Presenters: Hillary Crow, MA, CCC-SLP, Caroline Gaddy, MFA, MA, CCC-SLP, and Rachel Dorsey, M.S., CCC-SLP
Description:
This presentation explores accessible strategies to support emotional expression and crisis response, especially for people with IDD who do not use spoken language. Using real-world case examples, the presentation will highlight practical tools and approaches to recognize nonverbal emotional cues, support emotional expression, and promote regulation during high-stress situations. Participants will gain actionable insights to enhance emotional safety and connection through trauma-informed, person-centered practices.
Objectives:
- Describe accessible communication strategies that support people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in expressing emotions and needs, particularly for people who do not use spoken language to communicate.
- Identify tools and approaches that facilitate emotional processing and self-regulation for people with diverse communication needs during and after a crisis event.
- Demonstrate the ability to implement trauma-informed, person-centered communication techniques that promote emotional understanding and safety in high-stress or crisis situations.
Hillary Crow, MA, CCC-SLP
Hillary Crow, MA, CCC-SLP- founder and owner of Crow Autism & Speech Therapy Consulting Services, Inc nbsp;
Hillary Crow, MA, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist, an educator and author, and the founder and owner of Crow Autism & Speech Therapy Consulting Services, Inc. As an Autistic individual herself, Hillary brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work and commitment to neurodiversity-affirming practices. In addition to providing direct speech-language therapy services to clients of all ages, she frequently collaborates with other Autistic and otherwise-neurodivergent individuals to publish on topics related to neuroaffirming care and speak at agency, state, and national events. Hillary is also the secretary on the board of directors for the Infant Development Association of California (IDA), and she recently contributed as a subject matter expert to the creation of ASHA’s updated Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder Practice Portal. When Hillary is not working, she loves spending time with her wonderfully neurodivergent family, reading, and dreaming of Scotland.
Caroline Gaddy, MFA, MA, CCC-SLP
Caroline Gaddy, MFA, MA, CCC-SLP - speech-language pathologist, AAC specialist, disability advocate, and neurodiversity educator nbsp;
Caroline Gaddy, MFA, MA, CCC-SLP (they/she) is a neuroqueer person, parent, speech-language pathologist, AAC specialist, disability advocate, and neurodiversity educator. They provide education and consultation on neurodiversity-affirming practices through their business, Vibrant Minds, LLC. They are also a Learning Consultant for Tobii Dynavox. Caroline worked for many years in school settings as a teacher and an SLP, and also worked in medical settings with adult and pediatric populations, often specializing in supporting communication access for people with multiple disabilities. They have presented at both state and national conferences and co-authored articles on neuro-affirming practices, AAC, and Autistic communication styles. Caroline is passionate about disability justice and inclusion, and firmly believes that communication is a fundamental human right.
Rachel Dorsey, M.S., CCC-SLP
Rachel Dorsey, M.S., CCC-SLP- Speech-Language Pathologist nbsp;
Rachel Dorsey, M.S., CCC-SLP (she/her) is an autistic Speech-Language Pathologist with a decade of clinical experience in early intervention, the public schools, and private practice. She is the owner of Rachel Dorsey: Autistic SLP, LLC. where she provides clinic-based therapeutic services to autistic clients of all ages. Rachel takes a holistic approach, often incorporating various forms of creation (e.g. visual arts, stand-up comedy and improv, music, dance, video game programming) into her neuro-affirming care. Rachel has presented educationally on the topics of gestalt language development, cognitive flexibility, and emotionally accessible social communication therapy for the autistic population in the local community and at the state and national level. She is the creator of the ASHA and AOTA approved course Goal Writing for Autistic Students and co-creator alongside Caroline Gaddy, MFA, MA-CCC-SLP of the AOTA approved course Supporting Communication of Interoception in Gestalt Language Processors. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys drawing, listening to hyperpop and metal music, playing roguelite video games, and spending time with her husband and cat.
This event is part of the National Online Training Series and is available by subscription from the National Center for START Services®. Each month, the NOTS includes a pre-recorded presentation and a live Q&A session with presenters, available to subscribers only. You must be subscribed to our list to receive the recording and access the live Q&A.
How to subscribe: Current START programs are automatically subscribed. Many individuals can access the NOTS for free by partnering with their local START program. If you or your agency are interested in subscribing, please fill out this training interest survey. A member of our training department will connect with you for next steps.
Accommodation Requests: It is our goal to make the NOTS live Q&A accessible for all. CART services will be provided for every live Q&A and does not require an accommodation request. Should you have additional accommodation requests, please complete this form and we will make every reasonable effort to meet that request. Someone from NCSS will contact you about the status of your request.
Disclaimer: Speakers and presenters participating in sessions are encouraged to express their findings, experiences, and conclusions on specific topics. They are selected for their areas of expertise and personal and professional knowledge. Therefore, points of view or opinions of our speakers and presenters do not officially represent the National Center for START Services®, the Institute on Disability, or the University of New Hampshire.
