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WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS:
Key Connections Consulting Inc. provides presentations and workshops on a variety of topics. The presentations/workshops are provided for parents, community, schools, government organizations, and in home support workers. Themes are determined by the needs of the group for whom the presentation is designed.
BEHAVIOUR PRESENTATIONS
Behaviour Basics
This interactive presentation is an introduction to providing effective and practical behaviour strategies. Key Strategies will be provided that can be incorporated into the classroom/community setting. Participants will review basic behaviour principals and will have the opportunity to brainstorm challenging cases. This session can be tailored to a 1.5 - 3 hour presentation.
Advanced Behaviour Strategies
This advanced behaviour presentation focuses on children/individuals with complex behavioural needs. Behaviour principals with be discussed and participants will leave with advanced practical strategies. Participants who have an understanding of the basics of the behaviour with most benefit from this workshop. Brainstorming of challenging cases will be incorporated to ensure that each participant has the opportunity to ask specific case questions. This workshop can be tailored to 2.5 - 4 hour presentation.
Successful Transitions
Transitions are often the most difficult time in a student/individual's day. Participants will leave with practical strategies that can be used with both individual students as well as, all students in the classroom (community) setting. This presentation is best suited for educational practitioners and or caregivers. This presentation can be tailored to 1-2 hours.
Sexuality and Behaviour
Sexuality is an integral aspect of life contributing to character development as a person changes through the life cycle. This collaborative presentation is an introduction to providing sexual education and practical strategies for individuals with disabilities who are developing a sexual identity. Participants will review the typical development of sexual development from birth to adulthood as well as review basic strategies to provide education and resources to those individuals in which they support. This presentation can be tailored to 1-2 hours.
Motivating the Unmotivated
An individual's motivation is strongly influenced by: learning history; learning styles; internal and external incentives to engage in tasks; expectations of success or failure with a particular task; meaningfulness and purposefulness of the task from the perspective of the individual served; and task-surrounding environmental variables which affect attention and achievement. This presentation will include strategies and practical intervention to engage individuals served that could be reluctant/apprehensive to intervention or support. This presentation can be tailored to suit any diagnosis and is approx 2-3 hours in length.
Creating an Inclusive Environment
This interactive presentation is an introduction to creating environments that meet a variety of diverse individuals needs all at the same time. This presentation is a way for professionals and families to share ideas, share activities and strategies that best assist them in structuring programming to meet a variety of individual’s needs and capabilities. This presentation can be tailored to 2-3 hours or tailored as an individualized consult to an environment. Services available will range from brainstorming to implementation.
Anxiety and Frustration Management
This workshop will focus on building a repertoire of skills and strategies that will assist in managing situations which are anxiety provoking and/or frustrating while recognizing the strengths that we all possess. Using those strengths, we will create a toolbox of strategies that will promote social success and be used to manage anxiety, frustration, and anger at home, at school and in the community. This topic can be adapted for children in a 6 week group format, or a 2.5-3 hour presentation for adults/caregivers.
Level 1: Working with Explosive/Noncompliant Children and Youth
An Introduction to the Collaborative Problem-Solving Approach
The Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach pioneered by Dr. Ross Greene and Stuart Ablon was developed to help adults teach and assist children who exhibit explosive behaviors with strategies to help reduce the frequency and intensity of these challenging behaviours. In this interactive workshop participants will compare and contrast the traditional theories of problem behaviour with the CPS approach, learn why conventional reward and punishment strategies may not be effective, review necessary steps in implementing the CPS approach and to ensure your efforts are part of the solution. This workshop can be tailored to specific audiences and covered in a range of 2 hours to a full day session.
Level 2: Beyond The Basics: Working with Explosive/Noncompliant Individuals
Participants will build upon their knowledge of CPS by exploring a variety of case scenarios and creating action plans, applying the CPS philosophy for those with special needs, troubleshooting common errors in the three steps of CPS and exploring additional skill building resources that can be used with children, teens, and adults. This ½ day interactive workshop will include role playing and practicing key components of the CPS approach. Participants must have completed a 1 day workshop on the basics of CPS prior to enrollment.
COUNSELLING PRESENTATIONS
Building Confidence Through Positive Interactions
The interactions we have with others in our communities impact the way we feel about ourselves. This workshop will focus on providing a positive supportive environment in which both children and adults can develop and practice the skills and confidence they need to navigate social situations successfully. Topics that can be addressed include bullying, coping/calming strategies, building positive peer relationships, and dealing with conflict. This workshop can be adapted for children in a 6 week group format, or a 1 hour classroom presentation, or a 2.5-3 hour presentation for adults/caregivers.
Caring for Self, Caring for Others
This presentation will provide participants strategies and support in maintaining a healthy balance between caring for individuals and caring for oneself. Practical strategies including developing a self-care plan, building strong support networks, as well as recognizing compassion fatigue will be discussed. This topic is best suited for service and education providers and/or individual caregiver working with individuals with complex needs, where staff turnover is evident, can be adapted for specific populations (e.g.: special needs, deteriorating health, the aging) and can be provided in a 2.5-3 hour presentation, or as consultation to agencies and schools.
Good Grieving: A Client-Centered Strength Based Approach
Are different kinds of losses grieved differently? Do children and youth grieve differently than adults? What common mistakes can be avoided when assisting those who are grieving? What signs indicate that more intensive support may be necessary? Participants will explore these questions from a client centered, client directed, strength based perspective. Participants will also have an opportunity to reflect on their own unique strengths and challenges, compare and contrast three popular models of grief and loss, identify common roadblocks to the grieving process, and gain an understanding of the differences between an expert driven and client directed approach. This is a 1 day workshop.
An Introduction to Solution Focused Approach: Foundations for Solution Building
In this introductory workshop participants will learn and practice the key principals of the Solution Focused Approach. Individuals will learn the difference between “problem solving” and “solution building”, how to use pre- session questions to start the solution building process, and the importance of developing compliments and between session suggestions. The 5 primary intervention strategies used to foster solution building will be explored. This is a 1 day workshop.
Creating Opportunities for Change: Building Success Through Solution Focused Practice
Participants with previous Solution Focused experience will expand their knowledge of the approach by learning and practicing specific strategies that promote successful solution building. Individuals will practice interviewing skills using the Tri-Phase model of solution building, experience using a solution focused intake assessment form, learn the advantages of using the visual session tracking approach to interviewing clients, and experience a solution focused art therapy exercise. This is a 1 day workshop
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PRESENTATIONS
Talking Takes Time: How Do I Help A Child with Speech Sound Challenges?
This presentation outlines the stages of typical sound development, as well as, typical sound errors that children may experience. Participants will learn strategies for working on speech sounds in structured one-to-one activities, within daily classroom routines and how to incorporate speech sound practice into group activities within the classroom.
Specific strategies for teaching children how to make individual speech sounds will be discussed. Time is allotted for brainstorming challenging cases and sharing activity ideas with one another. Participants will leave this session with an assortment of activity ideas and how to use a variety of activities to target several goal areas.
Language Here, There, Everywhere!
This presentation outlines the stages of typical language development and how to target language challenges within the classroom. Many components of language will be discussed, including basic concepts, vocabulary building, WH questions, categorizing, following directions and grammar (e.g. pronouns, verb tenses). Participants will leave this session with activity ideas for working on language goals during structured one-to-one sessions, as well as, within
classroom routines. Time is allotted for brainstorming challenging cases and sharing
activity ideas with one another.
Up, Up, Up and Away: Language, Play, and the Child Who has Challenges Engaging with Others
This presentation will be beneficial for you if:
Along with strategies, the foundations of social interaction will be discussed, such as joint attention and turn taking. The workshop will include large group discussion, small group activities and an opportunity to practice skills related to challenging cases and scenarios. Participants will leave this presentation with a “toolbox” of ideas for supporting play, social development and encouraging language with children who seem to prefer being on their own. These tools can be used in home, community, and school environments.
Unconventional Communication: Using Non-Verbal Communication Supports
An introduction to different types of alternative communication will be discussed. Some communication systems that will be discussed include voice output communication systems, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), picture boards, and communication books. Individuals will have an opportunity to learn strategies that can support non-verbal children within the classroom, as well as, one-on-one.
Thinking About Thinking: Social Skills Support
This introduction to social thinking discusses the complexity of navigating the social world. Understanding social thinking is a complex skill which some of our children struggle with. It is what we do when we have interactions with other people. How we think about people affects how we behave around others, and how they respond to our behaviour. This workshop will provide strategies to help children understand how their own social minds work, as well as, understand that they and others have different perceptions of social information.
Learning Language and Loving It – The Hanen Program for Early Childhood Educators
The Learning Language and Loving It Program was designed to provide early childhood educators with practical strategies for helping all children in the classroom build language and social skills, no matter what their learning and communication styles are, and even if they have special needs. The Learning Language and Loving It Program includes:
**Additional presentations based on this program are also available
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRESENTATIONS
Sensory in the Classroom
This presentation will introduce you to the concepts of how sensory processing impacts learning and behaviour. You will have the opportunity to learn about tools that can help children achieve a just right state to learn and participate in daily living activities. You will have the opportunity to develop skills at how to be a sensory and behaviour detective. Finally, you will learn to implement environmental changes and use the tools at home and school. You will also receive information on how an Occupational Therapist could support implementing the programs in your classroom.
Fine Motor Fun All Year Round
This presentation will introduce you to some of the basics behind how fine motor challenges impact the daily successes and self esteem of children. You will have the opportunity to learn many back to basic ways to target improving fine motor skills in your classroom and at home. We will also discuss ways to adapt play, school work and personal care activities to create more opportunities for success for children who find fine motor activities difficult. You will also receive information on how an Occupational Therapist could support the fine motor programming in your classroom.
When printing is too hard – Strategies to support printing success in the classroom
This presentation will introduce you to important concepts around printing success including seating, hand strength, visual motor skills, and letter formation. You will be exposed to some screening tools to help you decide if you need to consult with an Occupational Therapist. The presentation will walk you through some strategies to support teaching printing through using Handwriting without tears program. The presentation will also include strategies to support adapting the environment to make printing more successful and activities to improve visual motor and fine motor skills. Finally, you will have the opportunity to discuss when and how to use technology to support a child with their written output.
Key Connections Consulting Inc. provides presentations and workshops on a variety of topics. The presentations/workshops are provided for parents, community, schools, government organizations, and in home support workers. Themes are determined by the needs of the group for whom the presentation is designed.
- Behaviour Workshops and Presentations
- Counselling Workshops and Presentations
- Speech Language Pathology Workshops and Presentations
- Occupational Therapy Workshops and Presentations
BEHAVIOUR PRESENTATIONS
Behaviour Basics
This interactive presentation is an introduction to providing effective and practical behaviour strategies. Key Strategies will be provided that can be incorporated into the classroom/community setting. Participants will review basic behaviour principals and will have the opportunity to brainstorm challenging cases. This session can be tailored to a 1.5 - 3 hour presentation.
Advanced Behaviour Strategies
This advanced behaviour presentation focuses on children/individuals with complex behavioural needs. Behaviour principals with be discussed and participants will leave with advanced practical strategies. Participants who have an understanding of the basics of the behaviour with most benefit from this workshop. Brainstorming of challenging cases will be incorporated to ensure that each participant has the opportunity to ask specific case questions. This workshop can be tailored to 2.5 - 4 hour presentation.
Successful Transitions
Transitions are often the most difficult time in a student/individual's day. Participants will leave with practical strategies that can be used with both individual students as well as, all students in the classroom (community) setting. This presentation is best suited for educational practitioners and or caregivers. This presentation can be tailored to 1-2 hours.
Sexuality and Behaviour
Sexuality is an integral aspect of life contributing to character development as a person changes through the life cycle. This collaborative presentation is an introduction to providing sexual education and practical strategies for individuals with disabilities who are developing a sexual identity. Participants will review the typical development of sexual development from birth to adulthood as well as review basic strategies to provide education and resources to those individuals in which they support. This presentation can be tailored to 1-2 hours.
Motivating the Unmotivated
An individual's motivation is strongly influenced by: learning history; learning styles; internal and external incentives to engage in tasks; expectations of success or failure with a particular task; meaningfulness and purposefulness of the task from the perspective of the individual served; and task-surrounding environmental variables which affect attention and achievement. This presentation will include strategies and practical intervention to engage individuals served that could be reluctant/apprehensive to intervention or support. This presentation can be tailored to suit any diagnosis and is approx 2-3 hours in length.
Creating an Inclusive Environment
This interactive presentation is an introduction to creating environments that meet a variety of diverse individuals needs all at the same time. This presentation is a way for professionals and families to share ideas, share activities and strategies that best assist them in structuring programming to meet a variety of individual’s needs and capabilities. This presentation can be tailored to 2-3 hours or tailored as an individualized consult to an environment. Services available will range from brainstorming to implementation.
Anxiety and Frustration Management
This workshop will focus on building a repertoire of skills and strategies that will assist in managing situations which are anxiety provoking and/or frustrating while recognizing the strengths that we all possess. Using those strengths, we will create a toolbox of strategies that will promote social success and be used to manage anxiety, frustration, and anger at home, at school and in the community. This topic can be adapted for children in a 6 week group format, or a 2.5-3 hour presentation for adults/caregivers.
Level 1: Working with Explosive/Noncompliant Children and Youth
An Introduction to the Collaborative Problem-Solving Approach
The Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach pioneered by Dr. Ross Greene and Stuart Ablon was developed to help adults teach and assist children who exhibit explosive behaviors with strategies to help reduce the frequency and intensity of these challenging behaviours. In this interactive workshop participants will compare and contrast the traditional theories of problem behaviour with the CPS approach, learn why conventional reward and punishment strategies may not be effective, review necessary steps in implementing the CPS approach and to ensure your efforts are part of the solution. This workshop can be tailored to specific audiences and covered in a range of 2 hours to a full day session.
Level 2: Beyond The Basics: Working with Explosive/Noncompliant Individuals
Participants will build upon their knowledge of CPS by exploring a variety of case scenarios and creating action plans, applying the CPS philosophy for those with special needs, troubleshooting common errors in the three steps of CPS and exploring additional skill building resources that can be used with children, teens, and adults. This ½ day interactive workshop will include role playing and practicing key components of the CPS approach. Participants must have completed a 1 day workshop on the basics of CPS prior to enrollment.
COUNSELLING PRESENTATIONS
Building Confidence Through Positive Interactions
The interactions we have with others in our communities impact the way we feel about ourselves. This workshop will focus on providing a positive supportive environment in which both children and adults can develop and practice the skills and confidence they need to navigate social situations successfully. Topics that can be addressed include bullying, coping/calming strategies, building positive peer relationships, and dealing with conflict. This workshop can be adapted for children in a 6 week group format, or a 1 hour classroom presentation, or a 2.5-3 hour presentation for adults/caregivers.
Caring for Self, Caring for Others
This presentation will provide participants strategies and support in maintaining a healthy balance between caring for individuals and caring for oneself. Practical strategies including developing a self-care plan, building strong support networks, as well as recognizing compassion fatigue will be discussed. This topic is best suited for service and education providers and/or individual caregiver working with individuals with complex needs, where staff turnover is evident, can be adapted for specific populations (e.g.: special needs, deteriorating health, the aging) and can be provided in a 2.5-3 hour presentation, or as consultation to agencies and schools.
Good Grieving: A Client-Centered Strength Based Approach
Are different kinds of losses grieved differently? Do children and youth grieve differently than adults? What common mistakes can be avoided when assisting those who are grieving? What signs indicate that more intensive support may be necessary? Participants will explore these questions from a client centered, client directed, strength based perspective. Participants will also have an opportunity to reflect on their own unique strengths and challenges, compare and contrast three popular models of grief and loss, identify common roadblocks to the grieving process, and gain an understanding of the differences between an expert driven and client directed approach. This is a 1 day workshop.
An Introduction to Solution Focused Approach: Foundations for Solution Building
In this introductory workshop participants will learn and practice the key principals of the Solution Focused Approach. Individuals will learn the difference between “problem solving” and “solution building”, how to use pre- session questions to start the solution building process, and the importance of developing compliments and between session suggestions. The 5 primary intervention strategies used to foster solution building will be explored. This is a 1 day workshop.
Creating Opportunities for Change: Building Success Through Solution Focused Practice
Participants with previous Solution Focused experience will expand their knowledge of the approach by learning and practicing specific strategies that promote successful solution building. Individuals will practice interviewing skills using the Tri-Phase model of solution building, experience using a solution focused intake assessment form, learn the advantages of using the visual session tracking approach to interviewing clients, and experience a solution focused art therapy exercise. This is a 1 day workshop
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PRESENTATIONS
Talking Takes Time: How Do I Help A Child with Speech Sound Challenges?
This presentation outlines the stages of typical sound development, as well as, typical sound errors that children may experience. Participants will learn strategies for working on speech sounds in structured one-to-one activities, within daily classroom routines and how to incorporate speech sound practice into group activities within the classroom.
Specific strategies for teaching children how to make individual speech sounds will be discussed. Time is allotted for brainstorming challenging cases and sharing activity ideas with one another. Participants will leave this session with an assortment of activity ideas and how to use a variety of activities to target several goal areas.
Language Here, There, Everywhere!
This presentation outlines the stages of typical language development and how to target language challenges within the classroom. Many components of language will be discussed, including basic concepts, vocabulary building, WH questions, categorizing, following directions and grammar (e.g. pronouns, verb tenses). Participants will leave this session with activity ideas for working on language goals during structured one-to-one sessions, as well as, within
classroom routines. Time is allotted for brainstorming challenging cases and sharing
activity ideas with one another.
Up, Up, Up and Away: Language, Play, and the Child Who has Challenges Engaging with Others
This presentation will be beneficial for you if:
- The child you work with has challenges using language in daily activities,
- The child you work with is difficult to engage and he/she seems to prefer playing alone,
- The child may become frustrated when attempting to communicate,
- You are looking for strategies to help encourage language and social interaction in a natural, play-based environment.
Along with strategies, the foundations of social interaction will be discussed, such as joint attention and turn taking. The workshop will include large group discussion, small group activities and an opportunity to practice skills related to challenging cases and scenarios. Participants will leave this presentation with a “toolbox” of ideas for supporting play, social development and encouraging language with children who seem to prefer being on their own. These tools can be used in home, community, and school environments.
Unconventional Communication: Using Non-Verbal Communication Supports
An introduction to different types of alternative communication will be discussed. Some communication systems that will be discussed include voice output communication systems, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), picture boards, and communication books. Individuals will have an opportunity to learn strategies that can support non-verbal children within the classroom, as well as, one-on-one.
Thinking About Thinking: Social Skills Support
This introduction to social thinking discusses the complexity of navigating the social world. Understanding social thinking is a complex skill which some of our children struggle with. It is what we do when we have interactions with other people. How we think about people affects how we behave around others, and how they respond to our behaviour. This workshop will provide strategies to help children understand how their own social minds work, as well as, understand that they and others have different perceptions of social information.
Learning Language and Loving It – The Hanen Program for Early Childhood Educators
The Learning Language and Loving It Program was designed to provide early childhood educators with practical strategies for helping all children in the classroom build language and social skills, no matter what their learning and communication styles are, and even if they have special needs. The Learning Language and Loving It Program includes:
- A Hanen Certified speech-language pathologist or early childhood education consultant leading the program to a group of up to twenty educators;
- 5-8 intensive group training sessions (15-20 hours) in which you learn through a variety of media and by interacting with your fellow educators;
- 4-6 individual videotaping and feedback sessions for each educator (educators’ interactions with children are videotaped by and reviewed with the group leader); and
- User-friendly resources to support your learning.
**Additional presentations based on this program are also available
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRESENTATIONS
Sensory in the Classroom
This presentation will introduce you to the concepts of how sensory processing impacts learning and behaviour. You will have the opportunity to learn about tools that can help children achieve a just right state to learn and participate in daily living activities. You will have the opportunity to develop skills at how to be a sensory and behaviour detective. Finally, you will learn to implement environmental changes and use the tools at home and school. You will also receive information on how an Occupational Therapist could support implementing the programs in your classroom.
Fine Motor Fun All Year Round
This presentation will introduce you to some of the basics behind how fine motor challenges impact the daily successes and self esteem of children. You will have the opportunity to learn many back to basic ways to target improving fine motor skills in your classroom and at home. We will also discuss ways to adapt play, school work and personal care activities to create more opportunities for success for children who find fine motor activities difficult. You will also receive information on how an Occupational Therapist could support the fine motor programming in your classroom.
When printing is too hard – Strategies to support printing success in the classroom
This presentation will introduce you to important concepts around printing success including seating, hand strength, visual motor skills, and letter formation. You will be exposed to some screening tools to help you decide if you need to consult with an Occupational Therapist. The presentation will walk you through some strategies to support teaching printing through using Handwriting without tears program. The presentation will also include strategies to support adapting the environment to make printing more successful and activities to improve visual motor and fine motor skills. Finally, you will have the opportunity to discuss when and how to use technology to support a child with their written output.
