We will explore current assessment and intervention practices in grammar for children and young people with specific reference to Developmental Language Disorder and the four pillars of evidence-based practice. Relevant supports will also be transferable to other clinical populations.

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to

• identify appropriate tools and procedures to assess, describe and evaluate grammar skills in children and young people,
• describe the characteristics of grammar difficulties to inform goal setting targeting grammar in children and young people,
• compare evidence-based intervention procedures targeting grammar across age ranges of children and young people,
• select appropriate methods to monitor progress and evaluate outcomes following grammar intervention,
• apply principles of evidence-based practice when designing support plans for grammar in children and young people.

Dr Samuel Calder

Dr Calder is a speech pathologist, practice educator, and teaching and research academic. He completed his undergraduate degree in linguistics at the University of Western Australia, and his Master of Speech Pathology and PhD in Human Communication Sciences at Curtin University.

His PhD research evaluated the efficacy of a novel intervention to improve grammar outcomes for children with DLD. He is currently a full-time teaching and research academic at the University of Tasmania, and the early career representative for the International Collaborative Network for N-of-1 Trials and Single-Case Designs. He is particularly passionate about understanding the nature of and improving outcomes for children and young people with DLD.

He has extensive clinical experience with early school-aged children with DLD and has worked alongside mainstream educators to implement best practice in classroom support for these children.

• Training Hours: 1.30