Courses by Category
Hearing Impairment Courses
Beyond Newborn Screening: Progress Monitoring and Feedback in Early Childhood - (PDF files of presentations in this course now available for download.)
Strategies for Teachers Aides Supporting Children with Hearing Impairment
Leaders in Deaf Education Meeting
Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf Conference
Early Speech Development of Infants, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers with Hearing Loss
Braille Courses
Braille for Educators
Braille for English Speaking Pacific Islanders
Braille for Beginners: Module 2
Vision Impairment Courses
No courses at present.
Multiple Disability Courses
Getting Kids in Sync
Don't take the fun out of FUNctional: Communication Strategies as Core Curriculum for Students with Sensory & Multiple Disabilities
Recorded Lectures
Access our online learning system to view the following recorded lectures:
Early Childhood Development: the Role of Vision 
(fee: $10)
Visual Perception - Pathways and Behaviour (fee: $10)
The Auditory System and Hearing Impairment (free of charge)
Special Offers and Discounts
Special offers are available when registering for more than one course, or for multiple registrations from the same organisation. For more information please contact the CPE team on (02) 9872 0302 or e-mail cpe@ridbc.org.au.
Courses by Date
Braille for Educators
When: July 6th to November 27th 2009
Duration: 20 weeks
Presented by: Josie Howse, Manager, State Braille and Large Print Service, NSW DET; and Nicola Stowe, Publications Officer, RIDBC VisionEd.
This twenty-week course in Unified English Braille (UEB), offered by distance education, introduces students to basic skills in writing and reading Braille and is offered in both semesters each year. Through a series of weekly lessons, students will develop such skills as transcription of print to Braille using a Perkins Brailler; transcription of embossed Braille to print; and general formatting guidelines for the layout of Braille, including the layout of test papers. A certificate of proficiency in Unified English Braille (Grade 2) is awarded by RIDBC Renwick Centre upon the successful completion of the course.
Course Code: RC09C101V
Fee: $400. Register for July Course.
Beyond Newborn Screening: Progress Monitoring and Feedback in Early Childhood
The purpose of this workshop will be to explore progress monitoring of infant/children's development after identification of hearing loss as well as the identification of related variables, such as parent involvement, parent needs, parental bonding, grieving and stress. Feedback to parents from progress monitoring can be a curriculum strategy by providing parents with information about the success of different intervention strategies chosen for specific developmental outcomes.
This workshop will present assessment options, specific assessment tools, that are norm-referenced, standardized, functional and curriculum-based. In addition, the benefits and drawbacks to using parent questionnaires, language samples, teacher-based curriculum assessment, and criterion-reference checklists. The workshop will explore the various types of information that different types of assessments provide for the early intervention provider/preschool teacher and the parents.
PDF files of presentations in this course now available for download:
Spontaneous language sample analysis (640K)
Speech development (856K)
Progress monitoring and feedback in early childhood (1.2MB)
Outcomes of Colorado children on Minnesota child development inventory (768K)
Grief resolution (656K)
Family involvement and parental issues (696K)
Emotional availability (764K)
Braille for English Speaking Pacific Islanders
When: 2009 via Distance Learning (online)
Presented by: Frances Gentle, Lecturer in Vision Impairment, RIDBC Renwick Centre
This is a distance education course in Unified English Braille (UEB) for people in Pacific Island nations (or other relevant interested parties). The course introduces students to basic skills in writing and reading Braille. Through a series of weekly lessons, students will develop such skills as transcription of print to Braille using either a slate and stylus or a Perkins Brailler; transcription of embossed Braille to print; and general formatting guidelines for the layout of Braille, including the layout of test papers. A certificate of proficiency in Unified English Braille: Pacific Region is awarded by the RIDBC Renwick Centre upon the successful completion of the course. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2008, in collaboration with Callan Studies Institute of PNG.
Course Code: RC09C102V
Enquiries and expressions of interest please e-mail cpe@ridbc.org.au.
Bobath
When: 19th June 2009
Duration: 1 day (9.00pm to 4.00pm)
Presented by: Sarah Foley, Australian Bobath Neuro-Developmental Therapy Association
This course for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the current theoretical framework of Bobath/Neuro-Developmental treatment (NDT), the principles of classification and assessment of children with cerebral palsy, and the Bobath/NDT clinical reasoning model of treatment planning for children with differing types of cerebral palsy.
Course Code: RC09C101T
Fee: $150. Register for Course.
Strategies for Teachers Aides Supporting Children with Hearing Impairment
When: 3rd August 2009
Duration: 1 day (8.30am to 3.30pm)
Presented by: RIDBC Staff
This course is designed for teacher’s aides and child care workers who already have the basic skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles but who are interested in enhancing their abilities. Participants will gain greater insight and skills to support students and their families.
The program will focus on the special skills needed to effectively support very young children (aged 0-5) and their families, and on the skills needed to effectively support children and young people who are Deaf or hearing impaired and who have additional disabilities.
Course Code: RC09C207H
Fee: $150. Register for Course.
Teachers Aides Supporting Children with Vision Impairment
When: 6th August to 5th November 2009
Duration: 2 days face-to-face plus online study
Presented by: Julie Shylan, Principal, RIDBC Alice Betteridge School
This course will provide participants with the competencies required to assist in supporting learners with vision impairment.It will enhance the skills and knowledge of people employed or seeking employment as teacher aides, child care assistants or residential care assistants or who are otherwise engaged in assisting people who are vision impaired. Participants will gain an understanding of vision impairment and its effect on learning, examine the role and duties of a Teachers Aide, and apply skills and practical strategies (e.g. orientation and mobility) to assist in the support of a learner with vision impairment across a range of learning environments.
Course Code: RC09C202V
Fee: $150 (alternative cost for existing TAFE students). Register for Course.
Transdisciplinary Approaches for Young Children with Sensory and Multiple Disabilities
When: 10th to 12th August 2009
Duration: 3 days
Presented by: Dr Deborah Chen, California Sate University, Northridge, USA
This course will examine the ways that educators and professionals can adapt the educational environment to facilitate learning for students with sensory impairments who have additional multiple disabilities (particularly physical disabilities). The course will focus upon an integrated approach with emphasis on the need for a variety of disciplines, including physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, audiologists, orthoptists and communication specialists. Issues associated with creating an appropriate learning environment and adaptations to programming will be examined. The curricular needs of such students will be presented and analysed across a range of learning environments including early childhood settings, special schools, mainstreamed settings and students in transition to post secondary education and training.
Course Code: RC09C201M
Fee: $300. Register for Course.
Braille for Beginners: Module 2
When: 25th August 2009
Duration: Distance Education (Online)
Presented by: Frances Gentle, Lecturer in Vision Impairment, RIDBC Renwick Centre
This course is available to participants who have completed Module 1 of Braille for Beginners and wish to become proficient in contracted (Grade 2) Braille. Distance Education (Online). Printed training guide and a CD will accompany online
Course Code: RC09C203V
Fee: TBA. Register for Course.
Don't take the fun out of FUNctional: Communication Strategies as Core Curriculum for Students with Sensory & Multiple Disabilities
When: 13th and 14th August
Duration: 2 days (9.00am - 4.00pm)
Presented by: Sharon Barrey-Grassick, Coordinator of the Deafblind Education Service
Effective communication is at the very core of all learning for students who are deafblind or multi-sensory impaired. The focus of this 2-day hands-on special event, to be taught by Australia's national 'guru' can be summed up as "where is the joy in this EIP?".
Course Code: RC09C202M
Fee: $200. Register for Course.
4th Annual Leaders in Deaf Education Meeting
When: 10th and 11th September 2009
Duration: 2 days
Presented by: Professor Greg Leigh, Chair, RIDBC Renwick Centre
Previously known as 'Leaders in Oral Deaf Education; this meeting is designed to facilitate networking, discussion of issues and as a support mechanism for leaders in deaf education. Participants from both private and public sectors are encouraged to contribute to the conference though the sharing of program innovations.
Course Code: RC09C201H
Fee: $250. Register for Course.
Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf Conference: Access and Technology - The Future for our Students with Hearing Loss
When: 18th September 2009
Duration: 1 day (8:30am to 4.00pm)
Presented by: Keynote Address from Prof. Christine Yoshinaga-Itano
Keynote Address from Prof. Christine Yoshinaga-Itano, Building the Foundations of Success: Deaf Education Reform. This talk will address the need for uniform criteria for making decisions about the intensity of service that individual children with hearing loss need to succeed, profiling developmental progress from preschool through secondary school, partnering with parents to fill in the gaps, and upgrading the curriculum to meet the needs of children with higher language goals.
A one day conference for visiting teachers and other professionals supporting students who are deaf and hearing impaired in mainstream settings. Sessions will address a range of topics in the areas of classroom technology, access to opportunities beyond school, hearing devices, language and speech assessments. Sessions will include a range of topics including: Hearing aid, FM, BAHA and CI updates; Emerging technology providing access; Access to the workplace and further education; Speech perception testing and Cultural sensitivity.
Course Code: RC09C202H
Fee: $150. Register for Course.
Early Speech Development of Infants, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers with Hearing Loss
When: 12th and 13th October 2009
Duration: 2 days (9.00am to 4.00pm)
Presented by: Professor Helen McCaffrey Morrison, Texas Christian University
Professor Morrison will present on many aspects of hearing loss including: early speech development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers, benchmarking early vocal development, research and clinical/educational implications for early spoken language development, early phonemic awareness and literacy development, preschool integration profiles, and auditory verbal techniques for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Course Code: RC09C203H
Fee: $400. Register for Course.
Getting Kids in Sync
When: 19th October 2009
Duration: 1 day
Presented by: Genevieve Jereb, Sensory Tools Australia
Designed for parents, teachers, therapists, caregivers and other professionals who are interested in understanding the basics of sensory processing difficulties and in adding beneficial experiences to the sensory diets of the children for whom they care. Sensory difficulties affect many children with (or without) various developmental and neurological challenges affecting childrenĄ¯s work, play, fun, sleep, eating, learning and communication as well as and impacts on their social relationships and behaviour. Participants will learn how to generate activities that helps get kids in sync, emphasising the use of efficient sensory inputs, organising rhythmic input, heavy work/deep pressure and regulating respiratory patterns with children.
Course Code: RC09C201T
Fee: $150. Register for Course.
e-Learning Resources 
In addition to our workshops there are e-Learning resources to assist you in your practice. Resources include video clips, a discussion forum, factsheets and the following recorded lectures:
Early Childhood Development: the Role of Vision
Visual Perception - Pathways and Behaviour
The Auditory System and Hearing Impairment
To access the recorded lectures please register using the authorisation code rcresources. Registration is free.
The discussion forum will be of particular benefit to people in remote locations who cannot attend our face to face workshops but wish to communicate with other professionals in their field. We look forward to your contributions and participation.
Registration
To register for any of the courses, complete the Course Registration form or contact us for more information.
Location of Events
All programs are located at the Renwick Centre unless otherwise stated.
