Happenings:
McLean and Crais present to students in seminars I and II. 
CDPSD students were treated to 6 hours of discussion by cyber experts in the Fall of 2009.  Dr. Lee McLean presented on the current status of evidence-based practice with individuals with severe disabilities while Dr. Crais presented her research on emergent communication forms individuals with ASD.  Special thanks to Drs. McLean and Crais for their excellent interaction with students. 

First grant cohort completes program. 
Seven second year graduate students in CSD at WCU became the first grant cohort to complete training with the present project.  A highlight of their studies was the presentation of grant-related service learning projects at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's annually conference in New Orleans (November, 2009).  Congrats guys – we are proud of you!!

Second grant cohort enters clinical rotations. 
Ten first year graduate students begin their clinical site placements in severe disabilities spring of 2010.  Students will work in pairs in three settings include a local public school serving persons with severe disabilities including ASD, a preschool for children with ASD and other severe disabilities, and a diagnostic clinic for individuals with severe disabilities.  Site activities will be coordinated by Julie Ogletree.  Julie Ogletree will also host grant student participation in her weekly social skills group for children on the autism spectrum.  Dr. Bill Ogletree will conduct the diagnostic clinic.

Recruitment is well underway for SLP participation in the summer course sequence. 
Look for a national ad in the ASHA Leader in February and contact from the NC Department of Public Instruction this January.  See this site for information about our application process.

CDPSD Faculty/Student Related Presentations and Publications
Ogletree, B., Davis, P., Hambrecht, G.,  & Wooten, E. (2009, November). Promoting Picture Exchange through Milieu Training Techniques for a Child with ASD. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Speech Language Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA.

McRight, N., Minton, T., Sandherr-Rhein, L., Simmons, J., Taylor, M., Workman, C., Vanderburg, R., & Hambrecht, G.  (2009, November)  Examples of Service Learning Embedded within a Professional Preparation Effort.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Speech Language Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA.

Ogletree, B. & Crawford, K. (2009).  Contemplating the communicative value of objects:  Establishing iconic and indexical object experiences with individuals with severe intellectual disabilities.  Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 24 (4), 248-251.