5 Courses

This intensive 13-hour interactive workshop is designed to teach educational and caregiver teams the theory and protocol for the Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®), an evidence-based practice based on Applied Behaviour Analysis, typical language development, and B.F. Skinner’s Verbal Behaviour. The workshop begins with an introduction to creating the most effective learning environment for implementing PECS® [https://pecs-unitedkingdom.com/pecs/] and The Pyramid Approach to Education® [https://pecs-unitedkingdom.com/the-pyramid-approach/]. Included is a discussion of the limitations of teaching other communication modalities (speech, sign, SGD) as an initial communication strategy. Using presenter demonstrations, role-play opportunities, and video examples participants will gain a thorough understanding and hands-on experience of each of the six phases of PECS. Participants will leave the training with the skills necessary to teach spontaneous requesting, picture discrimination, sentence structure, attributes for expanding language, responding to questions, and commenting. The workshop concludes with a review of the extensive literature supporting PECS as an evidence-based practice, tips to teach your learner to accept being told, “No,” and information related to transitioning from PECS to other communication modalities, such as speech, tablets with AAC apps, or speech generating devices. For those who wish to successfully teach their learners functional communication (whether you have used PECS for some time or are new to the field), this workshop is an essential part of your development. Watch Video [https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dj6l4UJ0PCw] WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Identify learners who will benefit from PECS * Describe 9 key components of creating effective learning environments using the Pyramid Approach to Education * Explain differences between prerequisites for and long-term outcomes for PECS and other modalities such as speech, sign language, picture pointing, or speech generating devices * Identify strategies to create communication opportunities during routines and functional daily activities * Implement the 6 phases of the PECS protocol * Name strategies for successfully saying, “No!” * Discuss the evidence for PECS and speech development * Examine the criteria for transitioning from PECS to other communication modalities ONSITE WORKSHOPS: Please note that we require a minimum number of delegates in order to run this workshop. If we are unable to run this onsite workshop, we will give delegates the opportunity to transfer to a different workshop. If the delegate chooses to attend online training instead then any price difference will be refunded. We will endeavour to let delegates know as soon as we can if a workshop is not going ahead. WORKSHOP DETAILS Agenda: 9.00am - 4.30pm Registration Time: 8.30am CPD Points: Continued Professional Development Points CEUs: 13.0 BACB CEUs / 13.0 IBAO CEUs. Satisfactory completion of this course requires participants to be present for the duration of the course and to participate in all student responding activities (e.g. questions, role play, quizzes, and surveys). https://cpduk.co.uk/ This course is certified by the CPD certification service (the leading independent CPD accreditation institution) as conforming to continuing professional development principles. All delegates will receive a certificate of attendance detailing eligible CPD hours which can be used as verifiable documentary evidence when submitting CPD recording forms. Pyramid Educational Consultants is an approved BACB ACE Provider for Learning (Type 2) Continuing Education Credits. The BACB does not warrant, endorse, sponsor, approve, or partner with the event, organisation, or instructor. Pyramid Educational Consultants is an approved IBAO Provider for Continuing Education Credits.

Prerequisite: PECS Level 1 Training This two-day training focuses on creating lessons and activities to promote communication throughout the day. Beginning with a review of the Pyramid Approach to Education as it relates to PECS, we guide you in refining your PECS implementation and discuss current challenges you have experienced within the six phases. As you acquire teaching strategies on expanding vocabulary and syntax combined with new ideas for materials, we will discuss how to increase communication opportunities for your learner. Throughout the training, you will be provided with presenter demonstrations, video examples and opportunities to role-play. With innovative ideas, increased confidence and renewed enthusiasm, you will leave the PECS Level 2 Training ready to move PECS users to more sophisticated levels of communication. WATCH VIDEO [https://www.youtube.com/embed/RFCJMkXNUqU] WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Identify the six phases of the PECS protocol * Analyse common difficulties with PECS implementation * Generate solutions to common challenges with implementing PECS * Provide communication opportunities across the day in all activities * Implement specific strategies for teaching advanced language concepts WORKSHOP DETAILS Agenda: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Registration Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM CPD Points: Continued Professional Development Points CEUs: 7.5 BACB CEUs / 7.5 IBAO CEUs. Satisfactory completion of this course requires participants to be present for the duration of the course and to participate in all student responding activities (e.g. questions, role play, quizzes, and surveys). Tuition Includes: detailed handout with space for note taking, delegate practise bag and certificate of attendance. *Participants are encouraged to bring the PECS Training Manual (Frost and Bondy, 2002) [https://pecs-unitedkingdom.com/training/shop/pecs-training-manual-second-edition/] that they received at their PECS Level 1 Training, as this workshop may reference some pages in the manual. https://cpduk.co.uk/ This course is certified by the CPD certification service (the leading independent CPD accreditation institution) as conforming to continuing professional development principles. All delegates will receive a certificate of attendance detailing eligible CPD hours which can be used as verifiable documentary evidence when submitting CPD recording forms. Pyramid Educational Consultants is an approved BACB ACE Provider for Learning (Type 2) Continuing Education Credits. The BACB does not warrant, endorse, sponsor, approve, or partner with the event, organisation, or instructor. Pyramid Educational Consultants is an approved IBAO Provider for Continuing Education Credits.

Do you ever worry about how safe your students are in their relationships? Do you think that they might be vulnerable to abuse? You may work with students who indiscriminately sit on people’s laps or hug a stranger; or alternatively an adult with learning difficulties who is capable of having close intimate connections, but you worry about the speed of which they enter these relationships. These are common concerns and situations for any parent or care giver. It is well acknowledged that this need; to educate children and young people about relationships and social safety, is not being met at the moment. The SoSAFE! Programme is a visual teaching tool which enables learners to develop their abilities in managing; and communicating about their relationships. The program covers all degrees of interaction; from a student’s expectations of strangers, to the intricacies of an intimate relationship. SoSAFE! moves away from making feelings based decisions so we can enable and empower our learners to make their own judgments about what is okay to do with specific people. SoSAFE! provides a format which is portable and easy to understand, meaning that any student can discuss their relationships at any time. By giving students a set of ‘rules’ for different relationships they are better placed to realise when a relationship may not be acceptable and then have the tools to report potential abuse. If you want your students to have more success in safer relationships; but there is a gap in your knowledge that prevents you from doing this, then SoSAFE! is the framework for you. Teach them to be SoSAFE! Read a blog [https://pecs-unitedkingdom.com/blog/keeping-our-learners-safe/] about one school's experience of implementing the programme. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Discuss the history of and reasons for teaching social safety * Identify characteristics of students and how best to support them * Explore how to practically implement the SoSAFE! tool kit * Learn how to teach explicit consent to any user * Discover how to apply SoSAFE! to real life scenarios You can find further information on the SoSAFE Programme at sosafeprogram.com WORKSHOP DETAILS Agenda: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Registration Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Tuition Includes: A SoSAFE! Manual, all programme materials and SoSAFE! Tool Kit on a USB stick, handout with space for note taking and Certificate of Attendance.

Help! I can't Wait to ask for a Break...and more! This workshop is a must for parents, caregivers and professionals working and/or living with people who have complex communication needs. You will learn how to teach critical communication skills that lead to greater independence in the home, work, school and community settings. We review nine specific skills: requesting reinforcers, requesting help, requesting a break, indicating yes and no, waiting, following directions, schedule-following and transitioning. Through lecture, demonstrations, video and participatory activities, you will acquire specific teaching strategies that are relevant for anyone who has limited communication skills, regardless of their communicative modality (e.g., Picture Exchange Communication System [PECS], signing, device use, speech). WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Define functional communication * Identify and evaluate nine critical communication skills * Design effective teaching strategies to promote these skills independent of modality * Incorporate effective visual strategies for all communicators * Incorporate critical communication skills into functional activities and routines WORKSHOP DETAILS Agenda: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Registration Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Tuition Includes: Detailed handout with space for note taking, delegate practise/resources pack - value £15 Certificate of Attendance CEUs: 6.0 BACB CEUs; Satisfactory completion of this course requires participants to be present for the duration of the course and to participate in all student responding activities (e.g. questions, role play, quizzes, and surveys). Pyramid Educational Consultants is an approved BACB ACE Provider for Learning (Type 2) Continuing Education Credits. The BACB does not warrant, endorse, sponsor, approve, or partner with the event, organisation, or instructor.

Is your learner ready to transition to a Speech Generating Device? Do you need help selecting a device and/or preparing your learner for the transition? This training will help get your questions answered! With the current influx of communication devices and apps to the market how do we ensure that basic functional communication skills are maintained and taught right from the beginning? Speech Generating Devices (SGDs) were first introduced for people with motor difficulties like cerebral palsy and now these devices are being introduced to our learners with autism and other related communication difficulties. for these populations, language and cognition are often compromised and basic social and communication skills have not always been mastered prior to the introduction of a device. Because of this, the way we teach the use of SGDs needs to be specifically tailored to fit the needs of each individual paying attention to devices capabilities vs. user capabilities. This full-day workshop will describe procedures for analysing a learner's current PECS skills to determine candidacy for transitioning to a Speech Generating Device (SGD), choosing a device, and teaching functional use of the device, and why we must teach the basic principles of communication to our learner first to ensure positive outcomes are achieved. *Participants should bring a Speech Generating Device (SGD) to the training for use during a variety of activities. WATCH VIDEO [https://www.youtube.com/embed/IUAJySZHB3g] TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE * Review of the PECS Protocol * The unique challenges of learners with complex communication needs * Procedures for analysing current PECS skills * Determining candidacy for transitioning from PECS to a Speech Generating Device * The 5 criteria for appropriate device selection * Preparing the learner for the transition * Using elements of the PECS protocol to teach functional SGD use * Problem solving SGD use Tuition Includes: Detailed Handout with space for note taking, Delegate Practise Bag and Certificate of Attendance. CEUs: 5.5 BACB CEUs; Satisfactory completion of this course requires participants to be present for the duration of the course and to participate in all student responding activities (e.g. questions, role play, quizzes, and surveys). Pyramid Educational Consultants is an approved BACB ACE Provider for Learning (Type 2) Continuing Education Credits. The BACB does not warrant, endorse, sponsor, approve, or partner with the event, organisation, or instructor.