Off-Site (Webinar/DVD)

Selective Mutism Workshops/Presentations

Presented by: Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum or staff

All Workshops can be presented in-person: SPEAKING FEES, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, or consider purchasing a Conference CD-ROM for staff in-services, workshops, and learning about Selective Mutism!

Presentation topics:
(Can be adjusted to particular audience and target areas)
Lectures below start at minimum of 1-1/2 hours.
Can choose variety of lectures below to fill half or full day presentations

Challenges of raising a child with Selective Mutism and Anxiety
Preparation for the upcoming school year using key treatment strategies of Selective Mutism
Special Education and the Selectively Mute Child- IEP/504 plan development
Bilingual and Selectively Mute
Medication: Why/When/How-to use
Siblings of Selectively Mute Children
The Child with Selective Mutism in the Real World
Selective Mutism and other co-existing conditions
Behavioral Characteristics of Children with Selective Mutism
Anxiety and Mutism, What is the Connection?

Selective Mutism in School; Understanding, Evaluating and Accommodating
Excellent for school in-service/workshop trainings

Half Day Presentations

ABC's of Treating The Selectively Mute Child
When Silence Isn't Golden; Understanding and Treating Selective Mutism

Sample presentation itinerary

Contact US for more information/rates

Challenges of raising a child with Selective Mutism and Anxiety:
Mutism is just one of the many symptoms of Selective Mutism. Children with SM often endure social, emotional, and academic consequences as a result of lack of verbalization and as children age these challenges progress and become more pronounced. With effective treatment, most, if not all children overcome their mutism. However, challenges along the way can be difficult and frustrating for parents and children. This presentation will help parents COPE with the many challenges of raising an anxious SM child and at the same time, help parents help their children COPE with these same challenges.

Length: 1- 2 hours

Preparation for the upcoming school year using key treatment strategies of Selective Mutism
Summer is here, but the new school year is just around the corner for most children. Starting school can be scary for all children, but for the SM child, it can be downright terrifying. This workshop will help parents with various tactics to help prepare the anxious SM child for the upcoming school year. It is never too early to start, and many of the summer tactics recommended will help your child build the coping skills necessary to overcome their speaking anxiety.

Length: 1 hour

Special Education and the SM child- IEP/504 Plan Development
Selectively Mute children may need special accommodations within the school environment due to their 'inability to speak' within the classroom. In order to qualify for an IEP, SM children have to meet the criteria for Special Education. This workshop will focus on How to determine if a SM child needs a 504 plan or qualifies for Special Education services and needs an IEP plan-- Special considerations on HOW TO develop a 504 and IEP plan for the SM child will be discussed in detail.

Length: 1-3 hours

Siblings of Selectively Mute Children
Common questions that parents of SM children often ask center around concerns of having more than one child with SM, what to do when siblings seem to be 'mimicking' the SM child. Than how to handle the older sibling who does ALL the talking for the SM child. This lecture will focus on commonly asked questions about 'siblings' of SM children. Emphasis will be on Q&A from the audience.

Length: 1 hour

Bilingual and Selectively Mute
One of the precipitant factors for the development of mutism is speaking more than one language. This lecture will address why certain bilingual children develop mutism and others due not. Characteristics of SM bilingual children will be discussed and time will be spent on strategies that parents and teachers can to help bilingual children overcome Selective Mutism.

Length: 1 hour

Medication: Why/When/How to Use
Studies indicate that the best form of treatment is a combination of behavioral therapy and medication. This lecture will address such questions as when to CONSIDER the use of medication? What type of medication to use? How to minimize side effects and for how long should a child remain on medication? This presentation will consist of a lecture plus a Q&A session.

Length: 1-2 hours

The Child with Selective Mutism in the Real World
School is usually the location where SM children have the most difficult time; however, SM children often have great difficulty in other social situations, such public places, visiting with relatives, communicating with adults and meeting new people. Parents need advice on how to help their child in these various situations. Therefore, this presentation will focus on ways to help the SM child in the 'real world.'

Length: 1-2 hours

Selective Mutism and other co-existing conditions
I.E., separation anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, Sensory integration: A proportion of Selectively Mute Individuals also suffer from additional childhood disorders. This lecture will focus on the most common co-existing conditions that SM individuals have as well as how these conditions affect the treatment process. Time will be spent on specific ways parents and clinician can gear treatment strategies & tactics to accommodate the needs of SM children/adults with multiple disorders.

Length: 1-2 hours

Behavioral characteristics of children with Selective Mutism
The SMG~CAN has analyzed hundreds upon hundreds of detailed questionnaires that parents of SM children have filled out. Our results indicate that there are similar characteristics among these children that are more than just mere coincidence, but are a conglomeration of personality, physical and physiological characteristics that are woven together in a 'syndrome-like' manner. This lecture will discuss the many characteristics that SM children portray at home and in social situations.

Length: 1 to 1-1/2 hours

Anxiety and Mutism, What is the Connection?
The Majority of Selectively Mute children are socially anxious. In other words, anxiety is created when confronted with social situations, such as being in school. Because of the fear and anxiety created within the child, there are various bodily reactions that can be explained by 'anxiety' mechanisms that occur in the brain and the rest of the body. One of the results is muscle tension. This is evident by SM children being 'stiff,' almost frozen-looking at times, expressionless (blank 'look' and not smiling) and MUTISM. Although not proven, theories arise that mutism is the reaction to possible vocal cord paralysis due to muscle tension in the vocal cords! This lecture will focus on this theory and other 'anxiety symptoms that SM individuals portray.

Length: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Web Seminars
Similar to a workshop or conference but viewed from your own computer! Rather then traveling, you would have the opportunity to attend a web seminar by signing up in advance, and then receiving a confirmation that will allow you to attend the web Seminar.

You would then log onto a website supplied to you and be present for the workshop! You would view your screen and hear the lecture via your computer speakers. You could even ask questions (assuming you have a headset and microphone)! You would receive handouts for the lecture as well; however, while viewing the seminar you will be seeing the slides right on your computer. You can simply just take notes on your supplied handouts. Fees for attending the web seminar will be reflective by the length of the workshop.

Please note that web seminars can also be arranged as private web seminars. ie, for Schools, Groups of parents, Professional organizations etc. Contact us for more information.