[QUOTE=cherylann]I have some suggestions. Could you put some of these objects (e.g an empty box of crackers, a sippy cup etc) on a board near the area where he is most and encourage him to initiate without you verbally prompting. Kids in the spectrum quite often need a visual prompt to be able to initiate language at least until their skills improve. I would also put compic on the items so that he can start to recognise what that is. The idea is to start with an obvious prompt such as the empty box and then reduce that to a photo then compic and then no visual prompt. I would reduce the verbal prompts gradually as well. E.G "Do you want milk?" to "What do you want?" etc.
The idea is to always be reducing the prompts as much as possible so they don't become prompt bound. The trick is to know when and by how much.
I would suggest you read "Behavioural Intervention for the Young Child with Autism" edited by Catherine Maurice. This is a wonderful resource and I think essential reading for any parent with a child on the spectrum.
How old is Owen, what is his dx and what therapy are you doing?
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Owen is 29 months old or 2 and a 1/4 LOL. He gets OT, but we are off right now. In Canada you get 8 weeks on and then 8 weeks off, to accomidate the demand. He is on a waitlist for speech, has been for a year, I called, and they told me he will be picked up in September!! woohoo. We paid for 9 months of private ABA, only to figure out they were useless!! My hubby and I just got back from a 5 day parent training week at a summer camp, run by the govt. It was AMAZING! they reccommended that book as well, and I have ordered it online.
I have started to do the therapy myself. It is going well so far, especially for mommy doing it. He has at LEAST 1 more year to wait on the ABA therapy list.
I like the idea of the pic board for him to take me too! I am going to do that! He can do the signs, so I figured I didn't need to use PECS, but the combo would be great I think.
but from there, will he ever just walk up to me, and sign milk..without having to take me to a board? I know he will take me, he grabs me by the finger and drags me all over the house to things he wants LOL..I am now remembering the instructor telling us that she would eventually start to rip piece of the pictures off, until there was nothing, and then the kids would take her to the board and just sign. I would love to see that..then just get rid of the board.
thanks for the ideas
Then to get him to the next level of communicating maybe he will start going to the board indicating hes ready for some change. after he can do that,.... Ask him to show you (point or sign) what he wants,.... later use a simple sentence "I want drink" while he points or signs... Eventually leave off the last word I want (PAUSE) and let him fill it in... after you know he can do it insist he sign or use his words if he shows the ability to have speech.... don't just go get it to avoid the meltdown... push a little but not so hard that he goes into a meltdown... if you see him near meltdown have him do something easier (like going back to giving him most of the sentence "I want_______" and PRASIE HIM TO HIGH HEAVENS for his efforts jump up and down clap you hands twirl him in the air ! Hopefully soon you will have the problem of not being able to shut him up! Hey, what Michelle said, LOL. That's exactly what I meant but forgot to mention AT HIS LEVEL, sorry.
Get Owen to the next level of requesting
Owen knows a few signs ( More, Open, Cracker, Finished, Fish, Milk)
I have some suggestions. Could you put some of these objects (e.g an empty box of crackers, a sippy cup etc) on a board near the area where he is most and encourage him to initiate without you verbally prompting. Kids in the spectrum quite often need a visual prompt to be able to initiate language at least until their skills improve. I would also put compic on the items so that he can start to recognise what that is. The idea is to start with an obvious prompt such as the empty box and then reduce that to a photo then compic and then no visual prompt. I would reduce the verbal prompts gradually as well. E.G "Do you want milk?" to "What do you want?" etc.