ATANZ is very excited to organise

2027 Teaching Movements for Communication 

A 5-day intensive workshop teaching professionals and families how to help individuals with complex physical and sensory challenges, access Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Presented by

Gayle Porter - Speech Pathologist

 and Claire Cotter - Occupational Therapist 

CPEC Australia

Location and date:

12-16 July 2027 

(2nd week of school holidays)  

Venue: JetPark Auckland Airport Hotel, Conference & Events Centre 

63 Westney Road, Mangere, Auckland 2022 

Time: 

Day 1 - 12 July:  9.30 am Welcome & registration for a 10 am start – 6 pm finish 

Day 2, 3 and 4:   8.30 am start - 5 pm finish 

Day 5:  8.30 am start - 3 pm finish 

Morning tea, lunch (45 min) and afternoon tea will be provided

About this event:

For some children with complex communication needs, it is the method of accessing the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system that is significantly affecting their development of intelligible, autonomous communication. These children, who have significant physical and/or sensory challenges, often need to learn movements to access AAC systems.

This intensive 5-day workshop will provide participants with an in-depth opportunity to explore the movement differences associated with cerebral palsy, other significant neurological movement impairments (e.g. Rett Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome), and severe sensory processing challenges. There will be a focus on identifying these posture and movement challenges in relation to their impact on communication development, assessment and intelligibility. A range of strategies and a process to teach movements for communication will be demonstrated.

After this 5-day workshop, participants will have developed their ability to:

• Identify the role of movement in communication
• Identify the communication and cognitive assessment challenges for individuals who have sensory motor challenges and complex communication needs
• Describe the key movement issues that affect the development of all graded movement, including that required for intelligible communication
• Observe and analyse the movement for children whose motor and/or sensory processing challenges affect their development of intelligible communication. This includes children with
  • cerebral palsy (and like conditions) 
  • other syndromes (e.g. Rett, Pitt Hopkins, Cri Du Chat) 
  • global developmental delay
• Explain how to accommodate for challenging postural control
• Explain how to develop sensory & motor control of selective movements
• Describe an intervention process for developing movements and operational competencies for more intelligible, independent, autonomous communication.
• Assess and teach movements for communication using gesture, non-electronic and electronic AAC systems, including direct pointing, eye-gaze, and scanning access. 
• Discuss the concept of parallel learning for electronic and non-electronic systems, including the Stepping Stones to Switch Access (Burkhart) and eye gaze technology.

Case studies

There will be an opportunity for course participants to submit a case study that may be selected for inclusion in the workshop.

Overview content 

About the Presenters  

Claire Cotter (B.App Sc. (OT), Dip. CE (Hon), OTR) is a senior Occupational Therapist with 48 years’ experience in this field. Claire is a co-founder of the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Melbourne, Australia and recently retired after 30 years of leadership of CPEC, including 12 years as the CEO. She is committed to the best possible outcomes for families who are raising a child with cerebral palsy and other neurological disabilities. With expertise in teaching motor control, addressing sensory processing challenges, developmental play and technology for children with neurological impairments, she addresses the sensorimotor challenges to communication access. Claire coordinates a wide range of professional development opportunities across the sector and contributes to published research papers and online resources. She regularly presents papers and workshops. In 2023, Claire was awarded an Order of Australia Medal to recognise her services and advocacy for people with disabilities. 

Gayle Porter is a Speech Pathologist with over 40 years hands-on experience working with people with complex communication needs in a range of community and specialist environments.  This work has provided Gayle with the opportunity to interact with individuals using AAC from infancy to adulthood, clarifying the longer-term aims of AAC interventions to enable people to autonomously communicate, to understand others and to be understood in all the activities of their daily life. Gayle is one of the founders of the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Melbourne, Australia.  Gayle is internationally known for her work developing the Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Displays (PODD) communication books and page sets for electronic speech-generating devices. In addition, she has authored articles, publications and chapters on Augmentative and Alternative Communication and cerebral palsy. In 1996 Gayle received the Speech Pathology Australia, Elinor Wray Award in recognition of outstanding clinical contribution to the profession of speech pathology, and in 2007 she was the first recipient of the Australian Group on Severe Communication Impairment (AGOSCI) award for services to Australian AAC. In 2023 Gayle was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her services to speech pathology.  

Minimum numbers:

Events require a minimum number of participants to proceed. We'll confirm whether we can go ahead at least two weeks before the event start date, or as soon as we reach the number of registrations needed to make the event financially viable.  We offer the option to attend at a different location or a full refund in case we need to cancel. Please keep this in mind when booking any travel and accommodations.

Cancellations by participants less than 14 days before the event will not be refunded. Substitution by another person is possible when you notify us by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 3 days before the start of the event. Please check out our full cancellation and refunds policy here.

Who can attend?

This 5-day intensive workshop will be most effective for teams who are working with children who have severe physical and sensory challenges and are struggling to access augmentative communication systems. Teams may include: speech-language therapists, educators, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, family members, school leadership and support personnel. However, it will also be of significant value and give direction and knowledge to individual therapists, educators and family members.

It would be helpful, but not a requirement, for one of the members of the team to have previously attended an Introductory PODD (Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display Communication) training.

Costs: 

• $1725.00 - ATANZ members - EARLY BIRD RATE 
• $1855.00 - ATANZ members
• $1995.00 - Non-members - EARLY BIRD RATE  
• $2141.00 - Non-members
• $750.00 - Whānau/family members - EARLY BIRD RATE
• $806.00 - Whānau/Family members 
• $900.00 - Students - EARLY BIRD RATE
• $967.50 - Students

Early bird rates will end on 31 March 2027 - Registrations will close on 28 June or when sold out, at which point a waiting list will be created. - Places for this event will be capped at 50 participants! 

JetPark Hotel accommodation discount

Participants attending this course can take advantage of a 20% discount on accommodation at JetPark during the course week. 

Please click here for more information. 

Please note that there is an opportunity to apply for our Whānau Professional Development and Learning Grant and ATANZ Professional Development Grant when you register.

Please check out all our Upcoming events on our events website page – https://atanz.org.nz/events

Questions:

Please contact us with any questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.