COMMUNICATION IN ACTION

Philip Schweigert, M.Ed.  began working with children with sensory and multiple disabilities in 1977 in Portland, Oregon. After serving as both a classroom teacher and later, program chair, he spent 22 years as project coordinator on numerous research and demonstration efforts to investigate assessment and intervention  strategies in communication and cognitive  skill development in individuals with severe disabilities. Philip has authored and co-authored articles for refereed journals as well as curriculum materials through the Design to Learn  projects of Oregon Health & Sciences University. He subsequently served as a consultant, lead teacher and affiliate university instructor and continues to  provide  consultation nationally in the area of communication strategies for learners with significant disabilities .

Jessica Mount Matney, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist and Developmental Vision Specialist at the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Early Childhood Program. Jessica began her practice in early intervention and has spent the last 13 years working with children with severe disabilities and vision impairments. Working with children at the earliest stages of communication development is a passion for Jessica.  The Communication Matrix (Rowland, 2002) serves as the basis for assessment and goal development for all of her students who are non-verbal. Jessica has worked locally and internationally to make Communication Matrix the focus of intervention for children with significant, multiple impairments.