How would you rate this child as a communicator? Consider how the child makes needs known, how desired objects or actions are obtained, and level of success or frustration.

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Child with a Disability Presentation (150 points)

The ability to observe a child interacting with his or her environment and interpret this information within a developmental context is critical for providing effective and efficient educational services to children with and without disabilities. As such, the purpose of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to observe a child with a disability and to identify a child’s language strengths, challenges, and need for support.

Child characteristics: Your target child’s age can range between 1-18 years old. The child should have a diagnosed language disorder by a speech-language pathologist.

Instructions:

Step 1: Select one of the YouTube videos of interviews with a child with a disability.

Step 2: Watch the assigned video and take notes on the child’s language and communication while talking and interacting with others in the video.

Step 3: Select one evidence-based practice that as an educator you can implement into the classroom to address the child’s language needs.

You can use practices discussed during the lectures or you can go to the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) website for additional practices (http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/). You need to have at least two research articles that support your chosen practice.

Step 4: Create a 10-15-minute presentation using VoiceThread (on Canvas) describing the child, his/her language and communication skills, the interview, and a research-based strategy that could be implemented in the classroom to help build the student’s language skills.

NOTE:

• You can use the child’s name if they state it in the video. Otherwise, create a pseudonym.

• Research articles need to be from peer-reviewed journals (no blogs, website pages, or Wikipedia). The articles need to be evaluating the direct application of the intervention with children.

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Your presentation must include the following:
Background Information: (20 points)
Provide:

1. Child background information: age, gender, family members (if shown in the video) & disability. You can add additional background information that you feel is important and that they included in the video.

Descriptive Information: (60 points)
Child Observation:

1. Describe the language and communication of the child by discussing the following points. (40 points)

a. What was nonverbal communication like? Include descriptions of any facial expressions and gestures used by the child.

b. How did the child respond to someone talking to him/her? Consider the reaction to comments, demands, and questions.

c. How did the child initiate communication? Consider the use of attention- getting devices and specific words or vocalizations.

d. What vocalizations and/or words did the child use? How many words did the child appear to have?

e. For what purpose did the child use words? Consider comments, requests for information, requests for action, responses to questions or statements, etc.

f. How would you rate this child as a communicator? Consider how the child makes needs known, how desired objects or actions are obtained, and level of success or frustration.

2. Describe the child’s language across the following elements based on your observations: (20 points)

a. Five language elements:
i. Phonology
ii. Morphology
iii. Syntax
iv. Semantics
v. Pragmatics
Research-Based Language and Communication Strategy: (70 points)

Provide the following in your presentation:

1. Describe the language/communication practice you selected and the rationale for why you chose this strategy.

2. Provide a brief description of the intervention and the context the intervention would be delivered (e.g., location, who will deliver the intervention, frequency of intervention).

3. Describe the 2 studies you identified supporting your intervention:

a. What is the title of the article?
b. What is the purpose and/or research questions of the study?

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c. How many participants are in the study (e.g., 5, 50, 500) and who are the participants (e.g., students with disabilities, teachers)?

d. How (e.g., surveys, focus groups, observations) and when (e.g., once a week, three times a year, one interview) did the researchers collect data in the study?

e. What are 3 key findings that were revealed in the results and/or discussion?

4. Discuss 1-2 treatment goals for your target child. What is the strategy aiming to increase or decrease? (e.g., pragmatic skills such as eye contact and attending to peers’ requests).

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