Darlene Daniels
M.S.,TOSA and Educational Consultant
Deborah Lesher
M.S., CCC-SLP
Deborah Lesher, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist providing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and emergent communication support to educational teams through the Columbia Regional Inclusive Services in Portland, Oregon. She has 28 years of experience as an SLP in typical school settings, structured learning centers for students with communication/behavior needs, and as an AAC Specialist with both Portland Public Schools and the Orthopedic Impairment program at Columbia Regional Inclusive Services. Her passions include emergent communication and emergent literacy.
Darlene Daniels, M.S., is a TOSA and Educational Consultant for the Oregon Deafblind Project. She is a certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) with 15 years of experience and has served as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for 6 years. Darlene also holds credentials in teaching strategies for students who are blind or visually impaired with multiple disabilities in the sensorimotor stage of development.
With more than 35 years in the field of special education, Darlene has served in a variety of roles. She spent 19 years as a Research Associate with Design to Learn Projects, where she contributed to the development of the Communication Matrix and participated in additional research initiatives supporting students with complex communication needs.
SESSION DESCRIPTION
Start With What They CAN Do: The Power of the Communication Matrix
For those of us supporting students with complex support needs who are functioning at the earliest stages of communication, determining current skills and identifying meaningful next steps can be challenging. Without a clear developmental framework, teams may struggle to set appropriate, measurable goals that truly move communication forward.
The Communication Matrix is a free, research-based assessment tool designed to help families and professionals clearly understand the communication status, progress, and unique needs of individuals functioning at the earliest stages of communication.
This session will provide an overview of the structure and organization of the Matrix, including how it aligns communication behaviors with developmental intent and function. Participants will learn practical strategies for administering and interpreting the Matrix, collaborating with families and team members through its online platform, and using results to inform instruction, develop goals, and track progress.
Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the developmental framework and structure of the Communication Matrix, including levels and communicative intents.
2. Analyze a student’s current communication profile using the Communication Matrix to determine present levels of performance.
3. Interpret results to identify instructional priorities and logical next steps for students functioning at early stages of communication. 4. Develop measurable, developmentally appropriate communication goals based on Communication Matrix outcomes and collaborative team input.