Updated Title & Description: Building Brave Communication: Practical Tools for Supporting Students with Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder which impacts a child’s comfort to communicate in certain

settings despite appropriate communication in at least one setting. SM can also have negative impacts

on additional factors such as nonverbal participation and self-advocacy skills. This presentation will

provide school-based professionals with practical, evidence-informed tools to support students with

selective mutism within school-related settings. The presentation will take time to more fully explore

the impact of SM in the school environment and common challenges that lead to a reinforcement of