This course is in two sessions: 
Part 1 &#8211; Learn about the development of the Pragmatics Profile for people who use AAC and how to administer it; 
Part 2 &#8211; Discover how to use the profile to identify appropriate vocabulary for AAC and create communication targets to support personal development.
9th March (9.30am-12.30pm): An introduction to the Profile, who it is suitable for, and how it should be implemented. Learn about the development of the Pragmatics Profile for people who use AAC, and how to administer it. Following Part 1 you are encouraged to undertake the profile.
30th March (9.30am &#8211; 12.30pm): Discover how to use the profile to identify appropriate vocabulary for AAC and create communication targets to support personal development. This session will support you to utilise the tool, identify priority communication targets and a plan to implement them.
Course aim: 
Explore the Pragmatics Profile for People who use AAC and receive guidance and supervision to complete the profile and utilise information gathered to plan further interventions.
You will learn:
To describe a person’s functional communication skills 
To use the Pragmatics Profile for People who use AAC to identify communication targets 
To plan targeted activities to enable communication development and measure progress.
Suitable for:
Practitioners working with people who use AAC who are responsible for identifying AAC requirements and enabling use of AAC across different environments. This course will enable you to work towards the following :
IPAACKS competencies:
Assessment 
Able to carry out an informal AAC assessment with guidance and/or using an existing proforma 
Implementation 
Able to select and format vocabulary appropriate to the person using AAC, with guidance as appropriate 
Able to independently set personalised goals and monitor change against these goals 
Review 
Aware of the need to monitor whether or not an individual’s current AAC system continues to meet their needs
Course Includes:
This is a teacher supported online course and includes 3 Months access to online learning materials and 2 live webinars.
Special requirements:
A copy of the Pragmatics Profile for People who use AAC available from: https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/pragmatics-profile-people-use-aac/
You will be required to use one of the following web browsers for the live webinar: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Safari or Safari Mobile
Cost: £120

Runs on specific date

Our courses focus on the use of Assistive Technology to enable independence, access to education, learning and leisure activities, and communication.

Online course

Exploring Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) that supports face-to-face communication.

Communication

Implementing the Pragmatics Profile for People who use AAC

Reflect on your personal interaction style and develop communication partner skills to support AAC users. You will have access to online activities to work through independently.
Course aim:
To raise your awareness of the fundamental skills required when interacting with a person who uses AAC
You will learn:
To describe typical characteristics of AAC interactions 
To identify 4 things that you can do to support an interaction with an AAC user 
To use point talking with a communication chart to interact with an AAC user
Course includes:
Free access to online learning activities.
Suitable for:
Anyone working with people who use AAC. This course will enable you to work towards the following:
IPAACKS competencies:
AAC Leadership 
Aware of how to communicate with people who use AAC 
Act as a positive role model for others in their interaction with people who use AAC 
Facilitating AAC Learning 
Able to model positive interaction in relation to communicating with someone who uses AAC
Special requirements:
Log in to Ace Centre Learning
Cost: FREE

Becoming a Communication Partner

This course explores the needs of individuals with complex communication difficulties who may benefit from AAC. Participants will critically evaluate the available range of AAC resources and strategies and examine the issues of assessment, implementation, support and training.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
<ol>
<li>Recognise who can benefit from Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and understand the importance of a collaborative approach to identify the need and potential solutions</li>
<li>Identify an individual who may benefit from AAC and describe their requirements of a communication system</li>
<li>Critically evaluate a communication resource and the way it has been implemented</li>
<li>Analyse and measure the current and potential impact of using an AAC system</li>
</ol>
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The AAC Unit combines online self-directed study and live interactive webinars. Online activities will be revealed prior to the webinars. These may be completed before or after the live event. Alternatively you may choose to work through the activities on the day of the webinar.
A question and answer session with two members of Ace Centre staff will also be available on the afternoons of the webinar dates. These will provide an opportunity for further discussion and collaboration with the course tutors and peers on the course.
Ace Centre tutors will endeavour to facilitate your self-directed learning. Please contribute to the live sessions and utilise the forum to support your learning.
Webinar Dates
18th January 2022
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Vocabulary selection and organisation (9.30am -11.00am)</li>
<li>Q and A (3.00-4.00pm)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
15th February 2022
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>AAC Assessment (9.30am -11.00am)</li>
<li>Q and A (3.00-4.00pm)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
15th March 2022
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Teaching strategies and implementation (9.30am -11.00am)</li>
<li>Q and A (3.00-4.00pm)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
5th April 2022
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Target setting and review (9.30am -11.00am)</li>
<li>Q and A (3.00-4.00pm)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Cost: £800

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Unit

Explore how to develop and use a communication book, who it is suitable for and how to make it.
This course is over two sessions which will provide an appraisal of vocabulary to make a communication book exploring the principles behind Ace Centre&#8217;s &#8216;Developing and Using a Communication Book&#8217;.
Session 1: 9th November 2021 (1.30pm &#8211; 4.30pm) Interactive webinar exploring when you might introduce a personalised communication book, different ways to organise language, and different methods of retrieval. The session will focus on Ace Centre&#8217;s Developing and Using a Communication Book and how to identify and select appropriate vocabulary.
Session 2: 30th November 2021 (1.30pm &#8211; 4.30pm) Interactive webinar utilising Boardmaker 7 to create a personalised communication book.
Course aim:
To introduce the principles of &#8216;Developing and Using a Communication Book&#8217;  and consider who it is suitable for and how to select the appropriate stage. This course will combine webinars and self -directed online study.
You will learn:
<ul>
<li>To describe the vocabulary organisation of the DUCB resource</li>
<li>To state which level of DUCB would be suitable for an individual and why</li>
<li>To manipulate DUCB templates in Boardmaker 7 to create a communication book</li>
</ul>
Suitable for:
Practitioners working with people who use AAC who are responsible for developing communication resources and enabling use of AAC across different environments.
IPAACKS Competencies:
Implementation
Able to select and format vocabulary appropriate to the person using AAC, with guidance as appropriate
Course includes:
3 months access to online materials, 2 live webinars and free trial of Boardmaker 7
Special requirements:
A laptop to install and trial Boardmaker 7
You will be required to use one of the following web browsers for the live webinar: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Safari or Safari Mobile
Cost: £120

How to Develop and Use a Communication Book

This two day introductory workshop is hosted and delivered at Ace Centre in Oldham. The course aims to discuss the teaching and learning strategies for implementing PODD communication systems and is taught as a face to face course. The course will run 9am-4pm.
You will learn:
<ul>
<li>The challenges faced when creating communication systems in relation to vocabulary organisation, layout, design and range of access strategies and when customising systems to meet individual requirements</li>
<li>The importance of receptive language input and of creating a language learning environment</li>
<li>The features of a PODD communication system, including vocabulary organisation, layout, design, range of access strategies, and how these can be customised to meet individual requirements</li>
<li>How to use PODD generic template resources to produce customised communication books.</li>
</ul>
Suitable for: 
Family, carers, and professionals supporting individuals who use PODD communication systems.
Course includes: 
Workshop manual, 2 face to face taught days with practical activities and hands on PODD communication books
Cost: £225
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Oldham Office

PODD 2-Day Introductory Workshop

Reflect on your personal interaction style and develop communication partner skills to support people using aided language and symbols to communicate. You will have access to online activities to work through independently.
Course aim:
To raise your awareness of the fundamental skills required when interacting with a person who uses AAC
You will learn:
<ul>
<li>To describe typical characteristics of AAC interactions</li>
<li>To identify 4 things that you can do to support an interaction with an AAC user</li>
<li>To use point talking with a communication chart to interact with an AAC user</li>
</ul>
Course includes:
Free access to online learning activities.
Suitable for:
Anyone working with people who use AAC. This course will enable you to work towards the following:
IPAACKS competencies:
<ul>
<li>AAC Leadership</li>
<li>Aware of how to communicate with people who use AAC</li>
<li>Act as a positive role model for others in their interaction with people who use AAC</li>
<li>Facilitating AAC Learning</li>
<li>Able to model positive interaction in relation to communicating with someone who uses AAC</li>
</ul>
Special requirements:
Log in to Ace Centre Learning
Cost: FREE
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