Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Time: 19:30–20:30 (SAST)
Price: R120 incl VAT / ~$7.50
CPD: 1 CPD point
SACE accreditation applied for

Title: Assessment of Children with Complex Communication Needs

About the Talk:
As the population of children with complex communication needs continues to grow, effective assessment is increasingly critical. This presentation explores assessment approaches for children with severe cognitive impairments who may be minimally verbal or non-speaking. Attendees will examine current evidence-based practice, available assessment tools and strategies for identifying a meaningful starting point for intervention, including the evaluation of communication across modalities such as gestures, sign, pictures and AAC.

Presenter: Nora Knijf (Speech and Language Therapist)

About the Presenter:
Nora Knijf is a Speech and Language Therapist with over 12 years of experience supporting children with diverse and complex communication needs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Language Therapy from Stellenbosch University and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Intervention from the University of Pretoria. Nora has worked across public health, private practice and education settings in South Africa and the Cayman Islands. She currently works in a special needs school and as part of the Early Intervention Programme of the Cayman Islands under the Department of Education Services. Her areas of interest include early intervention, autism, speech sound disorders, literacy and AAC, with a strong passion for collaborative, strengths-based and evidence-informed practice.