Course Description

Nikki McRory, MA CCC-SLP, BCBA, CAS & Andrea Fair, MS, BCBA present this 90-minute training course to teach participants step-by-step and in specific detail how to utilize a child's imitative repertoire to facilitate imitation of speech sounds. It is estimated that approximately 20-30% of children with autism do not speak (Rogers, 2006). Participants of this course will learn how to analyze and teach a generalized imitative repertoire using the evidence-based interventions of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) and Rapid Motor Imitation Antecedent (RMIA) Training as the basis for teaching language to young pre-verbal children with autism. Video clips are integrated into this course to demonstrate how to implement these treatment techniques.  

Offered for 0.15 ASHA CEUs – 90 contact minutes and 1.5 BACB CEUs.

Course Outline

  • Literature review on imitation and language development
  • Theory behind using a generalized imitative repertoire for teaching language 
  • Introduction of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT)
  • Introduction of Rapid Motor Imitation Antecedent (RMIA)
  • Steps to intervention

Content Disclosure

This presentation will focus on two evidence-based interventions that target using a generalized imitative repertoire to teaching verbal imitation skills in non-verbal children with autism spectrum disorder. Presenter financial and non-financial disclosures may be found in the Presenter & Disclosures area.

Course Format

Video PowerPoint presentation with author narration & downloadable handouts.

Course Objectives

  1. Describe relevant research on using motor imitation to facilitate language development.
  2. Complete comprehensive assessments to probe fine motor imitation, echoic repertoire and independent requests.
  3. Use the results of assessment to design an effective, individualized program for teaching language.
  4. Implement intervention strategies, including the use of Reciprocal Imitation Training and Rapid Motor Imitation Antecedent to meet targeted intervention goals.

Presenter & Disclosures

Since 1998, Nikki McRory, MA CCC-SLP, BCBA, CAS, has dedicated her career to working with children and families impacted by autism spectrum disorder. She has established a variety of specialized center-based programs at her private practice, McRory Pediatric Services, Inc. that focus on helping children become effective vocal communicators. 

Nikki lectures locally, on the subject of ASD and has published articles in the Autism Parenting Magazine.  Families from across Los Angeles and the surrounding areas travel to McRory Pediatric Services, Inc. in Tarzana and Santa Clarita to participate in intensive, specialized therapy programs. McRory Pediatrics offers renowned speech- language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, child development and applied behavior analysis (ABA) in their centers and home-based autism programs.

Nikki currently serves as the Board Chair of the Southern California Chapter of Autism Speaks.

Andrea Fair, MS, BCBA has a strong passion for working with children that have special needs. She started working with children with ASD and their families in 2008. She is a graduate of California State University Northridge (CSUN) where she received her Master's of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, and later became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Andrea joined the McRory Pediatrics therapy team in 2011 where she worked as part of a multidisciplinary team in their intensive therapeutic preschool program for children with autism. Since then she has worked with a variety of children with autism in the home, school, clinic and community setting. Andrea currently acts as Associate Clinical Director of their ABA Department. 

McRory Pediatrics has been awarded the "Best of Encino" award for their speech-language therapy services, and has had articles featured in LA Parent Magazine and LA Voyage Magazine.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial — Nikki McRory is the Owner and Executive Director of McRory Pediatric Services, Inc.; ownership interests.

Financial — Andrea Fair is an employee of McRory Pediatric Services, Inc.; receives payment.

Nonfinancial - Nikki McRory is the Board Chair of the Autism Speaks Southern California Chapter.

Nonfinancial — Andrea Fair has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.

Accreditation

This course is offered for 0.15 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area), BCAB CEUs and QABA CEUs.


Intended Audience

This course is intended for speech-language pathologists, board certified behavior analysts and qualified autism services practitioners. 

ASHA CEUs: McRory Pediatrics online courses are registered with ASHA and are offered for ASHA CEUs. The number of ASHA CEUs is noted above. Note that 0.1 ASHA CEU = 1 contact hour = equals 1 CEE.

ASHA CE Registry: During the enrollment process, if you select to receive ASHA credit for this course and if you complete the provided CE Participation Form, McRory Pediatrics will automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion (80% on post test). This submission happens once per month, during the first week of the month. For example, if you complete your course on June 7th, McRory Pediatrics will submit all June online course CEUs to ASHA during the first week of July. When ASHA inputs the information into their database, they will mark the course as completed on the last day of the month in which it was completed, so June 30th using this example. The certificate of completion available for you to print immediately, however, will reflect the actual completion date, June 7th in this example. Due to ASHA processing procedures please allow 3-4 weeks, from the submission date, for the course to appear on your ASHA transcript. 

ASHA CEUs: Attendees must meet at least one of the following conditions in order to be eligible to earn ASHA CEUs:

  • Current ASHA Member
  • ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) Holder
  • Licensed by a state or provincial regulatory agency to practice speech-language pathology (SLP) or audiology
  • Credentialed by a state regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Credentialed by a national regulatory agency to practice SLP or audiology
  • Engaged in a Clinical Fellowship under the supervision of an individual with their ASHA CCC
  • Currently enrolled in a masters or doctoral program in SLP or audiology


If an attendee is not an ASHA member or CCC holder but meets any of the above criteria, they may inform the ASHA CE Registry of their eligibility by visiting this site.

Licensing Boards: Most state licensing boards DO accept CEUs earned online (usually classified as home-study credits). Some state boards do, however, place a limit to the number of credits that can be earned via home study/online courses. For the most current information, we suggest that you contact your licensing board or agency to verify acceptance policies and/or any credit limits related to home-study courses prior to registering for this course.

Additional accrediting agencies by which McRory Pediatrics is an approved CE provider:

  • BACB - Provider # OP-17-2724
  • QABA - Provider # QCB-1730


FAQ

  • Will I receive a certificate?

    Yes, after you complete the course and pass an exam (80% or higher) you will receive a certificate as proof of course completion.

  • Will there be any supplemental teaching materials?

    Yes, this course includes a variety of checklists, assessment forms and data sheets for your personal use.

  • Will I have access to course instructors contact information in the event that I have questions after the course?

    Yes, you will have access to the instructors e-mail addresses and are welcome to e-mail any questions related to the course that you may have.

Testimonials

What people said about this course . . .

“This course was extremely informative and well presented!"

Sophie Prudencio, MA, BCBA

“This course was extremely informative and well presented! The objectives and material were executed thoroughly. I would highly recommend this course to anyone seeking to learn more about facilitating language development in children with ASD!”

"This course is a must-attend training to increase a clinician's toolbox of strategies that bridges the gap between ABA and Speech. . ."

Kristine Cu, MS, BCBA

"Clinicians are often at a loss as to how to design individualized programs for pre-verbal children. This course is a must-attend training to increase a clinician’s toolbox of strategies that bridges the gap between ABA and Speech. Nikki McRory proceeds logically and effectively by first introducing the research behind these strategies, then detailing the assessments that drive the program plans, and finally presenting the strategies through clear instructions and modeling. This course will demonstrate how easily and systematically clinicians can design a program that will help children generate their first words using behavioral momentum and a child’s motor imitation repertoire. Get excited and let your creative juices flow by learning about these promising interventions in functional communication!"

"It was a wonderful course."

Eva Rincon

"I have never received such detailed information on prerequisites for vocal language. This course is full of video clips and forms to go along."

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