Awesome Communication Strategies for Autistic Students

Speaking Strategies

• When communicating with your autistic child, make sure you have her full attention before your start speaking. You might start by using her name, suggests Autism Speaks, an advocacy group for those affected by autism. Use smaller chunks of information and make directions simple and positive. For example, "Please walk on the sidewalk," would be much more effective than, "Don't walk in the road, it could be dangerous and you could be hit by a car." You should also supplement your verbal statements with pictures, gestures, visual schedules, written information and other helpful cues.

Processing Strategies

• Sometimes it's not that children with autism can't process language, it's that they can't process it as quickly as neurotypical children. One strategy that can help is to give them more wait time after asking a question, by not repeating or expounding on the question for a a time afterward, says Autism Speaks. Model appropriate responses, whether it's what to do when someone says, "Stop!" or what to say when someone says, "How are you?" -- these are keys to helping students with autism communicate more effectively.

Expressive Strategies

• Give children with autism the opportunity to communicate their knowledge in ways that are comfortable for them. Instead of asking an open-ended question like, "What happened in the story?" Allow them to put picture cards of the story in order, or provide multiple choice answers for them. Autism Speaks mentions that many students with autism have word retrieval problems, in that they may have the knowledge of the story or that they should ask for help, but they can't find the appropriate words. Picture cues can be especially helpful in these instances. In addition, use predictable language scripts so that the child knows what to expect and has less anxiety.

Picture Exchange Communication System

• The Picture Exchange Communication System, known as PECS, was developed to facilitate communication for students who are not verbal. There are six phases, reports The Autism Society, where children with autism spectrum disorders learn to initiate exchanges with pictures, to use pictures to communicate their needs and eventually to use pictures to support their verbal communication. Often first introduced by the child's speech language pathologist, you as the parent can reinforce this technique at home as well.