The Hanen Program for Parents

More Than Words (MTW): More Than Words - The Hanen Program for Parents® is a family-focused program that gives parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and related social communication difficulties, practical tools to help their children communicate. The More Than Words program is geared towards non-verbal communicators. It emphasizes the child's everyday activities as the context for learning to communicate. The program consists of eight two-hour training lectures and three thirty minute video feedback sessions (VFB) spanning 8 consecutive weeks.

It Takes Two to Talk (IT4): It Takes Two to Talk - The Hanen Program for Parents® is a well-known model of family-focused early intervention for young children with expressive and/or receptive language delays. The goal of It Takes Two to Talk is to enable parents to become their child's primary language facilitator, thereby maximizing the child's opportunities for communication development in everyday situations. It Takes Two To Talk is designed for toddlers and preschool-age children with specific language impairment, as well as for children with cognitive and developmental delays under the age of five. The program consists of eight two-hour training lectures and three thirty minute video feedback (VFB) sessions spanning 8 consecutive weeks.

The next program will consist of:

*An 8 week intervention block
*12 total sessions including 8 two-hour group seminar lectures and 3 individual video feedback sessions, and one orientation
*17.5 total hours of training

Orientation Meeting

Come and learn more about The Hanen Program for Parents! To reserve your spot please send an email with your contact information including your name, your child's name and age, your phone number, and the best times to call to: aliciasperrazzaslp@hotmail.com

The next MTW orientation meeting will be held on:

*January 9, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.

The meetings will be held at the Home Clinic of Alicia Sperrazza, M.A. CCC-SLP:

*129 E. Evans St., Orlando, FL 32804

Program Options

The Hanen Program Only

*Parents commit to attend 8 seminar lectures and 3 VFB sessions

*Parents must arrange childcare for their dependents during the seminar

*Flat rate: $500 for 12 sessions...roughly $40/lecture or $28.50/hour

*For the flat rate parents receive 17.5 hours of training over 9 consecutive weeks

Clients with Early Steps as a Pay Source

IMPORTANT: Please disregard the information provided in "Program Options" as this information does not pertain to Early Steps clients.

Child Care: Both parents and members of the immediate family who are communication partners to the child are encouraged to attend the program. CHILDCARE IS NOT PROVIDED DURING THE LECTURES. Appropriate arrangements must be made privately. Children are required only during video feedback and review.

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Mama Duck Theory

Years ago, I made a mental note while my friend and I were shopping. A woman and her son were walking through the aisles. We encountered them several times throughout the store. Each time, the mother was either behind the cart scolding the child for wandering too far ahead or watching the child walking ahead of her. I thought about how this situation sounds similar to several families I've encountered over the years. And I thought, as I always do, about how funny and different human behavior is when compared to other animal behavior...like ducks...and I formulated The Mama Duck Theory. The theory states this:

Humans are the only species to let the young walk ahead of them rather than behind or on top.

I thought more about ducks. "Why DO the mama ducks go first?" The immediate answers I came up with were:

To scout for dangers ahead and protect from predators.
To show them how to do something (walk, eat, swim, play, etc) the correct way.
To teach them what NOT to do.

So, my next question was, "Why DO we let our children walk ahead of us and what message are we sending in this action?" It's just a theory... :)