How do we assess something as expansive, dynamic, involved, people sensitive and context dependent as Social Communication? Language and Social Communication are interrelated. How do we reconcile standardized test findings with what we see informally in the individual and what know intuitively about them? They may be talking and functional in their language abilities, but struggling to fit and function in the classroom. We struggle to organize our informal observations into meaningful frameworks. And so, we remain compelled to use standardized tests scores to ensure evidence based practice. Our goals in intervention cannot be relevant and functional to the individual if we do not integrate the two.

We can only assess something we have defined clearly. Hence, we must define language competence as it relates to social communication. Before we examine the unique qualities of dynamic assessment, as an approach that leads directly to intervention. Should caregivers be involved in the assessment process and if so to what extent and how? We will review the place of common frameworks, that could help organise our observations and guide better programming, as well as more meaningful goal setting.

In this 1-day talk, we will: