2026 - Christchurch Coaching for Communication Partners Workshop

ATANZ is excited to host 

Coaching for Communication Partners

A two-day workshop using the "Empowering Parents for AAC Approach"
for professionals who support children to use AAC

presented by

Sam Brydon

20 & 21 August Christchurch

Venue: Russley Golf Club,  428 Memorial Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch 8053

Times:

• 9 am to 4 pm with 45 min lunch break
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided

About this workshop:

Coaching for Communication Partners is a 2-day professional development workshop that is grounded in the current AAC research. It provides professionals who work in the field of AAC a framework for coaching communication partners (including parents, family, and educators) in how to use supportive AAC strategies.

The workshop combines information sharing, demonstration, videos, group discussions, and multiple opportunities to practice the coaching skills. Participants will leave with a framework for coaching communication partners, as well as a set of instructional resources.

Day 1

Shares evidence based strategies that have been shown to help children develop their communication skills using AAC and how to break these down into achievable goals

Day 2

Introduces a coaching model that can be used with the communication partners of children who use AAC.

Why is the implementation of AAC often unsuccessful for children?

The strategies needed to support children to use AAC are complex and need to be used with skill and nuance. We know that communication partners, such as parents, family, and educators play a key role in helping to make AAC successful, but they are often not provided with adequate support.

One-off training is not enough! Communication partners benefit from a coaching approach to learn these complex skills and apply them successfully.

Testimonials

"I would highly recommend this workshop, which I think would be beneficial for ALL SLTs. It is jam-packed with AAC gems, unpacks what coaching is all about and its relevance to our everyday mahi."

"I highly recommend Sam's Coaching Communication Partners workshop. It's been really comprehensive and so valuable. It's given me a chance to reflect on why AAC implementation may not have been as successful in the past, and most importantly, what I can do going forward to support. I found the real-life examples and practical implementation so helpful and I've come away with lots of ideas and areas to focus on!"

Background

Coaching for Communication Partners is presented by Sam Brydon. It was designed in collaboration with Associate Professor Sally Clendon, Associate Professor Tara McLaughlin, and Dr Elizabeth Doell, Massey University, New Zealand, and uses a coaching model that was developed in partnership with Practice Based Coaching Aotearoa.

About the presenter

Sam Brydon is a speech language therapist with 30 years of experience in the field of disability, including as a social worker. Sam originally trained and worked in England, before emigrating to Aotearoa in 2007. She has since worked for the Ministry of Education, Patricia Avenue Specialist School, and currently for The TalkLink Trust. She completed doctoral research at Massey University in the field of AAC in 2023. This research looked at the effects of providing training and coaching support to parents when they were implementing a core board with their children. Sam and her colleagues' research has been published in the AAC Journal and was recently showcased in The Informed SLP. More information about Sam’s work is available here: https://empoweringparentsaac.nz/ Sam is also the trainer for LAMP Words for Life and the LAMP therapeutic approach in Aotearoa.

Minimum numbers

Events require a minimum of participants to proceed. We'll confirm if we can go ahead, at the latest two weeks before the start date of the event. We offer the option to attend at a different location or a full refund in case we need to cancel. Please keep this in mind when booking any travel and accommodations.

Cancellations by participants less than 14 days before the event will not be refunded. Substitution by another person is possible when you notify us by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 3 days before the start of the event. Please check out our full Cancellation and Refunds Policy and additional Certificates of Attendance Terms and Conditions here.

Who can attend?

This workshop is designed for professionals who support the implementation and use of AAC with children or adults with intellectual impairments.  In particular, teachers and therapists supporting learners in specialist schools or mainstream schools; Child Development or Rehab Teams; day program facilitators (adults). 

Costs for the 2-day workshop: 

• $530 -  ATANZ members
• $635 - Non-members (remember membership is $110)
  
• $315 - Student attendees (i.e., SLT, OT, teaching students) (limited numbers)
  

Ensure you log in with your ATANZ membership to access the member discount rates

Registrations close 2 weeks before an event starts or when sold out – places are limited to 40 participants at each workshop!

Please contact us with any questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.