Parent Communication Workshops

Developing your child’s communication skills

​

Using AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication) systems at home

This 2 hour workshop is for families introducing a PODD communication system to their child. The workshop involves a practical component where participants can learn and practice Augmentative and Alternative Communication strategies they can use to support each child’s communication. This is usually a face-to-face workshop which takes place at CPEC, Beacon Street, Glen Waverley. Prerequisite: Developing Your Child's Communication Skills

Back care for the caregivers

Caring for a child with cerebral palsy or similar disability can involve lifting, assisting with active transfers in and out of equipment, assisting to move and walk many times throughout every day. Doing these tasks with minimum impact on the physical health and wellbeing of the adult assisting requires knowledge of some important information about how to facilitate these tasks safely for both you and the child or young person. This 2 hour training also includes very useful strategies for long term back care.

Sensory processing

Some children and young people living with a motor impairment may also have other reasons why they have challenges learning to move and function. This workshop will describe what sensory processing is, what happens for individuals who have sensory processing challenges and strategies to assist. Many practical and useful strategies are explored. If you are unsure about whether you need to attend this evening, just ask your occupational therapist or speech pathologist.

Getting ready for daycare or kindergarten

This workshop aims to assist parents to maximize the opportunities for your child who will be starting at kindergarten or childcare. Lots of practical tips that have come from other parents’ experience are also incorporated.

Getting ready for school

This workshop is for any parents and other family members who would like more information about the transition to school and school options. Topics covered include the process of selecting a school, the funding available to support students with disabilities at school. The supporting documents by your child’s therapists and what you will need to include in your NDIS service agreement to enable a range of transition activities to be carried out by your child’s therapists are also discussed.

What is cerebral palsy and like conditions GMFCS 1,2,3

This workshop covers some basic background to the cause and range of cerebral palsy and like conditions. The main focus is on those aspects of cerebral palsy which affect the way a child moves, functions and communicates. It is helpful to understand the way CPEC explains motor disability – it really helps you as parents and carers learn the skills to analyse and problem solve in everyday life.

What is cerebral palsy and like conditions GMFCS 3,4,5

This workshop covers some basic background to the cause and range of cerebral palsy and like conditions. The main focus is on those aspects of cerebral palsy which affect the way a child moves, functions and communicates. It is useful to understand the way CPEC explains motor disability – it really helps you as parents and carers learn the skills to analyse and problem solve in everyday life.

What is the CPEC approach to teaching-learning movement?

CPEC takes a holistic and integrated approach to the delivery of services. This workshop gives a very brief background to conductive education - a system of education developed in Hungary and how existing Australian practice have taken on the principles of conductive education. How these principles and strategies are used in the group programs and in individual services parents and children are experiencing at CPEC are discussed. This session will assist parents and carers understand the rationale behind the strategies and learning of movement which CPEC has developed over the past 30 years.