PODD Introductory

2-Day Workshop

About PODD

The Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD) approach assists people with complex communication needs to learn to understand and use language to enable autonomous communication. It provides strategies to support the design, production and implementation of communication systems to enable genuine communication for a variety of functions in all daily environments.

Learning Outcomes

This workshop will assist participants to understand the theory and practice related to PODD communication systems. It will provide information about the evidence base for aided language stimulation, a strategy to assist language learning for augmentative and alternative communication. This workshop provides theory, video case examples and supported practice so participants can develop their confidence in understanding and using PODD communication systems.

Participants will be able to:

• Describe the challenges faced by professionals creating communication systems in terms of vocabulary organisation, layout, design, range of access strategies and customising for individual requirements.
• Reflect on and evaluate strategies for teaching communication skills
• Discuss the features of a PODD communication system in terms of vocabulary organisation, layout, design, range of access strategies and customising for individual requirements.
• Use PODD generic template resources to begin the process of dynamic assessment and to produce customised communication books.
• Discuss the teaching and learning strategies for implementing PODD communication systems with students and team members.
• Teach people with CCN and their communication partners to use PODD communication books in everyday environments, so communication happens across the day, anywhere and at any time.

Registration includes morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Please specify dietary requirements when registering for the workshop.

Target Audience

This workshop will be of interest to teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and educators of individuals who have complex communication needs. Family members and support people who would like a more in depth understanding of the PODD system are also welcome to attend. If you are considering PODD on an electronic communication device, this training would also be beneficial to develop your understanding about PODD features, organisation and teaching and learning strategies.

About the Presenters

Janelle Sampson is a certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and has worked for over 30 years in both Australia and Canada, predominantly with a focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication. In 2011, she founded Two Way Street in Adelaide where she provides workshops, consultation, individual intervention, and various other programs. She has worked extensively in schools and other organisations to support children and adults with complex communication needs. Janelle is also the founder of the ROCC (Roadmap of Communicative Competence) Assessment. She is a certified PODD presenter and provides regular consultations and workshops around Australia.

Janelle is supported by:

Wendy Webster has been a Speech Pathologist for approximately 35 years with a strong passion for enabling interactive and language skills for all who have complex communication needs. This has been developed while working in Special Schools, Cerebral Palsy League and Disability Services. Other roles have included Co-ordinator of Let’s Talk Days and Camp Have a Chat, National Chairperson of AGOSCI. She has also been under Gayle’s “discipleship” since 2008 and feels very honoured to be assisting Gayle Porter to teach about PODD. She has introduced PODD to children, adolescents and adults their communication partners since 2008. This has necessitated learning how to personalise vocabulary for the AAC user and is in the process of learning how to create confident communication communities and enable these people to enjoy being Smart Partners for those they live and work with. Wendy and others are trying to consider how to maintain the rage about enabling AAC in the new NDIS world.

In the event that Janelle is unable to attend the workshop in person due to border closures, our workshop will instead be co-presented by Lee Withall, a Brisbane-based qualified PODD presenter. Lee's availability ensures this workshop can go ahead, and we're extremely grateful to Lee for providing this level of support to our PODD team.

Lee Withall

Lee is a Brisbane-based specialist teacher with over 35 years’ experience in a variety of roles in both special and mainstream schools, including class teacher, education consultant, and advisory teacher. Her focus has been working with education teams supporting students with a physical disability, including those who use AAC. Lee’s introduction to the PODD communication system and key teaching-learning strategies to support aided language learning and communication autonomy, started with her professional collaboration with Gayle (and CPEC team) in the late 1990s  She was certified as a PODD presenter by Gayle in 2013. As part of her role with Qld Education Department, Lee has led the development of a range of professional learning resources for schools about students with physical disability including those who use AAC.

Registration and Cancellation Policy

Registration is only confirmed upon full payment of fee. To access the discounted rate for members you must be logged into your AGOSCI member account prior to registration. 

Please Note* All registrations incur a 3.5% paypal fee that can't be refunded

• 96.5% refund until 60 days before event.
• 46.5% refund between 8-59 days before event. 
• No refunds within 0-7 days of event start date.

Applications for registrations are subject to final approval by AGOSCI to ensure fair and equal access to events across organisations. Waitlist registrations will be taken upon all positions being filled.

COVID Safety

If you are experiencing any cold/flu symptoms or don't feel well on the day, please support the safety of others by staying at home and not attending the workshop in person. 

This workshop is proudly brought to you by AGOSCI