Compiled by Miriam Bernard
Conference is less than a week away, and we are so excited to offer families practical information they can use long after our time together ends. Continuing our series of sharing our well-qualified presenters and their sessions, here are some live sessions you’ll want to have on your radar if you’ll be with us at the conference! Whether you are looking for guidance on navigating the IEP process, building stronger communication skills, understanding speech and language development, or creating tools that help others better understand your loved one with DCC, these sessions provide expert advice and real-world experience. Each presenter brings professional knowledge and, in many cases, personal insight that makes these presentations especially meaningful.
Every parent wants to be an effective advocate, and these two sessions are designed to help families do exactly that. In “IEP Process… Don’t Be Afraid! Be an Integral Part of Constructing Your Child’s IEP,” parents will learn how each section of the IEP works together, why their input matters, and how to confidently participate in developing meaningful goals, accommodations, and services for their child.
The companion workshop, “Creating a One-Pager,” gives families the opportunity to build a personalized profile that highlights their child’s strengths, challenges, interests, and successful strategies. Participants will leave with a completed document they can immediately share with teachers, therapists, physicians, coaches, family members, and others who support their child.
For many individuals with DCC, social communication can be just as challenging as speech itself. This session explores the skills that help build successful relationships, including taking conversational turns, staying on topic, understanding humor, recognizing social cues, and knowing how to begin and end conversations.
Attendees will leave with practical strategies that can be used at home, at school, and in everyday interactions to help individuals with DCC communicate more confidently and connect more successfully with others.
Amanda Geisinger brings more than 15 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist along with the unique perspective of raising a son with Hypoplasia of the Corpus Callosum. She is joined by Meredith Stensven, a speech-language pathologist with more than 20 years of experience helping students strengthen communication skills and supporting families throughout their journey.
Communication develops differently for every child with DCC, and this session helps families better understand that journey. Attendees will learn about speech and language milestones, how to recognize delays, the importance of early intervention, and how assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can open new pathways for communication.
The session also highlights the value of family-centered care and multidisciplinary teamwork, offering practical guidance and encouragement for every stage of a child’s communication development.
With more than 26 years of experience in pediatric speech-language pathology, Christine Sterner provides families with trusted expertise and practical knowledge they can apply long after the conference ends.
Whether you are attending your first NODCC Conference or returning to reconnect with the DCC community, these sessions offer valuable tools, fresh perspectives, and encouragement that can make a lasting difference for your family.