Improving Your Classroom with Music and ASL

Presented by Lora Heller, MS, LCAT, MT-BC | April 29, 2026 7PM EST

1 HOUR | LIVE ONLINE via ZOOM | INTERACTIVE

Camera and Audio REQUIRED
There is no free access option ($19 to join)

Music and Sign Language together create a powerful, multi-modal approach to learning in early childhood. Music is highly motivating, while also offering a calming and relaxing effect that helps children feel safe and supported. When paired with American Sign Language (ASL), music becomes an even stronger tool for communication, connection, and growth. In this workshop, participants will take away concrete examples of ways parents and educators can engage with young children through music-mediated ASL. We will explore how visual and manual language supports early communication, how music nurtures language development, and why play-based experiences are essential for meaningful learning. Through active participation, attendees will experience playful, engaging strategies that can be immediately used with young children—including singing along while signing to support connection, comprehension, and joyful learning.

Teachers, therapists, social workers, and other early childhood professionals working with young children will benefit from this webinar.

DISCLOSURES [LORA HELLER]

Financial Disclosures – Lora Heller has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Nonfinancial Disclosures - Lora Heller has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.

Objectives

1. Identify one benefit of a visual/manual language in early childhood.

2. Describe one way music supports early language development.

3. Explain the importance of play-based learning in early childhood.

4. Identify songs that can be used to support early communication through sign language.

Agenda

7:00–7:05 – Welcome, introductions, and session overview

7:05–7:15 – Foundations of music and ASL in early childhood learning

7:15–7:30 – Music as a tool for language development and emotional regulation

7:30–7:45 – Play-based, music-mediated ASL strategies for young children

7:45–7:55 – Interactive singing and signing activities

7:55–8:00 – Closing reflections and final questions

How to Obtain Your CE Certificate/Credits:

You MUST turn your camera on for the entirety of the workshop (and audio during interactive activities)
-> CAMERA/AUDIO NOT REQUIRED FOR THOSE ATTENDING TO GET A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE ONLY.

You MUST attend the workshop from start to finish
You MUST submit the evaluation form after the workshop (will be sent via email)

ADDITIONAL FOR ASHA CEUs: You MUST answer the quiz after the workshop (this will be included in the evaluation form as another section).

You will receive your certificate/credits 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.

This Workshop Offers The Following CE Certificate/Credits

You will select your Certificate or Credit Type after you pay the registration fee. After that, you'll be redirected to a form where 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 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 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 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: 3/30/22-3/30/25. 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).

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.

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.

Individuals will be informed if the request can be accommodated. Once the individual confirms, the special accommodations will be secured. If the individual finds that they no longer need of the accommodations, they must inform the Admin.