Special Education Service Agency

Total Communication Webinar
2026-03-25 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Anchorage)
Register HERE
Presented by Dr. Susan P. Russell, Ed.D.
OverviewThis session will provide insight into the history and development of the Total Communication Philosophy in the field of Deaf Education. The participants will gain an understanding of the communication and instructional options that may be included in an instructional setting, including descriptions, rationale, and pros and cons to consider. A multi-modal approach, including the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) techniques, will also be addressed for students who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Deaf with additional disabilities.Learner Objectives:
1. Participants will learn the history and development of the Total Communication Philosophy.
2. Participants will recognize the communication and instructional options that may be included in the Total Communication philosophy and learn how each may play a role in an instructional setting for students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
3. Participants will identify possible pros and cons for consideration in developing instructional programming, as well as common misconceptions.
4. Participants will identify the potential role of Augmentative and Alternative Communication technology for students with multiple needs.

Navigating Autistic Shutdown and Burnout (Webinar)
2026-04-02 12:00 - 13:30
Register HERE
Presented by Jessica C. Kitchens, MS, MBA
Autistic individuals often find immeasurable struggles living in a world that primarily caters to the neurotypical individual. Sadly, these struggles are not decreasing but increasing due to the ever-changing pace of things. As life progresses and becomes more complex, so does the intensity of these individuals’ symptoms. One growing challenge that has magnified many efforts to endure through these complexities has been the prevalence of autistic shutdown and burnout.
Autistic therapist Jessica Kitchens has found that this particular battle is one that she and many of her clients face on a regular basis. Utilizing lived experience, a neurodiversity-affirming framework, and her proclivity for research, she shares her own struggles, along with the numerous factors, roots, and triggers that increase the prevalence of shutdown and burnout in all ages.
Learner Outcomes: Participants will gain insight into Autistic shutdown and burnout, enabling them to recognize signs and symptoms in those affected. Participants will deepen their understanding of the triggers and exacerbating factors contributing to Autistic shutdown and burnout, exploring their interconnectedness and implications. Participants will explore effective coping skills, techniques, and therapeutic approaches for addressing and managing Autistic shutdown and burnout, emphasizing a culturally responsive neurodiversity-affirming framework.
