One of the questions I get asked the most is “when will my child speak” or “how can I teach to autistic students to communicate”? These questions inspired today’s post autism communication strategies.
What is a visual learner?
A visual learner is someone who responds well to visual information to understand a subject. Many children with autism are visual learners. By adapting the way we teach to correspond to the visual learning style of children with autism, we have more teaching success.
How can we use the visual tendencies of autistic learners to teach communication and language?
By adapting our learning materials to be visual in nature. Example of visual information are sign language, visual prompts, visual schedules, photo communication binders and more.
What is the difference between communication and speech?
Many people think that communication = verbal speech. In fact, verbal communication is such a small piece of the communication pie. Research shows that the large majority of communication is, in fact, non verbal. The exact percentages are not clear, but it seems that at least 70% of the communication we use is non verbal (body language).
1. Pointing
Learning to point is an essential pre-requisite to communication and verbal speech. One of my favorite tools for learning to point is using a simple, printable pointing book. Just print it out and start teaching pointing. Of all of the autism communication strategies included in this post, this is the easiest to teach right away.
Download your free printable pointing book to teach your child to communicate through pointing.
2. Communication binder
A communication binder is a wonderful tool for teaching children with autism to communicate.
3. Adapted Autism Sign Language
Research shows the power of using adapted sign language to teach children with autism again and again. In my opinion, as a professional who has taught children with autism in my autism learning center for the past 18 years, I believe it is the strongest tool I have in autism communication toolkit and therefore, the most important of all the autism communication strategies I have included in this post.
4. Real photo exchange
Once your child had learned to point, you will be able to start using a real photo exchange system to teach communication and verbal language. Real photo exchange consists of teaching your child with autism to select a photo of something he or she wants to ask for, such as a favorite toy or snack, and hand it to you to make the request.
5. Visual schedules
Visual schedules are an effective tool for organizing a child with autism’s day, increasing communication and ease in your home or classroom program and decrease frustration.
6. Sensory activities (such as playdough mats)
Children with autism tend to be motivated by sensory activities. I love including them in the programs I use myself and teach parents and professionals to use.
To help you build communication skills in your home or autism classroom, I created the Sensory Communication Workbook for Autistic Learners. Download it and print it out and start using it to teach communication skills, and eventually verbal speech, immediately.
7. A combination of systems
Often, especially in the first stages of teaching communication, you will need to use a combination of communication systems to get the best results.
Build Communication Skills with These Posts
- How to Teach Sign Language
- Free Autism Resources
- Benefits of Visual Schedules
- Communication Resources for Your Child with Autism
- 8 Ways to Help Your Nonverbal Autistic Child Communicate
- Best Board Books
- Experience Books
- Autism Teaching Strategies
More Autism Resources
- The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
Which of these autism communication strategies are you using with your child or in your autism classroom?
Do you have something to add to the conversation? Leave your recommendations in the comments below!
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