Gillian Blustein

534 Brookdale Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5M 1R9647-300-3005

EDUCATION

Certificate as a Basic DIR/FLOORTIME provider CertifiedAugust 2015

Course provided by Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning Disorders (ICDL)

Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) Graduate Certificate Graduated August 2014

Durham College, Oshawa, Ontario

  • Achieved Honour Roll standing

Honours Bachelors of Arts, Psychology Major Graduated April 2013

Western University: Huron College, London, Ontario

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Member: Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA)
  • Workshop on Essentials of Praxis Intervention for Children with Autism by Kim Barthel (February 2015)
  • Tips & Techniques for Successful Articulation Remediation Workshop by Char Boshart (December 2014)
  • Communication Writing Aids Alternative and Augmentative Communication workshop at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, (May 2014)
  • Motor Speech Disorders Workshop (November 2013): Assessment and Treatment of Children with Motor Speech Disorderspresented by Debra Goshulak
  • CDAAC National Conference (October 2013)
  • Everyday Sign Certificate: Using Language with Young Children (October 2013)
  • Trained in Standard First Aid and CPR-C

RELEVANT SKILLS

  • Gained over 1000hours of indirect and direct experience with infants, pre-school children, school-aged children and adults in speech-language therapy.
  • Able to work under the supervision of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), and Audiologist.
  • Comfortable using Augmentative Communication devices such as Boardmaker, Big Mack, Go Talk, SpringBoard speech output devices

WORK EXPERIENCE

Communicative Disorder Assistant (part-time) October 2014- Present

Ellen Yack and Associates, Toronto Ontario

  • Work under the supervision of a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and provide1:1 Speech and Language therapyto preschoolers and school-aged children with a range of challenges.
  • Treat a wide variety of goals outlined by the SLP such as: Articulation, Augmentative/Alternative communication, Early Language Development, Expressive Language, Receptive language, Pragmatic language/social communication, Literacy, and Phonology.
  • Implement the DIR/Floortime model into therapy sessions.
  • Worked one-on-one to help integrate a student with autism into an integrated pre-school classroom.
  • Gave communication strategies and support to the classroom teacher.
  • Implement strategies from the Zones of Regulation; a framework to simplify how we think about and manage our feelings and states; using sensory strategies, calming strategies, and thinking strategies to help self-regulate behaviours and feelings.
  • Provide co-treatments with Occupational therapists.
  • Use sensory supports and self-regulation strategies in speech/language sessions.

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Communicative Disorders Assistant Field Placement January - February 2014
Zareinu Educational Centre, Toronto Ontario

  • Provided direct therapy to infants, pre-schoolers and school-aged children with a focus on alternative and augmentative forms of communication.
  • Used a combination of sign, speech, pictures, and AAC devices to communicate with clients.
  • Trained and programmed SpringBoard speech output device.
  • Created communication books, first/then boards, and picture boards for sequencing.
  • Delivered an outreach program for elementary school students focusing on inclusion of peers with special needs.

Communicative Disorders Assistant Field Placement February - April 2014

Spark Therapy, Toronto Ontario

  • Provided speech therapy to preschoolers, teenagers, adults, and AAC users at community programs and private residences under the supervision of an SLP and CDA.
  • Goals worked on included: voice and fluency, auditory bombardment, accent reduction, and articulation.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Camp Counsellor

-Camp Aim, a therapeutic camp for children with all abilities, Toronto, Ontario (Summer 2013)

Teacher Assistant

-Centennial Child and Infant Centre, Toronto, Ontario (Summers 2012 - 2013)

  • Assisted in hands-on learning program for educational and social immersion to meet needs for children with Down syndrome, Autism and Cerebral Palsy.

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

-Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario (April - September 2013)

  • Taught swimming to children from 6 months to 16 years with diagnoses of Autism, Cerebral Palsy,and to individuals who use alternate and augmentative forms of communication.

-Camp Tamarack, Bracebridge, Ontario (Summers 2009 - 2012)

  • Swim Program Supervisor: mentoring 12 swim staff and responsible for 308 campers ages 6 to 16 with varying swim skill levels; wrote and reviewed over 300 swim report cards

-Zodiac Swim School, Toronto, Ontario (2008 - 2015)

REFERENCES:

Ellen Yack, Director of Ellen Yack and Associates, Occupational Therapist
416-481-2446,

Ellen Howard, Director/Owner of Camp Tamarack and Zodiac Swim School
416 789-1989 (ext 100),