European Association of Service providers for Persons with DisabilitiesEuropean Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities
  • Events, Inclusive Living

Enhancing communication skills for children and adolescents with intellectual developmental difficulties

The COM IN event will address how to promote the acquisition of communication skills of young people with intellectual developmental difficulties.

Communication skills enable us to express our thoughts, understand others and navigate social interactions effectively. These skills are fundamental for learning, excelling in the workplace, interacting with others, and forming meaningful relationships, thereby promoting inclusion in the community. However, young people with moderate to mild Intellectual Developmental Difficulties (IDD) often face additional challenges in acquiring these skills, which can negatively impact their social inclusion, educational and employment opportunities, and independence.

The COM-IN project has aimed to support youth with IDD between the ages of 10-25 to acquire communication skills that can help them to develop relationships and engage in different social contexts. Together the COM-IN partnership has developed a range of training materials for and to be used by professionals working with young people with IDD.

As the Erasmus+ project comes to an end the COM-IN partners invite professionals working with young people to join them for their closing conference. The event will:

  • Equip professionals with knowledge of the communication needs of young people with IDD to promote their inclusion in the community.
  • Increase the skills of professionals to be able to deliver communication-related training to young people with IDD.
  • Provide resources that can be used by professionals when working with young people with IDD.

This event will take place in person between 13h15-14h00 on Wednesday 16 October at the Royal Olympic Hotel, Athens. Register to participate in person here.

The event will also be streamed online between 14h00-16h00 EEST. Register to participate online here.

Agenda

13h15

Networking Lunch

14h00

Welcome and Introduction

  • Rachel Vaughan, EASPD
  • Christelle Declercq, University of Reims
  • Maisa Kosola, Tukena
 

14h15

Workshop 1: Supporting the development of Social Communicative Abilities with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities

This practical workshop will introduce participants to some tools and resources that they can use when working with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities to promote the development of their communication skills.

  • Christelle Declercq, University of Reims
  • Annick Comblain, University of Liege
 

15h00

Workshop 2: Professional approaches to communication training

This workshop will introduce participants to COM IN's online training and will explore the role of professionals working with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities via a series of practical case studies.

  • Kalianne Farren, EASPD
  • Miguel Fernández, Campus Arnau d'Escala
 

15h45

Conclusions

  • Rachel Vaughan, EASPD
  • Christelle Declercq, University of Reims
  • Nicolas Perrien, L'Association de l'Institut Régional du Travail Social Champagne-Ardenne
 

16h00

End of Event

 

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