adults with autism training module five v2
TRANSCRIPT
The Basics of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Training Series
RAAC Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Task Force
Adult Training Series Modules
Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence and Primary Characteristics
Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism
Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism
Module Four: Autism and Sensory Differences
Module Five: Communication and AutismModule Five: Communication and Autism
Adult Training Series Modules
Module Six: Behavior Challenges and Autism
Module Seven: Understanding Behavior in Persons with Autism
Module Eight: Functional Behavior Assessment
Module Nine: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach
Module Ten: Special Issues of Adolescence and Adulthood
Module Eleven: Safety and Autism
Big Idea
Communication may be very difficult for someone with ASD.
Communication
Some people with ASD do not talkThey may use sign language to communicate.They may use pictures to communicate.They may use a device that talks for them.
Some people with ASD talk but are hard to understand.They may get upset if you don’t understand
them.
Communication
Some folks with ASD may repeat what you say.If you say, “do you want juice,” they may
repeat what you said. This is called Echolalia.
This may be their way of saying yes.It might mean that they did not understand
what you said.It may happen more often when the person
is nervous or upset.
Communication Some people with ASD have a hard time
making choices.Some people say “yes” to almost every
choice you give them, even if they don’t want it.
Some people say “no” to almost every choice you give them, even if they want it.
Some people almost always choose the last thing you said to them. For example: if you say, “do you want crackers or cookies,” they may say “cookies” even when they want crackers.
Big Idea
For people who have difficulty making choices, we need to help them by showing them pictures,
drawings, logos or the actual items.
Communication
Just because the person can say something, it doesn’t always mean they understand what they are saying.
Just because the person with ASD has done something before, doesn’t mean that they will be able to understand what is going to happen the next time.
People with ASD usually need pictures to help them understand what is going to happen.
Communication
Some people with ASD have trouble understanding certain wordstime words such as “later,” “tomorrow,”
“after while.”feeling words such as “share” or “be nice.”sayings such as “shake a leg.”slang words such as “cool.”
We have to “watch our language” and make sure the person understands what we are saying.
• Use visuals – such as pictures to help the person understand.
• Say things using simple words.
• Don’t talk too fast.
• Never talk about behaviors with the person while they are upset.
• Never talk about the person with ASD to someone else, as if the person weren’t there or as if they can’t understand what you are saying.
Communication Tips
Big Idea
We could be the communication problem. We need to watch
what we say and how we say it.