Janet O'Keefe, Speech and Language Therapist

For the Speech and Language Therapist, difficulties in the acquisition of social communication skills frequently signals the presence of a wider range of language, emotional and educational issues, all of which could be impacting on the child`s potential for independence, integration in society, educational attainment and long- term mental health.

The Social Competence and Enhancement Programme (SCAEP) was formally introduced at Shapwick School in Somerset, a specialist school for children with severe dyslexia, about 8 years ago as a weekly group session for students with identified social skills difficulties. It drew on a range of materials from published social skills, emotional literacy and pragmatics programmes and ran for two terms every year.

Many of the students have difficulties with theory of mind, but also with basic semantic issues such as categorisation, so that identifying social similarities and differences becomes a language test rather than a coping strategy.

In the current climate of continuous cost- led reform, there is a temptation to sit tight, rely on existing resources and protect our personal fields of influence. It is vital that we do not lose sight of the fact that our disciplines exist as a result of need, and that meeting those needs continues to rely on an expanding knowledge- base and willingness to share, adapt and apply principles from related fields in order to fine- tune our work and counteract some of the effects of continuous instability in the systems we live and work in.

Sandy’s workshop at this years Towards a Positive Future Conference on 16th June 2012 will outline the key features of the SCAEP programme and describe a multidisciplinary intervention which serves three purposes: 1)Taking students back through the sensory building blocks of basic social communication concepts e.g. personal space, in order to construct more complete concepts /schemas based on sensory processing of, and shared attention to, key sensory characteristics; 2) The development of sensory and language correlates (shared code) needed to describe participants’ experiences of (mis)communication and to develop verbal problem- solving strategies and an understanding of chain reactions; 3) The core language and sensory building blocks to understand analogy and metaphor, allowing students to compare how a situation appears to them and someone else, and improving our students` potential use of talking therapies e.g. CBT, family therapy etc

Book your place NOW to hear Sandy and learn about this new and exciting approach to teaching social skills.

We are delighted that Sue Madraszek of Symbol UK will be presenting at the Towards a Positive Future Conference on 16th June 2012 http://www.wordswell.co.uk/

Sue’s presentation will give information about the typical communication profile of children and young people with Down syndrome. It will explore the implications this has on how parents, health care staff and educators should interact with these children and young people in order to develop their full potential in the field of communication and thus enable them to access educational and other settings successfully.  Participants will gain knowledge about this population of children and young people and be shown some very simple ways of making interaction with the children and young people more effective as well as learning about how to encourage these children and young people to communicate effectively, thus achieving their communication potential and supporting them in reaching their potential educationally and socially.

Ian Ross and Lynne Kerry of VieVolve are coming back to this years Towards a Positive Future Conference to lead seminars which will both challenge, inspire and teach skills to parents and professionals striving to make a difference to young people’s lives.  Last October 2011 Ian and Lynne led a joint session on negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution which can be viewed on our Wordswell YouTube Channel.

This year, Ian’s seminar is on the Graves Values model (Spiral Dynamics).

Dr Graves was a Professor at Union College, Schenectady, New York and a contemporary of Abraham Maslow. His purpose in starting the research that led to the eventual development of the model was to “understand how people think”. One of the biggest distinctions between Graves work and that of Maslow was that the latter believed that there was a limit to human development (the level of self-actualisation) whereas Graves was convinced that there was no end.  Towards the end of his life, Maslow acknowledged that he had been wrong in his conclusions. Sadly, Graves had not completed his research to his satisfaction before he died and it has therefore been up to others, with the support of his family, to edit and publish elements of his work.

One of the reasons why the model is not as well known as its potential power would suggest is that Graves’ original designation of the model is unwieldy to say the least: The ‘Emergent, Cyclical, Double-Helix Model of Adult BioPsychoSocial Systems Development’! Ian and Lynne’s (perhaps slightly simplistic) interpretation of what Dr Graves had in mind is as follows:

• Emergent:  The relationship between our neurology, values and social systems in response to changes in the environment around us.
• Cyclical: This is the never ending swing between the “Express Self” levels (odd numbers) and the “Deny Self” (even numbers) systems.
• Double-helix:  This is a metaphor to describe the original two-letter coding system that Graves used to show the relationship between the “Problems of Existence” (1^st letter, starting at A) and “Coping Tools” (2^nd letter, starting half way through the alphabet at N)
• BioPsychoSocial: This term is a strong indicator of Graves’ desire for the model to be as “systemic” as possible, including multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding human nature.
• Bio – is linked to the biological structure and functioning of the brain.
• Psycho – relates to human psychological change, intellectual capacities and predispositions to certain types of temperament.
• Social – includes the cultural dynamics, ethical and moral codes and the social ‘norms’ for a particular culture and context.

Two of Graves’ students, Don Beck and Christopher Cowan, used his original research materials to develop Spiral Dynamics, the book of the same name being published in 1996. The use of the word ‘spiral’ is intended to replace the term ‘helix’ and provides an image to which most people can relate. Note: Spiral Dynamics is the registered trademark of the National Values Center and NVC Consulting. It is protected under US, UK, Australian and international trademark agreements.

Key principles in understanding and utilising the Graves’ Model

If we were to identify one underlying principle of the Graves model, it is that there is an evolving relationship between our neuronal coping systems and the external context within which we exist. The key principles that underpin Graves work are as follows:

• Each level is a ‘holon’. This means that it encapsulates all preceding levels within it (apart from the first level of course).
• No level is inherently any better or worse than any other level although, generally speaking, the more evolved levels will offer individuals more options and choice of action.
• Human beings evolve to the level that is best adapted to the environment within which they find themselves.
• We can rise through the levels to meet various contextual changes and, equally, we can regress to an earlier level in order to cope with changed circumstances.
• Despite some considerable effort, Dr Graves was unable to find any direct evidence linking the levels to intelligence.
• Human development is both nature and nurture.
• The levels move through a sequence of individual orientation (express self) to communal orientation (deny/sacrifice self), and then to individual again.
• We move to a new level when we no longer get answers to life’s problems from the level we’re in.
• Each level has an “Entering”, a “Peak” and an “Exiting” phase – these phases can be of any length.

Additional Vievolve perspectives

• Most of us seem to operate out of three levels at any one time. One level is usually core to our being and the other two support this.
• There is some correlation between the Graves levels and certain characteristics of the Myers Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI). Note: MBTI is a registered trademark of Consulting Psychologists Press Inc; Oxford Psychologists Press Ltd has exclusive rights to the trademark in the UK
• Awareness of the model can often help to enable people to move from one level to the next
• For maximum influence, we have to move to, and act as if we are in, the same values system as the other party. This may include presenting your case using their language and thinking patterns and inviting decisions based on their criteria, not ours.

This necessary flexibility becomes easier for the more evolved levels.

Ian is a respected member of the NLP community with over 25 years of experience in a variety of fields and has developed a strong core skill set as a facilitator, negotiator and executive coach.  He has developed these skills following a very successful commercial career with British European Airways, East African Airways, Hertz Corporation, Four Square Catering and Vending, and Avis Car Leasing.

Ian has over 20 years of experience of applying NLP in commercial environments.

Quoted from the President of the INLPTA:

Ian Ross is “The one person who knows more about the structure, depth and complexity of … negotiations than any other in the global NLP community”

Lynne Kerry has been working as a trainer and facilitator since the min 1980’s. She has designed developed and lead courses across various industry sectors for every level of personnel. She is a Managing Director of Vievolve and attained expertise in presentation skills, coaching, communication and influencing skills. As a successful career woman, she has held senior posts in Sales and Marketing, Account Management, Human Resources with A.C. Nielsen and Dun & Bradstreet.  Her last senior position was with Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants, where she delivered development programmes for partners and senior managers within the firm.

Her mission is to enhance the environments in which people can realise their full potential. Lynne is a member of the UK Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds an international accreditation as a Master Practitioner and Certified Trainer of  NLP.  Lynne’s seminar will be on communication and negotiation skills.

Book now to see Ian, Lynne and the rest of our speakers at the Towards a Positive Future conference on 16th June 2012.

Tania Tirraoro is a mother of two sons who have Asperger Syndrome, a wife, author, journalist and the founder of the special needs jungle website. The special needs jungle is a solid resource for suggestions, advice and tips for parents with children with special needs.   She has personal experience and writes about life, the care of her sons with special needs and much more.

Tania is one of the four keynote speakers at this year’s Towards a Positive Future Conference having attended as a delegate last year.

“The event was held at the Mary Hare School for hearing impaired children near Newbury. The school does inspirational work in providing an education for its pupils, helping each through individually designed hearing equipment. As a non-maintained state school, the school’s head, Tony Shaw, said they are ‘not considered to be part of inclusion’ and have had their funding cut by central government. This, despite the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, himself having a sister with a hearing impairment.”

Her talk will provide feedback for one of the pathfinder sites for the UK Government Green Paper on Special Education Needs:’ Support and Aspiration, A new approach to special education needs and disabilities’.

The Green Paper states that every child needs the right resources early in life to reach their full potential. The need for resources is in great demand with the growing identification of over 2 million children and young people who are in need of support for their needs.

IPSEA were among many charities, support groups and individuals who responded to the 2011 Government Consultation on the ideas published in the green paper. IPSEA, who represent parents who have had difficulties with their school or Local Authority, replied: “In many cases, by contacting us and using the existing legal framework, these parents have achieved a satisfactory outcome for their children.  Where we oppose any of the proposals in the Green Paper, we are aiming to ensure similar outcomes in the future – and to protect the existing rights parents have.”

“We question whether currently parents see Local Authorities as having a role as champions for vulnerable children and families. In order for that to be achieved there needs to be a re-building of trust and confidence. It is essential that Local Authorities apply the SEN legal framework in a consistent manner in order that no postcode lottery exists between geographical areas in the delivery of provision.”

Tania has been informed that there will be NO White Paper published.  Instead the UK Government will soon issue a new document called “The Way Forward”.  This will set out that:

• There will be a new SEN Code of Practice by the academic year 2013/4.
• The Education Health and Care Plan will replace the Statement of SEN by 2014.
• There are no plans to remove parents’ right to appeal.
• The EHCP will still have statutory protection.
• Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy will continue to be funded by education if an educational need.
• Money allocated per child will be up to £10,000 per child based on a needs-based formula and schools can commission services directly from this budget.
• Personalised budgets will come in in September 2013 controlled by parents.
• Screening at 2 to 2.5 years is to be reintroduced with the training of an additional 10,000 Health visitors.

Tania Tirraoro considers that  Local Authorities are still seeing parents as ‘separate’ and on an ‘opposing side’.  Book now to hear Tania and other speakers at the Towards a Positive Future 2012 conference.

Jane Asher is very well known actress, business owner and writer in the UK.  She has worked in films, theatre and radio since she was a child.

Jane first appeared in the film Mandy; other roles include Alfie, Dream Child, Paris by Night and Death At a funeral.

Her television appearances include Brideshead Revisited, Wish Me Luck, The Mistress, The Choir, Closing Numbers, Crossroads and more.

Jane has been twice nominated for a BAFTA award and has won a  Sony Award for her radio work.

Jane has appeared on stage, at London’s National Theatre and in the West End.

Jane has written three bestselling novels; The Longing, The Question and Losing it.

Jane has also published ‘ Cakes for Fun’ and  ‘Beautiful Baking.  Her business Party Cakes & Sugarcraft, has developed the fantastic Jane Asher range of cake mixes.  Very yummy.

Jane is very well known and respected for her charity work. She is the current President of the National Autistic Society, Parkinson’s UK, Arthritis Care and the West London Family Service Unit. She is Vice President of Autistica and Child Accident Prevention Trust. Jane is a supporter of Bowel Cancer UK, the Scoliosis Association and Leukaemia and Lymphomia Unit at University College Hospital in London.

In 2001 Jane received an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Bristol.

Meet Jane Asher at this year’s Towards a Positive Future Conference.

Martyn Sibley lives with a disability known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Even with this disability, Martyn is living a full rich life and has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics; Master’s Degree in Marketing, travels, blogs, guest speaks and runs his own business.

Martyn has recently written an eBook called “The Disability Diamond Theory” (launched in September 2011). The eBook offers a guide to living everyday life. He offers solid advice for goal setting, defining and breaking barriers through the use of proper resources.  The book offers his philosophy on life.

Martyn says, “My aim is to inspire, inform and change the world around disability issues. My message to disabled people is to follow your dreams, be aspirational, identify the barriers relevant to you and your impairment, NEVER let your disability stop you and always enjoy life!”

“For anyone who is a parent, family member, friend or professional to a disabled person, you have a big part to play. Parents/guardians; a child’s foundations are defined by your early input. Friends and family should always encourage aspiration. Professionals are a key resource for disabled people and have a responsibility to facilitate ambition and fulfilment at every stage.”

Visit Martyn’s personal website for more information.

Disability Horizon is co-founded with Srin Madipalli as an online magazine to provide articles, resources, encouragement and information to disabled people. The scope of the magazine is to provide quality information to enrich the lives of the disabled across the world. They offer articles on the arts, care, personal assistants, mobility aids, grants, funding, independent living and more.

Martyn is one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Towards a Positive Future conference to be held in Newbury on 16^th June 2012.

Here he shares why he is taking part:

“The 2 things that enabled me to go on and achieve so much in life were having a good education, alongside having the right support. Inclusion should be at the heart of disability matters, but investment in the necessary resources must be provided. I want to share my personal experiences, with a rounded awareness of other impairments, to explain why inclusion and education can go together. I hope to encourage parents to aim high for their children, and show professionals there is always a way.”

“I am speaking at the conference to answer questions around my story as a child: schooling, transitions, leaving home, going to university, finding work and managing independence. This conference is vitally important because parents and professionals need to understand the current issues faced around SEN and work together to ensure the disabled people of the future can thrive and not just survive.”

“My talk is about my personal experience of disability. With a great deal of theory, legal and political talk; I will bring the human part and reality to what the reforms actually mean. I can show with the right support anything is possible.”

“Personally I am very fearful of the social care reform implication. Meanwhile I can see some positives in the aims of the reforms (streamlining processes and funding streams), however I have concerns of the actually reality they will bring for disabled people. “

Visit here  for more information about the Towards a Positive Future 2012 conference. Book now to hear Martyn speak live  2012 conference!

There is much uncertainty at the moment amongst parents and the professionals who work with pupils with special educational needs on what the current legal position is regarding the new health, education and care legislation being brought in by the current Government and what the timescales are for the changes. 

We are delighted that Clive Rawlings is one of the four keynote speakers at the Towards a Positive Future conference to be held in Newbury on 16th June 2012 and he will be able to ensure that delegates have the up to date position.

Clive is a UK leading specialist education law counsel, who advocates in the High Court, County Court and Special Education Needs and Disability Tribunal. His previous career as a teacher and education officer for children with special needs, has given him particular insight into the educational provision that is required to support children with special education needs and enable them to access the curriculum.

Clive is also Panel Counsel to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Clive’s talk will include an update of the Green Paper pathfinder site results and the up to date legal position for parents needing to appeal the content of their child’s Statement of Special Educational Needs to SENDIST and the implications for the professionals involved in supporting these children following The Education Act 2011, Health and Social Care Act 2012 and SEN reforms.

Clive has been at the forefront of education law and public law since 1994.

“He has a formidable legal mind and is able to dissect the most complex of legal arguments.”

 “He instills confidence in the client and is good at managing expectations”.’ Chambers UK 2012

Clive Rawlings is a “formidable advocate…” Chambers UK 2011

‘Clive Rawlings impresses “with his preparation and attention to detail, and has the ability to dissect legal arguments in a simplistic way which provides confidence to clients”Legal 500 2010

Book your place now at www.wordswell.co.uk to attend the Towards a Positive Future Conference 2012 today and hear Clive live!

This book describes the present legal process for establishing an adequate educational ‘statement’ of the needs of a child with a disability, or appealing against one that is deemed to be inadequate.  The author has gathered together parental accounts of their experiences of that process and these form the main body of the book.  It does not make an entirely easy read emotionally: some of the stories are raw in the telling but in sum form a tribute to all the parents and professionals who have dedicated themselves to enhancing children’s prospects without compromise.  

This book forms the precursor to a weightier volume which will be written when radical reform of the present special needs education legislation (in England) has been settled.   The road to the point where reform has been acknowledged as necessary has sometimes been rocky.  The present legislation, although working well for many, has caused anguish for some parents as they saw their child’s needs go unrecognised or compromised by provision that did not suit them. They have had to fight their way through a lengthy and complex process to gain the right level of provision for their child, sometimes supported by expert professionals, sometimes alone. 

In producing this book, the editor and her team hope that we can learn from experience and, despite the present economic challenge, move towards a system that is workable and honest in its ambition. We can all (both parent and professional) contribute towards that positive future by making our voices heard, telling it as it is and saying how it should be.  

Dr Hilary Gardner, Department of Human Communication Sciences, The University of Sheffield, September 2011

Please join us at the book launch in Newbury Berkshire at 7pm on Friday 14th October 2011.   Cost £50 including a 3 course meal.

http://www.wordswell.co.uk/conference/

Friday October 14th 2011 

9.30 am – Registration and Refreshments

 9.45 am – Welcome to Mary Hare and the Arlington Arts Centre – Tony Shaw

 9.50 am – Welcome Address – Robert Ashton

10.00am – Keynote Presentation – Kevin Geeson – CEO, Dyslexia Action ‘The impact the SEN Green Paper could have on literacy and the long term economic and social problems that getting it wrong could cause’

10.45am – Presentation – Inez Brown legal implications for children with special needs, current funding arrangements and future funding arrangements

11.30am – Presentation – Louise Wilkinson the issues that children, young people and their families face following the devastation of childhood acquired brain injury ‘The Hidden Disability’,

12.15 am – Exhibition, Networking, and Lunch

1.00pm – Charlie Mead – how Acadamies can find ways to meet the needs of students with complex needs

1.45 pm – Presentation – Prof Heather van der Lely “The grammar and phonology screening (GAPS) test: quick, simple, affordable and accurate: so why isn’t there national screening?”

2.30 pm Refreshments

2.45pm – Ian Ross – Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution

4.45pm Robert Ashton/Janet O’Keefe/Ian Ross – Clarity Foundation

5.45 pm – Closing remarks from Janet O’Keefe and end of Day at 6pm.

Please book your place at http://www.wordswell.co.uk/conference/