August 1st – August 15 2008
ZAKYNTHOS , GREECE

MAKE YOUR APPLICATION NOW!

Intensive Functional Communication Programme

FOCUS

This two-week session is ideal for families seeking an intensive summer communication programme. Each session will last six hours per day, 11 days in total. The programme is designed for pre-school and school age children needing comprehensive and intensive functional communication intervention. The emphasis will be on teaching children to communicate within functional routines and to adapt to “group” instruction. This includes children who have been receiving instruction in an individual format or have not been successful in group settings. Each student’s current communicative repertoire will be assessed so that specific skill deficits can be identified and addressed. After baseline data is collected specific goals for each student will be developed. The instructional methodology will encompass strategies of applied behaviour analysis with an emphasis on “reinforce first” strategies. Parents will have opportunities to observe their child and will receive a comprehensive report two weeks after the end of the programme.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:

Implementation of Applied Behavior Analysis ( ABA) principles, including:

• PECS (the Picture Exchange Communication System)
• distributed discrete trial instruction
• sequential task instruction
• incidental language training
• functional routines training

WHO is APPROPRIATE for the PECS Intensive Summer Program

The Summer School is addressed to:
Pre-school and school age children...

• who have a difficult time communicating and have not been exposed to PECS
• who already use PECS as a functional communication system and are ready for expanding PECS skills
• who have difficulties discriminating
• who have autism or a communication difficulty

Parents who want to train themselves in PECS and want to train their child

TRAINING PERSONNEL

Each session will be staffed with certified special education teachers and teaching assistants that are proficient in PECS. Anna Plessa, M.Ed., Behaviour Analyst, as well Jo-Anne Β . Matteo, CCC/SLP, Pecs Consultant US, two reknown professionals with a strong expertise in autism, will act as the on-site supervisors to all classrooms working on the basis of the Pyramid Approach to Education, functional programming, early intervention and PECS implementation. All staff will be carefully supervised throughout the session. The co-founders of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc., Dr. Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, MS, CCC/SLP, will oversee this project.

PECS Consultants

Anna Plessa is the Clinical Director of Pyramid Educational Consultants for Greece, Cyprus, SE Europe, Turkey, UAE and CIS. She has studied Psychology and has an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology. She is trained to apply the ABA (Applied behaviour Analysis) principles on learning directly to clients and trainers (educators). Her clinical work is systematically supervised by major Behavior Analysts, As a PECS consultant, she has been trained to an advanced level in the use of PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and to train others in Greece and other countries to implement PECS. Over the last 5 years in Greece she has been invited to train professionals all around the country, and is aiming to carry on providing consultancy services and research to support the training system in these countries.

Jo-Anne B. Matteo has a B.A. in Communication Disorders from the Southern Connecticut State College, an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Adelphi University, and an advance d degree in Administration and Supervision from the Southern Connecticut State University. As a special education administrator since 1994, she has been involved in staff and program development. She is the founder of a public school program for preschool and elementary school children who present with significant special needs in the areas of communication, cognitive, social, behavioural and motor disabilities. These students use PECS to improve functional communication skills while they take part in a classroom that implements the Pyramid Approach to Education. She is also an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The developers of PECS - The Picture Exchange Communication System and other educational products and services, Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. , offer a variety of training opportunities and products that focus on the initiation of communication and the design of effective educational environments. We present a unique blend of broad - spectrum applied behavior analysis in conjunction with the development of functional communication skills based on the individual needs of each child.

Note: During the course of the 2 nd week, parents will have the opportunity to practice PECS (1 hour) and to observe the class.

Cost of Summer Programme

2, 400 Euros for each family (two parents & 1 child)

Included in the cost are:

• Two weeks – 11 days of Intensive Communication Training for the child
• Two-days of PECS basic training for Parents
• One day of follow-up training for Parents
• Comprehensive progress report
• Parent-Teacher conference after the first week
• observation of classroom by parents
• PECS Manual
• Communication book with pictures for the child

Application Procedure

Interested families will submit, the latest by June 10 th, 2008:

1. Application Form – Questionnaire (distributed by our Administrator: Ms Maria Margeti: Tel. + 30 210 7665 822 , + 30 6947 708544 (mobile).
   E-mail: margeti@pecs-greece.com)
2. a DVD (up to 20 min. duration) with their child using PECS in at least two different occasions.
3. 400,00 Euros application fee refundable if student is not appropriate for Summer Programme (based on administrative decision). This application fee will be applied to Summer Programme cost (for accepted applications).

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF YOUR APPLICATION : JUNE 10TH, 2008

The programme starts on August 1st. The families should plan their arrival at Zakynthos for July 31st.

www.pecs-greece.com & www.monorodi.gr