Echolalia as a phenomenon

Co-presented by Eli Cohn and Matt Harrison

Workshop overview 

This workshop explores echolalia as a lived, phenomenological experience rather than simply a behavioural symptom. Moving beyond traditional deficit-based interpretations, it examines how echolalia is experienced, mobilised, and understood by those who use it.

This session traces the historical evolution of echolalia - from early medicalised descriptions, through behavioural and developmental framings, to contemporary neurodiversity-informed perspectives. By situating echolalia across time and theory, this workshop invites participants to reconsider what echolalia is, what it does, and how it functions within communication. Attendees will leave with a deeper conceptual understanding of echolalia as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, alongside practical reflections for education, speech-language pathology, and inclusive practice.

Learning outcomes

1. Describe echolalia as a lived, phenomenological experience beyond deficit-based interpretations

2. Summarise the historical evolution of echolalia across medical, behavioural, and neurodiversity-informed frameworks

3. Critically reflect on how theoretical perspectives shape understandings of echolalia

4. Explain the communicative and functional roles echolalia may serve

5. Apply neurodiversity-informed principles to inclusive educational and clinical practice.

Target audience

Speech pathologists, teachers and education assistants. 

Workshop details 

• This is a LIVE workshop, held online via Zoom
• This workshop will run for 1.5 hours, including time for Q & A at the end 
• This workshop will be recorded. A link to the recording and any workshop resources will be emailed to all participants. The workshop recording will also be available to purchase on demand. 
• If you do not wish to have your audio or video recorded, please keep your camera off, microphone on mute and contribute via the chat box.

Workshop date

Thursday 14 May 2026 

Workshop start times

VIC/NSW/ACT/TAS/QLD: 12pm

SA/NT: 11:30am

WA: 10am

Co-presenters

Dr. Eli Cohn is a researcher in inclusive and special education whose work focuses on echolalia, communication diversity, and neurodiversity-affirming practice across educational, clinical, and social contexts. His research spans early childhood education, schooling, allied-health practice, and adulthood, with a particular emphasis on how echolalia is experienced, understood, and mobilised by individuals themselves. Dr. Cohn’s work challenges deficit-based framings of echolalia and contributes empirically and conceptually to debates in speech-language pathology, education, and disability studies.

Associate Proffessor Matt Harrison (he/him) is an experienced teacher, researcher and digital creator who is an advocate for utilising technology to support social capacity building, belonging and inclusion in education. He has taught in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Matthew is currently a member of the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education Learning Intervention team, a project lead at the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project and co-founder of Next Level Collaboration, the first neurodivergent-led social enterprise to spin out of the University of Melbourne. 

Disclosure

AGOSCI is grateful to Eli and Matt for presenting this workshop to 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.