Save the Date - PODD Training - In person training - 21st & 22nd July 2026

Funded by the HSE National HSCP Office priority is for those employed in publicly funded health care settings. Before registering your interest in attending this course; please read the Terms and Conditions for attending publicly funded CPD events here

Overview:

The PODD system was designed by Gayle Porter, who is a Speech Therapist with over 30 years hands on experience working with people with complex communication needs. Gayle currently works at the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre in Melbourne, Australia. She also has a private practice working with both children and teenagers with complex communication needs in their schools. She has given instructional courses and papers at ISAAC’s International Conference for many years, given courses all over the world and written about AAC, Cerebral Palsy and PODD.

When developing the PODD principles Gayle Porter works to support communication at any time and emphasises teaching and learning strategies to enable a person to say what they want to say, when they want to say it and to whom they want to say it to!

Gayle considers it an ongoing challenge to provide sufficient vocabulary to meet both the present communication requirements and to stimulate the further development of communication and language skills for people with complex communication needs.

Outcomes of workshop:

Participants will be able to;

• Describe the challenges faced bby professionals creating communication systems in telation to vocabulary organisation, layout, design, range of access strategies and customising for individual requirements
• Discuss the importance of receptive language input and creating a language learning environment
• Use PODD generic template resources to produce customised communication books
• Discuss the teaching and learning strategies for implementing PODD communication systems with students / clients and team members.

PODD Training will be in person in Cork over two full days on 21st and 22nd July 2026.

Speaker Bio:

Natalie Fitzpatrick is a Deputy Head Teacher in Villa Real School, a school for students aged 2-19yrs with complex needs in County Durham, UK. She is a trained teacher conductor and has worked with children with complex physical, learning and communication needs for over 24 years. Natalie has worked closely with Gayle Porter to implement the PODD system in Perth, Australia, which is where she was first introduced to PODD back in 2006. Natalie has completed the week long intensive PODD course and completed the PODD presenter certification process with Gayle, co-presenting with her in Perth Western Australia. She is one of the five UK based PODD trainers.

SAVE THE DATE! - REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON!