Sheridan Forster Tasmania roadshow - Launceston

Presented by Sheridan Forster

Workshop overview 

Choose the sessions that meet your needs - full day attendance is not compulsory.

Session 1 

Hanging Out Program: Interaction for people at risk of social isolation

• “How do you communicate with someone who doesn’t use or seem to understand speech?”
• For: allied health professionals and behaviour support practitioners, disability support workers, teachers, support coordinators, family members, students

A practical interactive workshop exploring interactions without words and the complex decisions made during these interactions.

 

Session 2

Profound intellectual disability interest group

• “Do you feel like most training doesn’t understand the people who you support who have profound intellectual disability?  Are you searching for best practice?”
• For: family members, allied health professionals, disability support workers, disability organisation managers

A new interest group bringing together people interest in people with profound intellectual disabilities, to examine what is working well, what is not working well, the gaps in knowledge, education and practice.

 

Session 3

• “Are you interested in sharing and learning more about people with communication disabilities, including people who communicate in diverse ways such as communication devices, books, or their own unique way?”
• For: people with communication disabilities and their supporters, teachers, allied health professionals

AGOSCI focuses on the broad group of people who have communication disabilities.

This networking session will bring together current and potential AGOSCI members to look at the strengths we have within Tasmania, and the gaps that AGOSCI may be able to support through education and other opportunities.

Sheridan is the AGOSCI Tasmania State Representative.

 

Learning outcomes

Enriched discussion around communication, people with profound intellectual disability, and people with communication disabilities, alongside awareness of research and other opportunities for each population. 

 

Target audience

Speech therapists and other allied health professionals, direct support workers, families, educators, support coordinators, people with communication disabilities and their allies. 

Workshop details 

• Each workshop session is live and will NOT be recorded.
• Catering will NOT be provided. There will be a break between session 1 and session 2 to allow time to grab your own lunch.

 

Workshop date

Wednesday 3 December 2025 

 

Workshop location

Room 309, uTas Rivers Edge Building, Inveresk Campus, Invermay, Launceston, TAS 

 

Workshop start times

Session 1: 9:30am - 11:30am AEDT

Session 2: 1pm - 2:30pm AEDT

Session 3: 3:30pm - 5pm AEDT

 

Presenter

Sheridan Forster is a speech therapist, person with a disability, and many other things. She developed the Hanging Out Program 20 years ago and has been running HOP workshops for support staff and therapists in Australia, New Zealand and the UK since then. She is a member of the international Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Special Interest Research Group (IASSIDD) and a contributor and reader of PMLD-Link (UK). Sheridan is a long-time member of AGOSCI, current AGOSCI In Focus editor, and Tasmania state representative. Ha ha, she has no spare time... 

 

 

 

Disclosure

AGOSCI is grateful to Sheridan for presenting this workshop and sharing their knowledge and expertise with the AGOSCI community. 

AGOSCI acknowledges that differing views and opinions may be discussed throughout this workshop and may not always align with AGOSCI philosophies.

AGOSCI is an independent body and does not endorse individual products or brands.

AGOSCI acknowledges the presence and contributions of all suppliers and resources available in the Australian and International AAC marketplace.

 

Registration and cancellation policy

Updated May 2025

Registration is only confirmed upon full payment of fee. Please note total ticket price will include an additional $0.69 + 0.7% per transaction service fee. To access the discounted rate for members you must be logged into your AGOSCI member account prior to registration. 

• 100% refund minus the service fee ($0.69 + 0.7% per transaction) until 60 days before event
• 50% refund minus the service fee ($0.69 + 0.7% per transaction) between 8-59 days before event
• No refunds within 0-7 days before event start date
• If the event is cancelled by AGOSCI you will receive 100% refund including the service fee ($0.69 + 0.7% per transaction)

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.