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
1 HOUR | SELF-PACED | NON-INTERACTIVE | RECORDED NOVEMBER 2025
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.
This course is for Early Childhood Teachers, Therapists, and other Professionals who work with young children.
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 HEREObjectives
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. The Importance of Multi-Sensory Learning for Language Acquisition
2. Understanding Developmental Milestones in Early Childhood Communication
3. Integrating American Sign Language (ASL) in Early Childhood Settings
4. Using Music and Movement to Enhance Language Skills
5. Evidence-Based Strategies for Supporting Communication Development
DURATION: 1 HOUR, 5 MINUTES
This Webinar Offers The Following CE Certificate/Credits
You will select your Certificate or Credit Type after you complete the evaluation form within the course page. At the end of the form, you’ll be prompted to choose the Certificate/Credit Type you wish to receive.
1.0 CTLE CONTACT HOURS
New York State Education Department, Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)
Provider Code #23394
Approval Period: 3/29/22 - 3/29/2027
Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department's Office of Teaching Initiatives as an approved sponsor of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants.
1.0 NYSED SW CONTACT HOURS
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work (NYSED SW)
Provider Code #0365
Approval Period: 8/31/25 - 8/31/28
Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Young Child Learning maintains responsibility for the program. Social work professionals should contact their regulatory board to confirm course approval for continuing education credits.
1.0 NYSED OT CONTACT HOURS
New York State Education Department, Board of Occupational Therapy (NYSED OT)
Approval Period: 8/1/24 - 7/31/2027
New York State Board for Occupational Therapy Continuing Competency Hours Young Child Learning is an approved Continuing Education Provider by the New York State Board for Occupational Therapy. Young Child Learning maintains responsibility for the program. Occupational therapist professionals should contact their regulatory board to confirm course approval for continuing education credits.
1.0 NYSED PT CONTACT HOURS
New York State Education Department, Board of Physical Therapy (NYSED PT)
Approval Period: 7/6/2024- 7/5/2027
The New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, approved Young Child Learning as a sponsor of continuing education for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Please note that only those continuing education activities that take place on or after July 6, 2018 may be used by New York State licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to meet the requirements for re-registration of their licenses.
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.
1.0 NASP CE CREDITS
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Provider Code #1111
Approval Period: 4/1/25 - 4/1/28
This workshop provides NASP CPD credit for school psychologists. Young Child Learning is approved by NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) to offer continuing education for school psychologists. Young Child Learning maintains responsibility for the program. Contact Young Child Learning with any questions or concerns at (212) 787-9700 ext. 3330 or via email at [email protected].
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/credits:
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You MUST watch all the video lessons. Afterwards, you will automatically be given access to the post-test and the evaluation form.
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You MUST pass the post-test (75% passing grade). You are able to take the test multiple times until you pass.
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You MUST answer and submit the evaluation form.
You will receive your certificate within 48 hours after fulfilling the above requirements via email.
For ASHA, your CE Credits will be reflected on your CE Registry account within 45 days after you fulfill the above requirements, and after we send your registration info to their team.
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.
Cancellation Policy
All purchases of recorded courses are final and non-refundable. Should you have any questions about your registration, access, or technical questions please contact our Administrator, Cari Laroza, at this email [email protected]. Thank you!
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.
