2026 NSSLHA Conference
April 17, 2026
8:30am-3:00pm
West Chester University Graduate Center
1160 McDermott Dr, West Chester, PA 19380
Child Language Assessment and Intervention
This course meets the subject area requirement for ASHA Certification's Content Area 2 (formerly DEI).
Speaker
Rhea Paul, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, HASHA, BSC-CL
Rhea Paul, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a retired Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Sacred Heart University. She has been a Professor for over 40 years. She is author of over 100 refereed journal articles, over 50 book chapters, and 10 books. She received the Ritvo-Slifka Award for Innovative Clinical Research from the International Society for Autism Research in 2010 and Honors of the Association for lifetime achievement in 2014 from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She currently serves as Director of ABCs4ASD, an interprofessional training program for SLPs and OTs in enhancing literacy for students with ASD, funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs.
Financial Disclosures: Elsevier publishes Dr. Paul’s child language textbook, from which she receives royalties. Dr. Paul is also receiving an honorarium for this presentation.
Non-financial Disclosures: Dr. Paul has no non-financial relationships to disclose.
Program Description
Speech-language pathologists who work with children with language impairments are obligated to engage in up-to-date, best practices for assessment and intervention procedures. This program will provide an overview of recent evidence-based practices in the area of language assessment and intervention for children, including English Language Learners (ELLs).
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
- Discuss the role of standardized, observational, and dynamic assessment methods to identify language disorders in young children.
- List the mix of evidence-based assessment instruments that have been shown to be effective and efficient in identifying language disorders in young English Language Learners.
- Name the criterion for identifying evidence-based practices in child language pathology and distinguish evidence-based procedures from those that are not (for native English speakers and English Language Learners).
Time Ordered Agenda
This program is offered for up to .5 ASHA CEUs and 5 Act 48 Hours.
| Time | Agenda Item |
|---|---|
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Breakfast (included with registration) |
| 9:00 - 10:30 | Assessing toddlers with delayed language development |
| 10:30 - 12:30 | Identifying language disorders in English Language Learners |
| 12:30 - 1:30 | Lunch (included with registration) |
| 1:30 - 3:00 | Evidence-based language intervention for native English speakers and English Language Learners |
Policies and Statements
Privacy Policy
By providing your ASHA number and personal information you are authorizing the organization and/or a third party to report your earned hours and other information to ASHA.
Refund/Cancellation Policy
Cancellations will be accepted through April 10, 2026 (full refund).
Accommodations Policy
West Chester University is committed to providing an outstanding experience for all participants at its events. We strive for full access to the activities of these events and accommodations relating to mobility, hearing, vision, or other areas may be provided. We ask that requests for reasonable accommodations at the event be made as early as possible, and well in advance of the event, so we may explore options to best meet the individual’s need or provide a resource/suggestion to help meet the individual's requirement. Potential Barriers: Although we strive to make this event as accessible as possible to all members, some barriers may remain due to financial, logistical, facility, vendor or volunteer/staffing limitations. If the University is unable to provide an accommodation due to one or more of the reasons stated above and the individual feels attendance is no longer an option, the University will provide a full refund of the event registration fee.
Questions and Complaint Policy
Questions regarding event registration should be directed to Leighann Keegan. Questions about the program should be directed to Heather Forbes. Complaints arising during or after the event should be indicated in the program evaluation.
Professional/Nondiscrimination Policy
All individuals involved in PSHA CE activities—including planners, instructors, and committee members—are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, respect the rights and dignity of all individuals, and actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Expectations include:
- Inclusive course content that reflects diverse populations and experiences
- Use of non-discriminatory, person-first language
- Respect for diverse identities, perspectives, and access needs
- Acknowledgment of systemic barriers in communication sciences and disorders.
- Adherence to the ASHA Code of Ethics and the PSHA Code of Conduct
