Autism and Communication

Communication difficulties for autistic children frequently results in increased frustration, anxiety and social isolation. It also negatively impacts their independence, participation and engagement. Access to appropriate, individualized supports in the classroom are essential to address these issues. As autistic individuals have highly varied communication preferences and needs, it can be daunting for teachers and teacher’s aides to know how to best approach supporting their complex communication requirements in the context of a classroom setting.
During this 1-day course, participants will develop their understanding of the communication and information processing preferences of autistic children. They will also explore different types of expressive communication supports across multiple modalities and, using a case study for a specific student they teach, will develop an expressive communication profile. This profile will support participants to develop and implement an appropriate, individualized communication support for their students in their classroom.
This course is relevant to teachers, support staff, and child care educators working with autistic individuals.