Michele Ricamato, MA, CCC-SLP: Rethinking Communication Assessment and Intervention
2-Day Training Event for Speech Pathologists |
Occupational Therapists |
Psychologists
|
Educators and Teachers |
Support Staff |
Parents and Caregivers
Arkaba Hotel
Thursday 5 and Friday 6 November 2026
Adelaide, South Australia
Places Are Limited
Rethinking Communication Assessment and Intervention
Do communication assessments ever leave you unsure where a child is really at, and what to do next, especially for parents trying to understand how to help their child?
A 2-Day In Person Training Event with Michele Ricamato MA, CCC-SLP
Thursday 5 November and Friday 6 November 2026
Adelaide, South Australia
Arkaba Hotel
150 Glen Osmond Road, Fullarton SA 5063
Places Are Limited
Hosted by My Therapy House
Why This Training Matters
Many communication assessments were developed for children who can sit, attend, respond on cue, and show their skills in structured ways.
But many children communicate differently.
They may:
- Shut down or become distressed during assessment
- Use little or no spoken language
- Communicate through movement, behaviour, emotion, or play
- Show their understanding primarily within relationship
These children are often described as hard to assess or not ready.
Yet they are communicating all the time.
This conference takes a neuroaffirming approach to communication assessment and support, recognising that differences in communication are not deficits. It focuses on understanding how a child communicates, rather than measuring them against a narrow standard.
About The Event
This 2 day in-person training event introduces communication assessment and intervention through a developmental, relationship based, and neuroaffirming lens.
Led by Michele Ricamato, Speech Language Pathologist, Profectum Faculty Member, and DIR Expert Clinician, the event explores how communication develops through regulation, connection, shared attention, and intention.
Michele is a co-author of the DOLLI – Developmental Observation of Language Links to Intervention developmental communication framework, which was developed to support children who communicate differently and find traditional communication assessments difficult.
Rather than relying on structured tasks or scores, the framework focuses on observing communication as it naturally occurs in play, interaction, and everyday moments, and using those observations to guide respectful, meaningful next steps.
What You Will Learn and Take Away
This event is an introduction to seeing communication through a developmental, relationship based, and neuroaffirming lens.
By the end of the two days, participants will
- Have a clearer understanding of how communication develops in levels, not just through words
- Be more confident recognising communication beyond speech, including through play, movement, emotion, and relationship
- Understand what traditional communication assessments often miss and why
- Gain awareness of what needs to be observed when a child communicates differently
Participants will also
- Walk away with a small number of practical strategies that can be used immediately at home, in therapy, or in educational settings
- Have clearer language to explain a child’s communication to families and teams in a respectful, neuroaffirming way
- Engage in real case discussions, exploring how to understand what a child is communicating and how to translate assessment insights into meaningful support
- Know where to access further learning, training, and resources to deepen their understanding
Important Information
This training event will not be recorded.
The content is delivered in person to support a relationship-based learning environment. The workshop will include extensive video footage of children and real interactions, which requires privacy, safety, and respectful use.
This allows for deeper discussion, shared reflection, and ethical use of real examples in a contained and supportive space.
Who This Workshop Is For
Speech Pathologists
Occupational Therapists
Psychologists
Educators and teachers
Support staff
Parents and caregivers
No prior experience with the framework is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this training about?
This training event explores communication assessment and intervention when traditional models do not work. It takes a neuroaffirming, developmental, and relationship based approach to understanding how children communicate and how that understanding guides meaningful support.
Why would I want to attend?
Many parents, therapists, and educators attend because they feel unsure where to start. Assessment results may not reflect what they see day to day, or intervention plans may feel disconnected from the child. This workshop offers clarity, a different way of understanding communication, and a clear foundation for knowing what to support next.
Who is Michele Ricamato?
Michele Ricamato is an experienced Speech Language Pathologist with decades of clinical experience supporting children who communicate differently. She is a Profectum Faculty Member, a DIR Expert Clinician, and a co developer of the DOLLI – Developmental Observation of Language Links to Intervention framework.
Michele is also the co-founder of Soaring Eagle Academy in Chicago, a school supporting children with complex communication and developmental needs through relationship based practice.
What will Michele be covering?
Michele will explore how communication develops through regulation, connection, shared attention, intention, play, movement, emotion, and relationship. The workshop looks at how assessment and intervention inform each other and how to support children who do not show their skills easily in structured or test based settings.
What will I learn?
You will learn how to:
- Recognise communication beyond speech
- Understand what traditional assessments often miss
- Observe how a child communicates in real interactions
- Translate assessment insights into intervention
- Feel more confident knowing where to start and what to support next
What framework is used in the training?
The workshop uses the DOLLI – Developmental Observation of Language Links to Intervention developmental communication framework.
What is DOLLI - Developmental Observation of Language Links to Intervention?
This is a developmental, relationship-based communication framework developed by Sima Gerber and Michele Ricamato. It focuses on observing communication as it naturally occurs in play, interaction, and everyday moments, rather than relying on structured tasks or scores. Its purpose is to understand developmental communication and guide respectful, meaningful intervention.
Is this event only about the developmental Communication framework?
No. The framework provides the tools for observation and assessment, but the event is broader than the tool itself. It supports understanding how communication and language develop and highlights foundational areas that are often missed when traditional assessment models are used.
Will I be able to use the framework once the workshop is finished?
This workshop does not provide certification to formally use the DOLLI – Developmental Observation of Language Links to Intervention framework. Instead, it offers a strong foundation for understanding the framework, how assessment links directly to intervention, and how to look at a child differently. Participants are also guided on where to access further information and training if they wish to pursue formal learning.
Can parents use the framework?
Learning about the communication framework helps parents make sense of how their child communicates, what supports development, and why certain approaches work better than others. This shared understanding supports stronger collaboration with speech pathologists and educators and helps parents adjust how they interact, play, and connect with their child in ways that nurture communication growth.
Who is this training for?
- Speech Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
- Educators and teachers
- Allied health professionals
- Support staff
- Students
- Parents and caregivers
Is this training useful for students?
Yes. It is very valuable for students who want strong foundations in understanding communication development and intervention, especially when children do not fit traditional models.
How does this apply to non speech pathology allied health professionals?
The training supports allied health professionals across disciplines to better understand the children and clients they work with. It helps refine observation, communication, and interaction skills and supports more effective collaboration within teams.
Is this training suitable for parents?
Yes.
Parents gain a clearer understanding of how their child communicates and how to support development without pressure. No professional background is required.
What if my child does not speak?
The communication framework is especially relevant for children who use little or no spoken language. Communication is explored through movement, behaviour, emotion, play, and relationship.
What if my child does speak?
The communication framework is also relevant for children who speak but struggle with regulation, connection, understanding, or meaningful use of language. Speech alone does not always reflect communication development.
What if my child is a teenager?
The communication framework applies across ages. While examples often involve younger children, the concepts are highly relevant for older children and teenagers.
How does this relate to educators?
Educators gain clearer ways to recognise communication in the classroom, understand behaviour as communication, and adjust responses and environments to support engagement and learning.
Do I need to understand DIR Floortime to attend?
No. No prior knowledge of DIR Floortime is required. Concepts are explained clearly and accessibly.
Will there be time for questions?
Yes. There will be dedicated time for questions, discussion, and shared reflection throughout the workshop.
Is this training event online or face to face?
This is a face to face training event. The in-person format supports relationship based learning, shared reflection, and ethical discussion of real examples.
Will the training be recorded?
No. The training will not be recorded to protect privacy and confidentiality, as sensitive real case material is shared.
Will there be an online option?
Not at this stage. The training is currently offered face to face only.
Will I receive a certificate and professional development hours?
Yes. This two-day training provides 14 hours of professional development. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided.
Can this training be covered by the NDIS?
Yes, for self-managed NDIS participants where a child has a goal that directly addresses communication. Families are encouraged to confirm individual circumstances with their plan manager or support coordinator.
As a parent, should I bring my child’s therapists and teachers?
Yes. It is highly recommended to attend together as a team. This supports shared understanding, common language, and a consistent approach across home, therapy, and educational settings.
Is there a discount for groups or parent couples?
A 10% discount is offered for groups of 10 or more.
Is there a discount for My Therapy House parents?
Yes. If your child attends My Therapy House up until November 2026, you are eligible for a discounted ticket. Please speak with your child’s therapist to confirm whether the workshop will be useful for you. If appropriate, reception will provide you with a discount code. Discounted tickets can be purchased at the end of October 2026.
Where is the event held?
The event is held at the Arkaba Hotel in Frewville. It is approximately 5 km from the Adelaide city centre and easily accessible by car, taxi, Uber or public transport.
Is there accommodation onsite?
There is accommodation available onsite at the Arkaba Hotel. Room rates are not available yet. Please keep an eye on the Arkaba Hotel website for updates and booking details as they are released.
What facilities are around the Arkaba Hotel?
The Arkaba Hotel has on-site dining, bars, a sports bar with large screens, live entertainment, gaming room, free parking and Wi-Fi. Nearby you’ll find cafes, restaurants and eateries in the Fullarton area, plus easy access to shops and it’s only minutes from Adelaide CBD.
Professional Development
This 2-day in person training event provides 14 hours of professional development across two full days.
A Certificate of Attendance will be provided.