Behaviour and Communication
Communication
Individuals with an autistic spectrum disorder present with a range of communication impairments. Combined with distinct social interaction impairments and specific cognitive difficulties (Theory of Mind; executive function and central coherence difficulties), the individual with ASD is at a distinct disadvantage in a world that thrives on communication in socially complex environments.
This section links you to a range of teaching tools, interventions, models and therapies that have met the entry criteria for this website.
Social Stories
The Education
and Employment section of this website provides a list of links to sites
containing Social Stories.
PECS
Bondy and Frost describe PECS as follows: The Picture Exchange Communication
System (PECS) developed to help children and adults with autism and other
developmental disabilities to rapidly acquire functional communication
skills. The system integrates the theoretical and practical perspectives
from applied behaviour analysis and speech/language pathology.
PECS in New Zealand
Many of the special schools in New Zealand are beginning to incorporate
PECS into their classroom programmes for students with ASD. Combined with
the use of visual support strategies, students are benefiting from this
combined approach along with classrooms being structured based on components
from SPELL, TEACCH and the Social Stories approach.
Training opportunities
in NZ
Go to the Education
section of this website and check out the section on Training Opportunities
in NZ.
Training opportunities
in Australia
Contact
Mary Gebert, Director for Integrated Health Services (Aust), PO Box 142
Heidelberg Victoria Australia 3048.
Accreditation for
PECS
Pyramid@pecs.org.uk
www.pecs.org.uk
Pyramid Educational
Consultants UK Ltd offer two levels of certification. The first level
is certification as a PECS Implementer. The second level is certification
as a PECS Supervisor. To be renewed bi-annually.
PECS
Accredited Trainers in New Zealand
The
ASD Information Network Committee would be pleased to have contact details
from anyone in New Zealand who has either of these qualifications.
Contact: asdin@powerlink.co.nz
Applied
Behaviour Analysis
A site developed by a parent who has developed a record of all the helpful
resources he used when making a decision about whether to go ahead with
ABA as an educational approach. Books, peer reviewed research, opposing
views, finding support and mentors, principles of ABA, developmental evaluation,
resources, language development, behaviour, staffing issues and much more…A
must see site for anyone contemplating ABA.
Contacts for people
doing ABA in New Zealand.
The ASD Information Network Committee would be pleased to have contact
details from anyone in New Zealand who has these qualifications. Contact:
asdin@powerlink.co.nz
TEACCH
Treatment and Education
of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children
The
Greenspan Floor Time Model
Described more fully in the Education and Employment section, this approach
suggests useful strategies for engagement and two way communication.
Music Therapy &
Music Therapists
This
section is to be developed. Contributions for useful sites and links welcome.
Contact emails and articles from New Zealand music therapists are most
welcome.
Semantic and Pragmatic Difficulties
This link contains useful information on semantic pragmatic disorder, what this means for comprehension skills and useful teaching tips.
Strategies
for Tuning into Autism
An
article by Wendy Prevezer.
UseVisualStrategies.com
Improving communication is one of the primary needs for persons with Autism,
Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, or others with communication
or behavior challenges. Our goal is to provide tools to help improve
communication.