At the ASHA conference in Seattle, I had the opportunity to meet Gabriella Cameron and Jennifer Kent, who presented on their Theme-Based Collaborative Groups within the Endeavour Program at Ivymount, a nonpublic, publicly funded special education environment serving students aged 5–21.

Gabriella and Jen’s theme-based groups are embedded within Endeavour, offering structured but flexible learning experiences tailored to each student. Any student who can tolerate working in a group is a candidate, as the focus is on skill exposure rather than mastery, creating opportunities for participation at varying levels.

Each group consists of 5–6 students, each supported by a 1:1 aide, alongside a specialist (SLP, OT, PT) and a group leader. The framework includes:

1. Selecting a theme (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr.).
2. Adapting a story/song for accessibility.
3. Identifying vocabulary using a language board.
4. Asking WH-questions, allowing responses through speech or AAC.
5. Engaging in a supplemental activity, such as an OT craft or a PT movement task.

Looking ahead, Gabriella and Jen are exploring ways to measure skill acquisition, enhance motivation, incorporate high-tech AAC, and share their resources more broadly—paving the way for more inclusive and meaningful learning experiences.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Small groups foster an inclusive learning approach.
• The repeatable framework of theme-based collaborative groups.
• The value of skill exposure.
• An environment that increases multidisciplinary support.
• Future goals for theme-based collaborative groups.

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