Overview:
Our Communication Therapy program is designed to help children with autism develop the skills necessary to effectively express themselves and understand others. This program provides personalized support for children at all levels of communication, whether they are developing verbal skills, learning to use alternative communication systems, or working on social communication. Our therapy utilizes evidence-based techniques and tools to address speech, language, and social communication needs in a structured and supportive environment.

Key Areas of Communication Therapy

• Speech Development:
  For children who are working on verbal communication, therapy focuses on improving articulation, clarity, and fluency. This may include:
  • Sound Production: Teaching children how to correctly produce sounds and words.
  • Word and Sentence Structure: Helping children form words and sentences to express their thoughts clearly.
  • Fluency: Addressing stuttering or difficulty with smooth speech to improve overall verbal communication.
• Non-Verbal Communication:
  For children who may not yet use spoken language, therapy focuses on helping them communicate through gestures, facial expressions, sign language, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
  • Gestures and Body Language: Teaching children how to use their body, hands, or facial expressions to communicate needs, emotions, and ideas
  • AAC Devices: Supporting children in using communication boards to express themselves.
• Social Communication:
  Improving communication in social settings is a core component of the therapy. This includes:
  • Conversation Skills: Teaching children how to initiate, maintain, and end conversations appropriately.
  • Turn-Taking and Listening: Emphasizing the importance of listening, waiting for a turn, and responding to others in conversations.
  • Understanding Social Cues: Helping children interpret and respond to social cues such as tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions.
• Expressive Language:
  Therapy helps children express their ideas, needs, and feelings more effectively. This may involve:
  • Vocabulary Development: Expanding a child’s word bank to help them communicate more clearly.
  • Sentence Construction: Working on forming complete and grammatically correct sentences to express more complex ideas.
  • Narrative Skills: Teaching children to tell stories or explain events in a clear and structured manner.
• Receptive Language:
  Helping children understand spoken language is equally important. Therapy in this area focuses on improving:
  • Following Directions: Teaching children to comprehend and follow verbal instructions, from simple commands to multi-step directions.
  • Understanding Questions: Working on answering “wh” questions (who, what, where, when, why) and understanding abstract language concepts.
  • Concept Understanding: Teaching concepts like time, size, shape, and emotions to help children better understand language used in various contexts.
• Pragmatics:
  This focuses on teaching appropriate communication in different social contexts. Key areas include:
  • Appropriate Tone and Volume: Helping children adjust their voice for different settings (e.g., quiet voice in a classroom, loud voice in a gym).
  • Social Rules and Etiquette: Teaching the “rules” of communication, such as making eye contact, using polite greetings, and understanding personal space.
  • Role-Playing: Using role-playing activities to practice real-life scenarios like greeting others, asking for help, or participating in group conversations.

Therapeutic Approaches and Techniques

• Speech Therapy:
  Evidence-based techniques such as Articulation Therapy and Oral-Motor Therapy are used to address specific speech issues like articulation disorders, delays in speech sound development, or problems with breath support.
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS):
  PECS is an AAC system that helps children communicate by exchanging pictures to express their needs, desires, or thoughts. It is often used with children who are non-verbal or have limited verbal communication skills.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC):
  Technology-based tools like iPads, tablets, or speech-generating devices are used for children who need additional support with verbal communication. AAC devices can help students express themselves through symbols, pictures, or voice-output systems.
• Language Enrichment:
  Focused on enhancing vocabulary and language skills through structured play, reading, and conversations. This can include activities like reading books, playing with toys that promote storytelling, and engaging in interactive discussions to foster language development.
• Social Stories and Video Modeling:
  Social stories and video modeling are powerful tools used to teach communication skills in social settings. They provide concrete examples of how to interact with others, understand social expectations, and resolve conflicts.
• Play Therapy:
  Play-based activities provide a natural setting for practicing communication skills. Therapists use toys, games, and structured play to promote both expressive and receptive language development.

Personalized Support

• Individualized Therapy:
  Each child’s therapy plan is tailored to their unique communication needs. This ensures that goals are specific, achievable, and suited to the child’s developmental level.
• Parent and Caregiver Training( Coming soon):
  Parents are encouraged to actively participate in therapy, learning strategies to reinforce communication skills at home and in the community. This strengthens the connection between the child’s therapeutic progress and everyday communication.

Technology Integration

• Speech Apps and Tools:
  Using apps designed to help children practice articulation, vocabulary, and sentence structure. These tools offer interactive ways for children to practice their communication skills outside of therapy.
• Video Conferencing:
  For children who are more comfortable with digital communication, virtual therapy sessions are available to maintain consistency and convenience while working on their speech and social skills.

Outcome Goals

• Improved Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication:
  Children will gain the ability to express themselves more effectively, whether through speech, gestures, or alternative communication systems.
• Enhanced Social Communication Skills:
  Students will improve their ability to understand and engage in social interactions, making connections with peers and family members.
• Greater Independence in Communication:
  Students will become more independent in expressing their needs, thoughts, and emotions in a variety of settings, including school, home, and the community.
• Increased Confidence:
  By improving their communication skills, children will feel more confident in their ability to interact with others and participate in social activities.

Our Communication Therapy program aims to support children with autism in reaching their full communication potential by providing them with the tools, skills, and confidence to communicate effectively in any situation.