Making AAC Therapy Fun: Motivating Children with Autism to Speak

1. Making AAC Therapy Fun: Motivating Children with Autism to Speak Christine E. Grubbs MS CCC-SLP, Center for AAC and Autism Wooster, Ohio

2. Learning Outcomes At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to: 1. Define Shared focus and natural consequences as they apply to AAC. 2. Identify 3 therapy strategies that motivate clients to speak 3. Identify vocabulary that can be taught in these activities that will generalize to other settings

4. Shared Focus

5. What do you like to talk about?

6. Natural Consequences

7. Any attempts to communicate should have natural auditory/verbal, visual, and social consequences.

8. Some activities to consider…

9. Communicative Functions • Protesting • Commenting • Greeting • Asking • Suggesting • Telling • Choosing • Directing

10. Focus on “core” vocabulary

11. Core Vocabulary • Small number of words that make up 70-90% of what we say • Relevant across activities, settings and people • Nouns are context specific

12. Words Percentage I 9.5 No 8.5 Yes/yea 7.6 my 5.8 the 5.2 want 5.0 is 4.9 it 4.9 that 4.9 a 4.6 go 4.4 mine 3.8 you 3.2 what 3.1 on 2.8 in 2.7 here 2.7 more 2.6 out 2.4 off 2.3 some 2.3 help 2.1 all done/finished 1.0 96.3% Toddler Vocabulary Arranged by Frequency These 26 core words comprise 96.3 percent of the total words used by toddlers in this study Banajee,M., DiCarlo, C, & Buras-Stricklin, S. (2003). Core Vocabulary Determination for Toddlers, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 2, 67-73.

13. “Look Mom, if we get this one we can make those kinds of ones.” --Braidy, 5 years old

14. 106 Most Frequently Used Words Interjections Question Words yes no thank you please okay what when where who why how Pronouns Adjectives I me you he she it we they all more big little hot cold same different pretty new old right wrong Pam Elder, 1992

15. 106 Most Frequently Used Words Verbs (helping verbs) be am is are can could do did have had was were will would Verbs ask buy call clean come eat feel find get give go help know like look make need put remember say start take tell think try turn use want wish work Pam Elder, 1992

16. 106 Most Frequently Used Words Prepositions Adverbs about at for of up down on off to from in out with not now here there much very Demonstratives Conjunctions this that and but if because Pam Elder, 1992

18. Rapid Generalization

19. Consider… turn Move around an axis or a center: Bend or change the course: To affect or alter function: To reverse the sides or surfaces : Other ideas?

20. Things to remember • Start with topics and activities that are interesting and meaningful…what do you like to do? • Use natural reactions • Teach Core Vocabulary • Generalize!

21. References: • Banajee, M., Dicarlo, C., & Stricklin, S. (2003). Core vocabulary determination for toddlers. AAC: Augmentative & Alternative Communication, 19(2), 67. • Cannon, B., & Edmond, G. (2009, April 14). "A few good words: Using core vocabulary to support nonverbal students." The ASHA Leader. 14(5), 20-22 • DeThorne, L., Johnson, C., Walder, L., & Mahurin-Smith, J. (May 2009); “When "Simon Says" Doesn't Work: Alternatives to Imitation for Facilitating Early Speech Development.” Am J Speech Lang Pathology 18: 133 – 145 • Elder, P.(1992). Phone conversation as cited in Unity: Language for Life Training Manual. Wooster, OH: Prentke-Romich Company. • Mirenda, P. (2008). "A back door approach to autism and AAC." Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 24, 219-233

22. www.aacandautism.com

23. Thank-you! For questions please contact: Christine E. Grubbs MS CCC-SLP The Center for AAC & Autism cegrubbs@windstream.net Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1317 Wooster, OH 44691 Telephone: 330-202-5800 (local or international toll line) 866-998-1726 (toll free US)