Every Move Counts A Presentation by Susan Blackwell Courtney Greer

Every Move Counts: What is It? Every move counts is an assessment and curriculum that provides activites, intervention strategies and recording forms that can be used to help teach and empower children and adults who are unable to use a formal language systems to communication effectively.

Every Move Counts: What Populations is it Appropriate for? Individuals of any age with the following disabilities –Autism –Developmental Delays –Severe Multiple Impairments –An inability to communicate effectively

Every Move Counts: What does it assess? Every move counts is designed to assess sensory information from the individual and to use that to help establish a form of communication so that the child/individual gains some control over his/her environment.

Communication Process Every move counts has a four step communication process. The chart to the left shows the hierarchy of skills. –Identification –Definition –Elicitation and refinemnet –Generalization and expansion process

Assessment The assessment part of Every Move counts includes two parts –Sensory Probe – which helps determine likes, dislikes and preferences of the individual over several tries. It also elicits a sensory response. –Communication Assessment – where information is either gathered from the sensory probe or through interviews with the caregivers.

Positioning Another key element to eliciting sensory responses from an individual with multiple impairments is correct positioning so they can have optimal response to the stimulation. Every move counts provides a variety of positions to use with these individuals to provide for optimal stimulation and response.

Organizational Chart To the right you will find the organizational chart that will help you implement every move counts with a student with multiple impairments.

Levels Every move counts works in a systematic progression. –There are Four levels of response –Each level contains the following elements Purpose Entry level descriptors Characteristics Goals and objectives Procedures Data collection consideration Response levels and reinforcement.

Levels Continued These levels present a continuum of strategies that may be implemented to enhance an individual’s ability to interact with the environment. The ideas presented are meant to guide and not to dictate the process.

Flexibility The program requires a certain amount of creativity and flexibility on the part of the professional who is working through the approach. The individual professional or caregiver might have additional ideas for stimulation with individuals. No two individuals are going to react to the same stimuli in the same way.

Resources Every move counts comes with several additional resources. –Parent guide –Companion guide –Manual All of these provide types of activities and stimulation that are most likely to elicit a response.

Summary Every move counts is a assessment and curriculum tool designed to enhance the communication of individuals with multiple impairments. Every move counts includes assessment tools as well as activities to help promote the participation of the individual Every move counts can be customized according to the individual it is being used with.

Summary cont. Every move counts provides positioning tips for working with the designated population. Every move counts offers goals and objectives that can be related to and transferred into IFSP and IEP goals for the individual.