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Natural Language Acquisition in Autism: Echolalia to Self-Generated Language, Level 1This is a private course for Fairview rehabilitation services only.This course is the first in the 3-course NLA series. CE department will purchase the part 1 and 2 series and it is suggested that learners complete these courses in sequence. Fairview continuing education will purchase 1 and 2 only at this time. (Continuing education department may purchase Level 3 in January of 2026, otherwise Core benefit eligible therapists can discuss with your director to see if funds available this year. You would need to submit an external CE request).
Date: January 2025-December 2025 course will be accessed through Northern Speech Services (Northernspeech.com) ASHA CEUs: NSS online courses are registered with ASHA and are offered for ASHA CEUs. The number of ASHA CEUs is noted above. Note that 0.1 ASHA CEU = 1 contact hour = equals 1 CEE. ASHA CE Registry: During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you provide your ASHA number, NSS will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on November 7th, NSS will submit all November online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of December. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so November 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, November 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 2-3 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript. If an attendee is not an ASHA member or CCC holder but meets any of the above criteria, they may inform the ASHA CE Registry of their eligibility by visiting this site.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation Fee will apply
COURSE SUMMARY: This NLA Level 1 course describes the linguistics of echolalia in language development, starting with the use of large units of meaning known as language gestalts. It compares the gestalt language processing of neurotypical children with that of autistic children. It reviews research on the communicative use of echolalia and addresses the differences between autistic echolalia in the past and in the present. This course discusses the natural stages of language development from Stage 1 (communicative echolalia) to Stages 4-6 (self-generated grammar) in individuals who are gestalt language processors, and fucuses on supporting autistic children as they move through the stages. Described will be a protocol for assessing spontaneous language in autistic children, determining the stages of language development, and deriving appropriate language development goals.
Course Overview – Run Time: 3:06:44
INSTRUCTOR: Marge began combining clinical practice and clinical research in 1994 after she met her first autistic client as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin. Recognizing his ‘delayed echolalia,’ Marge delved into the work of Barry Prizant, Ann Peters, and other qualitative researchers who had documented gestalt language processing (GLP) as a way of processing language naturally — and outlined the stages of gestalt language development. After her client followed the stages in the way predicted by Prizant, Marge decided to follow Prizant’s recommendation to conduct research to describe that process in detail. Founding her clinic in 1997, Marge continued to document how GLPs develop language from ‘delayed echolalia’ to self-generated language. Marge coined the term Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) to describe that process, and to emphasize the fact that ‘echolalia’ is not a pathology and should be recognized as the first stage of gestalt language development. Marge first used the term ‘NLA’ in 2005 when she published the article, “Finding the Words: to Tell the Whole Story, “Based on the case study of her first autistic GLP. Marge continued her clinical research until 2010, and assembled her findings in the book, Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum: the Journey from Echolalia to Self-Generated Language, published in 2012. Endorsed by Prizant as “the most comprehensive consideration of echolalia and language characteristics of persons with autism to date,” the NLA book is known as a “seminal work” that “brings us back to a crucial understanding of language characteristics and language acquisition in ASD…” (Prizant, 2015) NLA describes the first four stages of gestalt language development identified by Prizant, adds the two additional stages researchers had identified as further grammar development, and quantifies the developmental process. NLA can be used in assessment, measuring progress, and supporting the process of gestalt language development. The NLA book became the sourcebook for the courses, the presentations, and the resources that now have proliferated. Along with Prizant and two other colleagues, Marge presented NLA at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in 2014. Lillian Stiegler was in that audience, and recognizing the significance of NLA, this seasoned CSD professor wrote an AJSLP review article bringing NLA to the academic community in 2015. Marge then authored several NLA presentations and workshops on NLA in 2016, and these steps spawned a movement that is now taking NLA into countries in North, South, and Central America, Europe, and Asia. Marge’s pioneering research is helping SLPs, SLTs, and other speech and language professionals understand that echolalia is meaningful communication, and the first stage in the journey towards self-generated language. Marge is the author of three online continuing education programs offered through Northern Speech Services: Natural Language Acquisition in Autism: From Echolalia to Self-Generated Language (Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3). Her most recent course adds crucial insights to the foundational courses of Levels 1 and 2, and dives deep into the stages of Natural Language Acquisition from Stage 1 (use of gestalts) to Stage 6 (use of complex grammar). Marge also presents regularly to school districts and other educational organizations, and provides networking and education for Speech-Language Pathologists through the CDC website, www.communicationdevelopmentcenter.com Presenter Disclosures: Financial — Marge Blanc is a presenter of online CE courses sponsored by Northern Speech Services; royalties are received by the Communication Development Center. Financial — Marge Blanc is the author of the book, "Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum: The Journey from Echolalia to Self-Generated Language"; she does not receive royalties, however, the non-profit Communication Development Center does. Nonfinancial — Marge Blanc is the founder and director of the Communication Development Center (CDC) in Madison, WI; she does not receive any compensation in this role.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
If you would like to see further information in regards to course and frequently asked questions, please click on this link: https://www.northernspeech.com/speech-language-acquisition/natural-language-acquisition-in-autism-echolalia-to-self-generated-language-level-1/
***Once we close course registration, we will individually register you through the NSS site (NorthernSpeech.com) As for now we are just collecting the names of therapists who register. Expect a delay in receiving access to the course while we gather names. Once we register you for the online coursework there is no expiration date on completing this course work. ***Again, please expect a delay in getting access as we collect names of registrants. Space is limited for this course. REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE |
