Sima Gerber, PhD, CCC-SLP, Professor, Queens College; Speech-Language Pathologist, Profectum Senior Faculty and Member of the Profectum Speech-Language Pathology Study Group
The Profectum Speech-Language Pathology Study Group is comprised of thirteen DIR® certified national and international speech-language therapists who meet quarterly to learn together on a variety of topics.
Developing Profectum CHAT (Communicating – Hot Topics – Advancing – Together) is the group’s most recent initiative to disseminate information on issues related to speech, language, and communication which are of interest to our colleagues from all disciplines.
This CHAT presents a positive perspective on children’s use of scripts based on developmental language principles and relationship-based therapy. The strategies for parents, educators, and clinicians that are discussed will help guide our interaction-based responses to this form of communication. You can watch the CHAT presentation by clicking on the video below.
Additional works by Sima Gerber, PhD, CCC-SLP:
Sima has recently written a chapter entitled, The use of scripts by children with autism spectrum disorder: A puzzle and an opportunity which will appear in Emerging Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Improving Communication, Behavior, and Family Dynamics. N. Papaneophtou & U. Das (Editors). Elsevier.
To The Ones Who Love Me
by Sima Gerber, Jessica Connelly, Jessica Curran, and Elissa Olivera
This charming series of books is based on research in early childhood development, from birth to 12 months of age. Each book features a different area of development – cognitive, motor, social-emotional, and language – and addresses key milestones that lead to the baby’s speech and language learning.
The books are written in the baby’s voice, as if she were talking to her Mom or Dad or caregiver: ‘I love to look at you when you smile at me and talk to me. Watch how I move my body to communicate with you!’
And the take home message is… Everything babies do will add to their learning. But, there is no more important experience for a child’s development than her relationship with her caregiver and the time spent playing together!
The profits from the books are being donated to a foundation which will provide scholarships to children who are in need of speech and language therapy at the Queens College Speech-Language-Hearing Center.
The books are available on Amazon.com. For further information, email qcbookproject@gmail.com