Interviewing Children with Disabilities – Part II

This training is intended for forensic interviewers who want to learn how to communicate with individuals who do not speak or who are considered “non-verbal.” This workshop will discuss adaptations to account for individuals who do not speak, use gestures, use a communication device, or speak few words. Participants will have increased understanding of verbal behavior and communication methods; increased knowledge of communication considerations when interviewing someone who does not speak; and learn reliable and legally defensible techniques that can be applied in interviews.

Presenter: Staci Whitney, LMSW with Modell Consulting Group 

Staci Whitney, LMSW is the Senior Director for Modell Consulting Group, LLC (MCG). Since 2017, Ms. Whitney has been responsible for teaching and co-authoring trainings on interviewing individuals from vulnerable populations. Specifically, Ms. Whitney led two projects which included contributions from other national experts to develop advanced Forensic Interviewing protocols for interviewing individuals with disabilities (Project FIND) and older adults (SAFE). Prior to her work with MCG, Ms. Whitney was the Senior Forensic Interviewer at Bivona Child Advocacy Center in Rochester, NY and was responsible for developing Bivona’s Forensic Interviewing Program. During that time, Ms. Whitney had extensive training and experience in the field of Forensic Interviewing including interviewing individuals with disabilities who are victims or witnesses of crime. She has developed and delivered numerous trainings to Multidisciplinary Team Members internationally on recognizing and responding to suspicions and reports of abuse, neglect and maltreatment.

Register for this event by clicking here.