Innovative Strategies for Evaluating and Treating Selective Mutism
This workshop provides an in-depth overview of selective mutism including characteristics of the disorder and details for differential diagnosis. Methods of accurate assessment with consideration of speech and language needs are included. The presenters share implementation practices for two recently published programs (EXPRESS and ECHO) that focus on improving communication and reducing anxiety in children and teens with selective mutism. Experiential work and case study reviews are provided. Less...
Learning Objectives
- List 3 defining characteristics of selective mutism.
- Explain 3 essential components of a comprehensive assessment for selective mutism.
- Discuss methods for clinical assessment including input from school professionals and collaboration with family members
- List the 5 levels of communication comfort within EXPRESS for expanding vocalization and verbalization with children who have selective mutism.
- Discuss the progression through the EXPRESS Program for building communication and language skills.
- Describe 3 methods of vocal control in the ECHO Program for transition from nonverbal to verbal communication in children with selective mutism.
- Discuss targeted skills within modules of the ECHO Program to build spontaneous communication in social interactions.
Target Audience
Learning Levels
- Intermediate
Friday, October 24, 2025
in-person or virtually!
150 S Warner Rd, King of Prussia, PA, 19408
08:30 AM EDT - 05:30 PM EDT
Click Here to Register
About the speakers
Evelyn R. Klein, PhD., CCC/SLP., BCS-CL
Cesar E. Ruiz, SLPD., CCC/SLP., BCS-S
Donna Spillman Kennedy, MS., CCC/SLP
treat selective mutism while addressing receptive and expressive language skills. Donna provides a range of assessment and treatment services to students at school, at home, and in the community through Integrated Speech Pathology, LLC where she is a partner. She has served as an adjunct professor teaching lecture classes and supervising graduate students for over 25 years at 3 different universities in NJ. Donna has been an active member of the New Jersey Speech–Language–Hearing Association for over 35 years and is the current President of the association. Additional memberships include the American Speech SIGs 12, 16, and 20, The Council of State Association Presidents, New Jersey Coalition for the Advancement of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (NJCART), and the Selective Mutism Association.
Sharon Lee Armstrong, PhD.
Agenda
| Time | Session | Presenters |
| 8:00-8:30 | Registration and Continental Breakfast | |
| 8:30-9:00 | Introduction to Selective Mutism (SM): Definition and Characteristics of SM | Evelyn Klein, PhD., CCC/SLP., BCS- CL |
| 9:00-11:15 | Validated Assessment Measures and Evaluation Process: How to Approach and Interact with Children and Teens with SM, Rating Scales, Observations, and Questionnaires,Standardized Assessment Tools and Adaptations within the School Environment | Cesar Ruiz, SLPD., CCC/SLP., BCS-S
|
| 11:15-11:30 | Break | |
| 11:30-1:00 | EXPRESS – Part I: Academic Challenges for Children with SM, Introduction and Foundation of the EXPRESS Program, The 5 Levels of Communication Comfort, How to Promote Communication for Young Children using Leveled Language Activities, Progressing through 12 Steps of the EXPRESS Program to Build Communication and Language Skills | Donna Spillman-Kennedy, MS., CCC/SLP
|
| 1:00-1:45 | Lunch (Included) | |
| 1:45-2:45 | EXPRESS – Part II: Video Demonstrations for Integrated Activities for the 5 Levels using Storybooks | Donna Spillman-Kennedy, MS., CCC/SLP
|
| 2:45-3:45 | ECHO – Part I: Hierarchical elements of the ECHO program for face-to-face treatment and teletherapy, ECHO Module 1 - Vocal Control for voice from vocalization to verbalization | Cesar Ruiz, SLPD., CCC/SLP., BCS-S
|
| 3:45-5:15 | ECHO – Part II: ECHO Module 2 - Building pragmatic language skills for functional communication including interactive activities, ECHO Module 3 - Conversational role-play simulating real-life situation within a cognitive-behavioral framework, Case reviews - progress with ECHO | Evelyn Klein, PhD., CCC/SLP., BCS-CL
|
| 5:15-5:30 | Wrap-up and Discussion | Evelyn Klein, PhD., CCC/SLP., BCS-CL Cesar Ruiz, SLPD., CCC/SLP., BCS-S Donna Spillman-Kennedy, MS., CCC/SLP Sharon Lee Armstrong, PhD. |
CE Information - Earn 8 CE Credit Hours
CE Approvals
In-Person
American Speech Language Hearing Association
Virtual
American Speech Language Hearing Association
CE Process Info
Each professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by his/her licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend "live" (in real-time) for the duration of the training to earn CE credits. Total number of Continuing Education/Professional Development Hours = 8.0 for a total number of ASHA CEUs = 0.8
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Disclosure
DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPSCE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer:
Dr. Evelyn R. Klein, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
Financial Disclosure:
▪Receiving stipend for presenting at this conference
▪Salaried tenured full professor in the Communication Sciences & Disorders Department at La Salle University
▪Director of the CASTLE Lab for Comprehensive Assessment of Selective Mutism at La Salle University
▪Co-owner of Klein & Ruiz Speech-Language Pathology, LLC
▪Co-author of the EXPRESS (EXPanding Receptive and Expressive Skills ThroughStories) Program. All proceeds from the sale of EXPRESS are donated and godirectly from the publishing company to the Selective Mutism Research Institute tosupport training and research
▪Co-author of ECHO: A Vocal Language Program for Easing Anxiety in Conversation.Receiving royalties for this published program
Non-Financial Disclosure:
▪Scientific advisory board member of the Selective Mutism Association
▪Member of the planning committee for this workshop
Cesar E. Ruiz, SLP.D, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Financial Disclosure:
▪Receiving stipend for presenting at this meeting
▪Professor Emeritus in the Communication Sciences & Disorders Department at La Salle University
▪Co-Director of the CASTLE Lab for Comprehensive Assessment of Selective Mutism at La Salle University
▪Co-owner of Klein & Ruiz Speech-Language Pathology, LLC
▪Co-author of ECHO: A Vocal Language Program for Easing Anxiety in Conversation.Receiving royalties for this published program
Non-Financial Disclosure:
▪Member of the planning committee for this workshop
Donna Spillman-Kennedy
Financial Disclosure:
▪Receiving an honorarium for the presentation
▪Member of the conference planning team
Non-Financial Disclosure:
▪On the Planning Committee of this workshop
▪NJSHA President
▪Member of ASHA
▪Member NJCART
▪Selective Mutism Association Member
Sharon Lee Armstrong
Financial Disclosure:
▪Receiving stipend for presenting at this conference
▪Salaried tenured full professor in the Psychology Department at La Salle University
▪Co-author of the EXPRESS (EXPanding Receptive and Expressive Skills Through Stories) Program. All proceeds from the sale of EXPRESS are donated and go directly from the publishing company to the Selective Mutism Research Institute to support training and research.
Non-Financial Disclosure:
▪Member of the planning committee for this workshop