AGENDA Welcome What is the Communication Matrix? Examples of - - PDF document

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Darlene Daniels, Deborah Lesher Columbia Regional Program 2/6/2017 AT Now Conference, Salem, OR

AGENDA

• Welcome
• What is the Communication

Matrix?

• Examples of completed

Matrices

• Let’s “Try it Now”!

○ Get a student in mind

• The Matrix Community
• Goal Development
• Questions?

COMMUNICATION MATRIX:

The Communication Matrix is a free assessment tool created to help families and professionals easily understand the communication status, progress, and unique needs of anyone functioning at the early stages of communication

• r using forms of communication other than

speaking or writing.

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COMMUNICATION MATRIX:

capturing the skills of individuals operating at the earliest stages of communicative competence

• Online and print versions available in:

English Spanish Russian Korean Vietnamese Chinese Czech Dutch

Research based

The Communication Matrix was inspired by important research “pragmatic” approach to communication development that was first discussed by Elizabeth Bates and her

• colleagues. This approach considered what

the child achieves by communication using many different behaviors, rather than just looking at speech. Another influence was the work of Heinz Werner and Bernard Kaplan.

They viewed the emergence of symbolic communication as a developmental process that is natural outgrowth of early relationships between mothers,infants, and the objects or events in their environment. The Matrix was developed using these principles paired with extensive hands-on clinical research involving individuals with complex communication needs,their caretakers,teachers,and speech language pathologists.

Research based

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Who is the Target Population?

• Individuals of all ages who are at

the earliest stages of

• communication. In the typically

developing child the range of communication skills covered by the Matrix would occur between 0 and 24 months of age.

• Individuals who use any type of

communicative behavior, including "augmentative and alternative" (AAC) forms of communication and pre-symbolic communication.

• Individuals who experience any

type or degree of disability, including severe and multiple disabilities.

• Individuals of all ages.
• But NOT individuals who already

use some form of language meaningfully and fluently.

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Where are people using the Communication Matrix?

Seven Levels

• f Early

Communication

SEVEN LEVELS OF COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE

LEVEL SALIENT BEHAVIOR

• I. Pre-Intentional Behavior

Pre-intentional or reflexive behavior that expresses state of subject. State (eg., hungry, wet) is interpreted by observer.

• II. Intentional (Proactive)

Behavior

(Not intentionally communicative)

Behavior is intentional, but is not intentionally

• communicative. Behavior functions to affect
• bserver’s behavior, since observer infers intent..
• III. Non-conventional Pre-

symbolic Communication Non-conventional gestures are used with intent of affecting observer’s behavior.

• IV. Conventional Pre-symbolic

Communication Conventional gestures are used with intent of affecting observer’s behavior.

• V. Concrete Symbolic

Communication Limited use of concrete (iconic) symbols to represent environmental entities. 1:1 correspondence between symbol and referent..

• VI. Abstract Symbolic

Communication Limited use of abstract (arbitrary) symbols to represent environmental entities. Symbols are used singly.

• VII. Formal Symbolic

Communication Rule-bound use of arbitrary symbol system. Ordered combinations of two or more symbols according to syntactic rules.

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Communicative Behaviors for each Level of Early Communication

Intent

is Critical!!!!

Read the questions carefully

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1/23/17 7 The Online Communication Matrix

• An online version of the Communication Matrix

(Rowland, 2004), an assessment designed for early c o m m u n i c a t o r s w h o u s e a n y f o r m o f communication is now available free of charge.

• Users enter information about an individual’s

communication skills and print out a one-page graphic profile and a list of specific communicative behaviors and intents expressed.

• Entries may be updated for repeated assessments.
• The data collected are used to develop scientific

information about the communication skills of individuals with specific disabilities. This is a global service and research initiative.

Mobile Devices May need to use scrolling and zoom functions

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• Your Contribution
• We DO NOT request any identifying

information and we have no way of tracking who has used this service.

• When you complete the Matrix online, the

information you provide will be stored. This information will provide valuable data a b o u t t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s k i l l s demonstrated by individuals with various

• disabilities. This information may be

summarized in scientific reports, professional presentations, articles in professional journals and book chapters.

• Online Matrix Community

From Communication Matrix website

Automated Profile Results

• If start at Level II, Level I is

automatically highlighted as mastered.

• If start at Level III, Levels I

and II are automatically highlighted as mastered.

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If you were completing a real matrix, you would be asked to input demographic information at this point.

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Communication Matrix Skills List Communication Matrix Custom Report Example $6

Communication Matrix Community of Practice Project Overview

community.communicationmatrix.org

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So, what is this new thing?

It’s a 4-5 year grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education through its “Step-up” program for encouraging widespread implementation of technology to improve

• utcomes for individuals

with disabilities.

• Dr. Charity Rowland

Communication Matrix Community Promo Vid https://youtu.be/DwG4EoYuhlg

So, what’s a Community of Practice?

• “Groups of people who share a concern, a set of

problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis” (Wegner, McDermott & Snyder, 2002)

• A virtual community of practice uses technology

to create a community free of the constraints of time and place.

Why Do We Need a Community of Practice?

• Demonstrated need from previous

Communication Matrix grants…and users

• Interest from the U.S. Department of

Education

• Need for sustainability
• Allows for "Just in Time" and "Just for Me"

learning

• Multiple perspectives
• Sharing of resources and expertise
• Especially needed for low incidence

populations

• Great for isolated or rural communities

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“Scaling Up” an Evidence-based Practice

Solving real world problems through science

• Moving away from "train and fail"
• Implementation links research and practice
• Knowledge translation
• Including all stakeholders

Scaling up is our goal

• Systematic and ongoing supports
• Conducted and synthesizing applied research
• Communities of Practice

Assumptions for the Community of Practice

• Assessment of

communication skills in complex communication needs (CCN) is often inadequate.

• Appropriate evaluation of

communication skills is a prerequisite to generating appropriate educational goals. Karen Natoci Communication Matrix Community Promo https://youtu.be/DwG4EoYuhlg

• Practitioners are

isolated with regard to appropriate treatment for children with low- incidence disabilities and CCN.

• Dr. Amy Parker

https://youtu.be/DwG4EoYuhlg

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• Multiple perspectives,

including that of caregivers, are important in communication assessment.

A Virtual Community of Practice allows more team members to participate in professional development

Kelly Fonner https://youtu.be/DwG4EoYuhlg

More ways to include teachers in dialogue about approaches with students

The community of practice is a place for teachers to be directly involved in both giving and receiving high quality, just in time information to support students with complex communication needs.

Gayl Bowser

More ways to engage new professionals in dialogue about approaches with students

The Communication Matrix is a valid, reliable and popular instrument for assessing communication skills in individuals with severe communication disorders. Creation of a virtual community of practice will result in widespread implementation of the entire Communication Matrix Suite, including the new Custom Report function, to improve outcomes for children with CCN. Emily Dayle Quinn https://youtu.be/DwG4EoYuhlg

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What does this new community look like?

• It’s completely integrated into the Communication Matrix assessment web site
• The Forum is a place to for post information and ask questions
• The Events calendar is place to post events
• Collections are created by Guest Hosts about specific topics
• The Shared Science section provides data on specific populations represented

in our database of assessments from around the world

• It’s free and open to ALL individuals (professionals and nonprofessionals)
• Anyone may view the content: but you must register as a member to post

Anyone may join (it’s free): create a Profile Write a Post or Create an Event

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Search for Posts related to specific components of the Matrix Collections by Guest Hosts Shared Science: Angelman syndrome

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An important tool for families to connect

With tagging system within the community and the ability to search for information about children with rare disabilities, the community of practice serves as a nexus for families all over the world.

Alexandria Cook

Developing Goals Using the Communication Matrix

Analyze the Profile

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Collaborate and Review the Skills List The Report The Report

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Keep your goals

Examples/Ideas? By June 30, given 2 models, a pointing or light prompt, and 10 second waiting time, SB will use a talking switch to gain attention from family members at least three times a day.

Many thanks to Dr. Charity Rowland for sharing information and resources, as well as all for all of the important work she and the Matrix Community do.

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Explore Questions?