Communication Development in Young Children with ASD: What can parents do?
Dr Heidi Al Askari, PhD/CCC-SLP, CCRP
Prince Salman Center for Disabilities Research, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Alaskary was born in Cairo, Egypt. She graduated High School from Riyadh School for Boys & Girls. After which, she entered The Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and obtained her B.S. majoring in Speech Pathology and Audiology and minoring in Psychology (Cum Laude). She got her M.S. from Southern Illinois University also in Speech Pathology. She was granted a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She was awarded her PhD from Vanderbilt University specializing in Speech Language Pathology and with a minor in Linguistics. She received a number of certifications by the Hanen Centre in Canada, to provide the “It Takes Two To Talk” and “More Than Word” programs, within the Hanen Program for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Alaskary was also certified by the Society for Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA) with the Certification of Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) and the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS) granted by Marjorie Meyer Palmer – Therapeutic Media. She has also acquired the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised Training by Dr. Anthony Bailey from the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research in Riyadh.
Dr. Alaskary has attended numerous medical related workshops and courses including, Certification Course in Administration and Scoring of the NOMAS, Evaluation and Treatment of Oral Feeding Disorders in the NICU and after discharge, Infant Behavioral assessment and Intervention Course, Clinical Research Coordinators’ Course, The Supervising Therapist, Human Participant Protections Education for Research Teams, Special Workshop on Respiratory Care, Special Workshop on Nutrition, Workshop on “Fundamentals of Grantsmanship on Disabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Communication Skills, Assessment and Intervention for Infants, Toddlers and Children with Down Syndrome, Oral Motor Skills, Assessment and Intervention for Infants, Toddlers, Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome, The 25+ Best Oral Motor treatment techniques, Computerized Speech Lab (CSL) Workshop, Cued Speech and Swallowing Disorders. She has also attended several courses pertaining to business management including, Project Management Professional Workshops, and Finance for the Non-Financial Healthcare Department Head.
Dr. Alaskary’s work experience initially began as a Speech Language Pathologist student clinician at Southern Illinois University and then as a Graduate Assistant at Wesley Bethel Head Start in St. Louis and finally as an Extern at DePaul Hospital Acute Rehabilitation Unit in St Louis. When she returned to the Kingdom, Dr. Alaskary started work at the Jeddah Institute for Speech and Hearing as a Speech Language Pathologist, while working part time at the Saudi Benevolent Association for Disabled Children Rehabilitation Center in Riyadh. She then spent one year at King Saud University in Riyadh, as a Lecturer in the Department of Rehabilitation of the Hearing and Speech Sciences Division. After obtaining her PhD, she returned as an Assistant professor in Speech-Language Pathology/Clinical Coordinator at King Saud University. She began working in tandem with the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research and then joined the center as Associate Executive Director for Research and Development Researcher and finally as Deputy Executive Director for Research for the Center.
Dr. Alaskary has worked on several special projects such as conducting and submitting “A Global Survey on Government Action on the Equalizations of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities” in Saudi Arabia for the office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability (August 2005). Also she was the Middle East consultant on the grant winning proposal entitled “ Services for students with Learning Difficulties/Disabilities in an Era of School Reform” in Qatar for the Academy for Educational Development –AED(Oct 2005-February 2006). Dr. Alaskary was also part of the translation team (English to Arabic) for the Autism Speaks “Autism Everyday Documentary. (January 2008).
In her specialized field, Dr Alskary has presented workshops and presentations on Autism encompassing Communication & Autism, Developing Communication at Home with Autism, Developing Communication Competence in Deaf Children, Swallowing Disorders, Workshops for Speech-Language Pathologists, Grant Writing, Change in the Work Environment, Challenges in Deaf Teaching Curriculums, Workshops for Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome, Dysphagia & Cerebral Palsy, Augmentative Communication, as well as Speech Problems and its Development.
Dr. Alskary has also been invited to present her research projects in the scopes of “Integration practices and perspectives amongst teachers in Riyadh (a joint collaboration), Language Development in Saudi Children, A Public Survey of The Speech language Pathologists Role in Riyadh (Arabic), Teaching Children with hearing Impairments to Speak Utilizing Cued Speech: A case study (Arabic) and Sagittal Synostosis: A case study.
Dr. Alaskary was recognized in her field and was awarded numerous times for her efforts. These included, a scholarship from King Saud University-1996 to pursue her PhD, Prince Bandar Award for Academic Accomplishment-1994, Prince Bandar scholarship to pursue her Bachelor of Sciences Degree in 1990 and her Master of Sciences in 1993.
She is an associate of the Down Syndrome Charitable Association (DSCA) and a member of their board as well as Chairman of the Research Committee. Member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA), member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, member of the Saudi Association for Hearing Impairment, member of the Saudi Society for Rehabilitation & Education, member of the American Speech and Hearing Association, member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSHLA), and member of the Illinois Speech language and Hearing Association.
Abstract
The purpose of this workshop is to develop a basic understanding of how young non-verbal children diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum Disorder communicate and how parents can begin to understand, facilitate, and develop communication in the home environment.