ISAAC has, over the course of the past number of years, developed a significant capacity to host informative and well-attended webinars. This has been done in close collaboration with our friends and partners at both ISAAC-US (USSAAC), AAIDD and, more recently, ISAAC-Canada.
Webinars
*Unless otherwise indicated, all ISAAC International webinars are recorded and will be made available in the Archived Webinars section for viewing.
Upcoming webinars
Communication Access to Justice
May 31, 2022
7:00-8:00 PM EDT
Presented by: Caitlin Buchel, RSLP (C),
Executive Director, Communication Access to Justice
Seminar description:
Individuals with speech, language and/or communication disabilities have a right to equality under Canadian law. There are, however, many barriers in place that can make accessing justice almost impossible for people with communication disabilities.
Communication Intermediaries (CIs) are registered speech language pathologists (SLPs), trained to facilitate two-way communication between individuals with communication disabilities and justice professionals. Like language translators, CIs act as neutral officers of the court. They provide the accommodations needed for individuals with communication disabilities to have equitable access to legal, police, corrections, and justice services in Canada.
CI’s are trained to work within the Canadian justice system to ensure that the necessary communication supports are in place, without negatively impacting the impartiality of the justice process.
Unfortunately, knowledge about CIs and their role in accommodating communication disabilities in the justice system is still limited. This webinar will provide you with information about the role of the CI, how CIs work, and information about how to access a CI if you or another individual with a communication disability needs one.
About the presenter:
Caitlin Buchel is a speech-language pathologist (SLP), Communication Intermediary (CI), and the Executive Director of Communication Access to Justice (CAJust). CAJust is a national non-profit organization that promotes equal access to the justice system for people with speech, language and/or communication disabilities. CAJust has taken on this mandate from Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC), building on CDAC’s decades of work in this area. Caitlin has worked as a CI in a variety of settings including police/RCMP statements and lineups, courtrooms, and restorative justice.
Participants will learn:
- the definition of a communication intermediary (CI)
- how CIs work within the Canadian justice system
- when a CI is needed
- what to expect when working with a CI
- how to access a CI
Disclosures:
- Financial: Caitlin Buchel is not being paid for her participation. Caitlin is the executive director of CAJust and while she does not receive a salary, she does receive compensation for some of the hours she works for the organization. She is currently actively working as a CI in Manitoba. Caitlin is the owner and managing clinician of Buchel Speech and Language Group – a private SLP practice in Manitoba.
- Non-financial: none
To register for this Webinar please go to the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xzHOlqFzR327gMeAAIyDYw
Maintaining Communication Access, Encouraging Disaster Preparedness: A Conversation on Emergency Preparedness and People with Communication Disabilities
June 22, 2022
7:00-8:00 PM EDT
Presented by: Pam Kennedy, Marcie Roth, Shaylin Sluzalis and Germán Parodi
Seminar description:
As the 2022 hurricane season opens, it is time to provide critical information about disaster/emergency preparedness for people with disabilities and, especially, people with significant communication needs. This session will be a panel discussion moderated by the co- chairs of USSAAC’s Disaster Relief Committee. The panel will be comprised of internationally known leaders in the area of disability, disaster preparedness and response, and disaster survivors who use AAC.
About the presenters:
Pam Kennedy serves as a Disability Advocate, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Emergency Management and Crisis Intervention Specialist. She is an invisible frontline worker and advocate who has specialized in emergency preparedness, disaster response, patient-provider communication and threat assessments for vulnerable populations since 1992. She has survived disasters in North Dakota and Georgia, sharing her expertise to save lives as infrastructure collapses.
Marcie Roth is Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for the World Institute on Disability (WID), a highly regarded global public policy center. Appointed by President Obama to the U.S Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 2009 to 2017, she served as Senior Advisor to the Administrator and as the congressionally mandated Disability Coordinator for the agency. While at FEMA, she established the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC), serving as its Director. Under her leadership, ODIC led national transformation towards integrating the access and functional needs of the whole community throughout emergency preparedness and disaster response, recovery and mitigation
Shaylin Sluzalis and Germán Parodi, Co-Directors of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, come from Independent Living movement and disability rights backgrounds. Germán acquired his spinal cord injury in 2001. Shaylin has invisible disabilities and grew up alongside her disabled sister, Brittani. Both their experiences led them to work for Centers for Independent Living and evolve into disability rights activists with ADAPT where they met and fell in love.
Shaylin and Germán’s journey in inclusive emergency management began in 2017 when they were deployed to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria as disabled first responders meeting the needs of disaster-impacted people with disabilities.
Moderated by: Sarah Blackstone and Liz Begley; co-chairs USSAAC Disaster Relief Committee
Participants will learn to:
- Identify 2 reasons why it is critical for people with disabilities to be prepared for natural and other disasters.
- List the particular challenges people with disabilities face when confronted with an impending disaster (e.g., power outage, sheltering, evacuating).
- Name at least 3 preparedness resources (including apps) for individuals with/without communication impairments.
- Identify 2 ways COVID changed how we think about planning for and living through an emergency or disaster.
Time ordered agenda:
5 minutes: Introduction of speaker, USSAAC and topic
15 minutes: Why is it so critical for people with disabilities to be prepared for a natural disaster? What specific challenges do people with communication disabilities face when confronted with impending disaster?
15 minutes: Important considerations for people with significant communication challenges and their families/supporters to make sure they are prepared
5 minutes: The service provider’s role in helping people who use AAC in preparing for emergencies/disasters, and factors to consider regarding seeking shelter
10 minutes: Emergency resources, apps and phone features that are helpful for AAC users during a disaster? How COVID has changed the way we think about planning and living through an emergency/disaster
10 minutes: Q and A
CE units are available for free to USSAAC/ISAAC members only.
Non-member pay $25 for each webinar.
This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level; Professional area.)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) CEUs in speech-language pathology and audiology are awarded by the ASHA CE Registry upon receipt of the CEU Participant Form from the ASHA Approved CE Provider, USSAAC. CEU Participant Forms are available onsite at Registration. ASHA CEUs are provided to full registrations. This program is offered for .1 ASHA CEUs (Introductory Level, Professional Area)
ASHA Disclosures:
Speakers
- Financial: Pam Kennedy will receive an honorarium from USSAAC for her presentation. Marcie Roth is an employee of WID. Shaylin Sluzalis and Germán Parodi are employed by Partnership of Inclusive Disaster Strategies.
- Nonfinancial: Marcie Roth is on the Board of Directors of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies.
Moderator
- The moderators have no financial or non-financial disclosures to report.
To register for this Webinar please go to the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pOmn_hcCRX-hbBll5woGLg
Please note: Only the first 150 attendees to log into the webinar will be guaranteed spots.
USSAAC Education Committee: Betsy Caporale, Richard Hurtig, Stephanie Meehan, Wendy Quach, Sharon Redman
Information about ISAAC webinars
Important Update:
Beginning in January 2021, the majority of archived webinars will be moved to a new location in the Members Only area portion of our website. (A number of webinars will continue to be publicly available here.)
What this change means is that now only members will be able to access the majority of our archived webinar recordings.
Registration for the majority of upcoming new webinars will be available from within the Members Only area, and a valid ISAAC member ID number will need to be entered at time of registration.
It is our hope that many of the people who have benefited from attending or viewing our webinars will become members of ISAAC in order to continue to enjoy this significant membership benefit.
For information on becoming a member of ISAAC, click here.
Thank you!
Information on ASHA CEUs for USSAAC webinars can be found on the USSAAC website, here
To request from ISAAC International a hosted or sponsored webinar, please return this form-fillable PDF with details of your proposed webinar and preferred time slot, to franklin@isaac-online.org.
PLEASE NOTE: A copy of the form MUST first be downloaded and saved to your local computer prior to completing.
