Music Therapy to Promote Language and Communication Development in the Young Child: Therapeutic Applications of American Sign Language and Music
Presented by Lora Heller, MS, LCAT, MT-BC | November 6, 2025 7PM EST
1 HOUR | LIVE ONLINE via ZOOM | INTERACTIVE
This webinar explores different tools and strategies to support language acquisition and communication skills in young children. By integrating American Sign Language (ASL) with music based activities, early childhood teachers, therapists, and other professionals working with young children can create a multi-sensory learning environment that enhances language comprehension and expressive communication. Participants will learn about evidence-based strategies, developmental milestones in early childhood communication, and how combining rhythm, melody, and movement with ASL can foster engagement, social interaction, and cognitive growth. Practical examples, case studies, and interactive demonstrations will offer attendees valuable techniques they can apply in therapeutic, educational, or home settings to encourage meaningful communication in young learners.
DISCLOSURES [Lora Heller, MS, LCAT, MT-BC]
Financial Disclosures – Lora Heller, MS, LCAT, MT-BC has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Nonfinancial Disclosures - Lora Heller, MS, LCAT, MT-BC has no relevant nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
PURCHASE THIS WEBINARObjectives
The participants will be able to…
1. Describe one way music therapy can promote early language and communication development in young children.
2. Explain at least one benefit of integrating American Sign Language (ASL) with music in therapeutic and educational settings.
3. List one or more song(s) that support a specific area of language development for Deaf or hearing children.
4. Identify at least one area of the brain that processes music and one that processes language.
Agenda
1. Welcome and Introduction (7:00 PM - 7:05 PM)
2. The Importance of Multi-Sensory Learning for Language Acquisition (7:05 PM - 7:15 PM)
3. Understanding Developmental Milestones in Early Childhood Communication (7:15 PM - 7:25 PM)
4. Integrating American Sign Language (ASL) in Early Childhood Settings (7:25 PM - 7:35 PM)
5. Using Music and Movement to Enhance Language Skills (7:35 PM - 7:45 PM)
6. Evidence-Based Strategies for Supporting Communication Development (7:45 PM - 7:55 PM)
7. Q&A and Closing Remarks (7:55 PM - 8:00 PM)
DURATION: 1 HOUR
Registration/Processing Fee: $9
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel within 30 days before the event, the registration fee is not refundable. However, you will receive a credit for the registration fee which can be applied to another Young Child Learning event within the following 12 months. The processing fee is non-refundable.
This Webinar Offers The Follwoing CE Certificate/Credits
1.0 ASWB CE CREDITS (BEGINNER LEVEL)
Association of Social Work Boards
(ASWB)
Provider Code #1366
Approval Period: 3/30/25-3/30/28
Young Child Learning, #1366, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/25-3/30/28. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 General continuing education credits.
This program is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUS (Introductory Level)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA Certification Maintenance Standards require that all certificate holders (CCC-A and CCC-SLP) must accumulate 30 Certificate Maintenance Hours (CMHs) of professional development during each 3-year certification maintenance interval in order to maintain their ASHA Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCC).
How to obtain your certificate:
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You MUST attend the webinar from start to finish
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You MUST fill out the attendance form (will be sent via email)
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You MUST ANSWER the QUIZ (For ASHA)
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You MUST answer & submit the evaluation form after the webinar (will be sent via email)
ASHA will reflect your CEU credits on your ASHA CEU Registry within 45 days.
Contact [email protected] for any issues/concerns.
Speaker's Biography
Lora Heller, MS, LCAT, MT-BC developed Baby Fingers in 2000 after her son Zeke began to sign at 6 1/2 months old! Read their story. She is a music therapist and teacher of the Deaf; Lora is also a certified educator of infant massage (CEIM). In addition to directing Baby Fingers, Lora provides music psychotherapy at the Motherhood Center in NYC and she is Special Projects Coordinator and Adjunct Instructor in Music Therapy at Molloy University on Long Island. As part of the ‘Molloy Mission,’ Lora spent time in Jamaica providing music therapy to teen girls in a safe-house. Her Reflections on Practice was published in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy in Summer, 2021. You can find her podcast in imagine early childhood music therapy online journal about her work with Peter, a young child with Fragile X Syndrome who used ASL as a primary means to communicate. Lora is author of Sign Language ABC, Sign Language for Kids: A Fun and Easy Guide to American Sign Language, and Baby Fingers: Teaching your Baby to Sign (board book series) with Sterling Publishers, and the ASL Content Consultant for the 2nd series of Story Time with Signs & Rhymes picture books written by Dawn Babb Prochovnic (Abdo/Magic Wagon). She served as the technical editor for Baby Sign Language by Diane Ryan (DK Books/Penguin Random House). Her picture book, Adventures with Opal: The Muggy, Buggy Day was released in February. Lora has also written for national parenting magazines. She is a frequent presenter at music therapy and early childhood conferences and the on-line expert for various parenting programs.
Host's Biography
Dr. Scott Mesh is the Director of Young Child Learning and the CEO and Co-Founder of Los Niños Services which serves 2,000 young children with special needs each year through homecare and center services. He is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with young children and their families and is an expert on assessing young children for developmental disabilities and autism. He has helped thousands of parents over the years make the transition to gaining help for their children through early childhood special education services. He is a leader in early childhood development and working effectively with parents.
System Requirements
You can access this webinar from various devices and platforms, on both PC and Mac desktops/laptops, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices. Our system requirements for these follow below.
Minimum system requirements
- Browser: The latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera for desktop/laptop
- A broadband connection with a minimum speed of 5 Mbps
PC specific requirements
- Platform: Windows 8.1 or higher with the latest updates installed
- RAM: 4GB or more
- Video: Graphics output capability
- Sound: Sound output capability
Mac specific requirement
- Platform: Mac OS X 10.12 or higher with the latest updates installed
- RAM: 4GB or more
- Video: Graphics output capability
- Sound: Sound output capability
Mobile specific requirements
- iOS 15.0 and above
- Android 7.0 and above
Grievance Policy & Procedure
Young Child Learning will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants.
The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of Young Child Learning. All grievances must be submitted in writing (via e-mail or mail) within 7 days after purchase of the webinar. Any supporting documents must be included with the submitted complaint.
For all grievances, contact information (name, phone number, and email) must be provided in the case that the Young Child Learning team may need clarification.
Submit complaints in writing to Young Child Learning, 505 8th Avenue, Floor 12A Room 02, New York, NY 10018 or via email at [email protected].
Special Accommodations or Requests
Individuals in need of special accommodations should contact the Admin, Cari Laroza at (212) 787-9700 ext. 3330 to make a request. Include name, contact info, webinar details, and accommodation needs. Our team will review requests and respond within 7-12 business days. Confidentiality is maintained. Compliance with ADA is assured.
Requests for special accommodations must be made prior to purchasing the webinar.
