Executive Committee for that particular term of ser- vice.
Why- This is to reflect the Boards current practices due to the two year terms.
Article VIII-Vacancies
Section 2: Reads- The Nomination Committee will convene during the month of May to prepare a list of officers to be voted upon at the annual meeting.
Change to: The Nomination Committee will convene during
a meeting held in the spring to prepare a list of officers to be voted upon at the annual meeting.
Why- This meeting may not always occur in the month of
May.
Article IX-Election of Officers
Section 2: Reads- The Nomination Committee will convene during the month of May to prepare a list of officers to be voted upon at the annual meeting.
Change to: The Nomination Committee will convene during
a meeting held in the spring to prepare a list of officers to be voted upon at the annual meeting.
Why- This meeting may not always occur in the month of May.
Local Accommodations:
HILTON GARDEN INN IS BOOKED
Hilton Garden Inn Lafayette/Cajundome
2350 West Congress Street
Lafayette, LA 70506
Make Reservations by phone at 1-337.291.1977
Group Code: SPALS Educational Conference
Online at www.reservation-desk.com/HiltonInn
Rates: $119.00 per night
Rate subject to applicable tax and there will be an additional charge per person per room per night over double occupancy. Limited number of rooms have been blocked for our SPALS con- ference will be held only until 9/18/2013 so register early.
Hotel Acadiana
Additional rooms
1801 West Pinhook Road
Lafayette, LA 70508
Make Reservations by phone at 1-337-233-8120
Group Code: SAA
Online at www.thehotelacadiana.com
Rates: $99.00 per night
Rate subject to applicable tax and there will be an additional
charge per person per room per night over double occupancy. Room Block for SPALS conference will be held until 9/20/2013 so register early.
Lagniappe:
In addition to the excellent speakers, the SPALS conference fee includes:
• Lunch each day
• Door prizes
• Handouts
• Exhibits area includes personal and professional materials and school related items.
You MUST pre-register to be guaranteed Lunch and Handouts.
Please visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/SPALS for updates.
