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Betsy Caporale
Speech-Language Pathologist, AAC/AT Specialist
Owner, Augmentative Communication Solutions, LLC

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Certified Assistive Technology Specialist in Communication Services;
Competency Certificate in Communication Assistive Technology Applications

Betsy has been working in the field of AAC/AT for over 25 years, serving students with autism, cerebral palsy and multiple handicaps.   
As an AAC/AT Specialist for the California Department of Education, Diagnostic Center, Northern California, she developed and taught an  AAC Assessment and Services certification course, certifying over 200 speech-language pathologists. She has provided trainings and workshops to school districts and SELPAs throughout Northern California, and has presented nationally and internationally on topics including: AAC and Autism; Assessing Students with Complex Communication Needs; Adapting Curriculum for Students with Complex Communication Needs; Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning; The iPad as an Assessment and Learning tool.

EDUCATION

  • M.S., Communicative Disorders, California State University East Bay - Hayward, CA

  • B.S., Communication Disorders, University of Redlands- Redlands, CA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Licensed California Speech-Language Pathologist

  • California Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential

  • Certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)

  • Active Member:

    • American Speech-Language Hearing Association

    • Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)

    • California Speech-Language Hearing Association (CSHA)

    • International Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC)

    • United States Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC)

PUBLICATIONS

        http://praacticalaac.org/?s=betsy+caporale

  • AAC and Autism Report: Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies in the Classroom, Closing the Gap Solutions, April/May 2013          â€‹

       http://www.closingthegap.com/media/solutions/articles/2013/04/1957/1957.pdf

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

  • Certified Assistive Technology Specialist, Communication Services, University of South Florida

  • Competency Certificate in Communication Assistive Technology and Applications, National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Institute for Assistive Training Technologies

  • PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) Certification

  • Autism Internet Module Certification, National Professional Development Center on Autism.

OTHER

  • ASHA SIG 12, Editorial Review Committee Member (past)

  • Director of Professional Affairs, United States Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC)

  • Research Reviewer, National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders 2014 Report on Evidence Based Practices

Emily Murchison

Education Specialist, AT Specialist

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Emily has been working in the field of education for over 12 years serving both general and special education students.
In her role as Special Education Department Chair, Emily was responsible for master scheduling of  all special education students at her school site. In addition, she has case managed special education students in elementary and middle school settings, mentored new teachers, participated in an Assistive Technology (AT) Panel, and assessed students to help determine appropriate interventions. She has helped implement assistive technology and augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) tools and strategies in general education and special education settings in collaboration with IEP team members.  She developed a program to assist students with executive function deficits, and personalized curriculum to meet the  highly individualized needs of her students  using tools and strategies based on evidence-based practices.

EDUCATION

  • Mild/Moderate Credential, Brandman University - Walnut Creek, CA

  • Moderate/Severe Credential, Brandman University - Walnut Creek, CA

  • Multiple Subject Credential, Sonoma State University - Rohnert Park, CA

  • B.S., Human Development with a minor in Early Childhood Education, Sonoma State University - Rohnert Park, CA

  • Certificate of Advanced Professional Development in Assistive Technology Applications, California State University Northridge

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

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  • iDevices and Supports for Executive Functioning, Closing the Gap, June 2017

  • The iPod and iPad as Assistive Technology, Closing the Gap, June 2017

  • Cool Books for Cool Kids, Closing the Gap, June 2017

  • Beyond Angry Birds - Fun Educational Apps, Closing the Gap, June 2017

  • Learn How to Integrate Technology in Your Classroom with Extraordinary Learners, Closing the Gap, June 2017

  • AAC and Autism: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, Portland, Oregon, April 2016

  • Behavior Intervention Plans and Post Hughes Bill Update, Contra Costa County SELPA, February 2014

  • Legally Defensible IEPs, Contra Costa County Office of Education, March 2014

  • Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities, Diagnostic Center, Northern California, January 2014

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • California Moderate/Severe Education Specialist Instruction Credential

  • California Mild/Moderate Education Specialist Instruction Credential

  • California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

  • Active Member:

    • Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)

    • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

    • Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE)

    • National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)

                                                                                                                                       Robyn Valdivia
          Speech-Language Pathologist, AAC/AT Specialist

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Robyn has been working as a speech language pathologist for 15 years serving a range of clients in a variety of settings including classrooms, medical, and private clinics.  Her focus in recent years has been Early Intervention, specializing in language development and the needs of students making transitions and acclimating into a classroom setting.  Robyn’s clinical skills include case management, assessment, Individualized Education Program (IEP) collaboration, and transitional planning.  Her roles have also included conducting and facilitating Hanen parent education courses.

 

Robyn’s collaborative assessments provide analysis and treatment options for disorders including:  Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, hearing impairment, repaired cleft, and Apraxia of Speech (AOS), specializing in the early intervention population.  Her treatment focus is functional communication which integrates AAC into classroom activities for children at every language stage utilizing a multi-modality approach.  Robyn addresses all areas of impairment including social communication, restricted behaviors, sensory processing, sensory integration, and motor imitation. Robyn is passionate about  implementing practical augmentative communication and assistive technology tools and techniques to meet the unique needs of each student.

 

EDUCATION

  • Certificate of Advanced Professional Development in Assistive Technology Applications, California State University Northridge 

  • M.S., Speech Language Pathology, California State University East Bay, Hayward, CA

  • B.A., Speech Communication, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA

 

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND AFFILIATIONS

  • Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA)

  • California State License, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board

  • Professional Clearance Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential, State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

 

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

  • Differentiating Curriculum for Students with Complex Communication and Learning Needs, Contra Costa County Office of Education

  • Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Photo Apps that Spark Communication, SLP Summit

  • Building Language Supports Using AAC, SLP Summit

  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Level 1

  • Total Communication in the Classroom, Down Syndrome Connection

  • Behavior is Communication, Down Syndrome Connection

  • Hanen Certification for It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, and Talkability

  • AAC Goals for Language: Building Competence

  • “Road Trip” Workshop, Assistive Technology Live Presentation: Highlighting Adaptive Software/Hardware, Contra Costa County Office of Education

  • Executive Functions in the Classroom, LinguiSystems

  • Strategies to Help Speech Language Pathologists Support Literacy Skills, Bureau of Education Research

  • SCERTS Institute: Next Generation Practices for Children with Autism - Introductory and Advanced Training

  • Links to Language I and Links to Language II: Training in theoretical background and implementation of    

        The Preverbal Foundations of Discourse (I) and Linguistic Foundations of Discourse (II)

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Brian St. Geme
Speech Language Pathologist, AAC/AT  Specialist

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After graduating from San Jose State University in 2015 with a Master of Arts Degree in Education (Speech Pathology), Brian began working in the Bay Area as an AAC specialist providing assessment and intervention services for students with complex communication needs. His favorite part of being an AAC/AT specialist is helping teachers, caregivers, and families find creative and functional ways of integrating AAC/AT systems and strategies into existing daily routines. As a clinician with Augmentative Communication Solutions, Brian has expanded his clinical experience byproviding virtual assessments and collaborative support for students who benefit from a broader array of assistive technology tools. Outside of work Brian enjoys encouraging his two young sons to adopt some of his hobbies and interests despite mixed results.

Selma Smithwick

Speech-Language Pathologist, AAC/AT Specialist

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Selma began her AAC/AT journey 25 years ago as a one-on-one aide. Her first assignment was supporting an elementary school student with cerebral palsy who relied heavily on AT to access the curriculum and AAC tools (including use of a dynamic display voice output device) and strategies (eye gaze) to express himself and demonstrate knowledge.  Selma's second assignment was with an elementary student with autism who benefited from AAC tools such as choice boards and visual schedules for behavior support.  Selma worked as a special education aide while attending college.  After earning an M.S. degree in Speech-Language Pathology from S.F. State University, she transitioned to working as a school-based SLP implementing AAC and AT tools and strategies to support students and teachers. She has also had the unique privilege of working for the Department of Defense Education Activity for 8 years, providing speech-language services to children of active-duty military personnel in Guam, Japan, Turkey, and Kentucky.  In her free time, Selma enjoys hiking in the beautiful parks of the Bay Area.

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