Denielle has additional post-graduate training in the following evidence-based programs
‘It Takes Two to Talk’ Hanen Program – The It Takes Two to Talk Program is designed specifically for parents of young children (birth to 5 years of age) who have been identified as having a language delay. As part of this program parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together. See http://www.hanen.org/Programs/For-Parents/It-Takes-Two-to-Talk.aspx for more information.
Lidcombe Program – The Lidcombe Program is a behavioural treatment for young children who stutter. The treatment is administered by a parent or carer in the child’s everyday environment. Parents learn how to do the treatment during weekly visits to the speech pathologist. During these visits, the speech pathologist teaches the parent by demonstrating various features of the treatment, observing the parent do the treatment, and giving the parent feedback about how they are going with the treatment. This parent training is essential, because it is the speech pathologist’s responsibility to ensure that the treatment is done appropriately and is a positive experience for the child and the family. See http://sydney.edu.au/health-sciences/asrc/clinic/parents/lidcombe.shtml for more information.
Visual Supports including Visual Schedules, Social Stories, & Comic Strip Conversations – Children are visual learners and can navigate the world around them better when they can see what you are telling them. Visual supports are positive behavioural supports, most often used with children and young people with autism. They can also be used successfully, however, with children who are anxious or highly sensitive in new and unfamiliar situations, and children who have delayed or disordered language. These strategies are known to reduce stress, build confidence, increase self-management and improve cooperative behaviour in children generally.  See http://carolgraysocialstories.com/ and https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/visual-tools for more information.
Visual schedules help children understand what to expect in their day by providing clear communication, daily structure and predictability.
Social stories use pictures to help teach social skills. They typically describe specific situations, events or activities, and include information about what to expect in situations and why.
Comic strip conversations provide simple visual representations of different levels of communication in a conversation. They show, for example, the things that are said in a conversation, how people might be feeling, what people might be thinking, and what people’s intentions might be.
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) – PECS is an augmentative/alternative communication intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental disabilities. The aim of the program is to teach communication through structuring the environment and through the use pictures which are exchanged in order for the individual to have their wants or needs met. It is typically used with individuals who have not yet acquired spoken language, or with individuals who need to consolidate communication with a variety of communication partners and in a variety of settings. See http://www.pecsaustralia.com/ for more information.
