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Autism and the Use of Symbol-Based
CommunicationPatricia Wright, PhD, MPH
Easter Seals, Inc.&
Lori Geist, MS, CCC-SLPMayer-Johnson/Widgit
Opportunities for this Session
• Learn something new• Reinforce previous learning• Challenge your beliefs
Learning Objectives
• Identify strategies for teaching the use of symbols for communication to individuals with autism.
• Describe the relationship between challenging behaviors and communication.
• Identify strategies for using symbols to support transitions and requesting for individuals with autism.
Agenda
• Introduction
• Symbol use for– communication requests– challenging behavior– following a schedule and transitioning
between activities
• Question and Discussion
On Autism's Cause, It's Parents vs. Research
Published: June 25, 2005
300,000 Children in U.S. Found to Have Autism
Published: May 5, 2006
How Young Is Too Young To Diagnose Autism?Published: June 9, 2005
Prevalence: United States
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
91-92(n=27)
92-93(n=49)
93-94(n=51)
94-95(n=52)
95-96(n=52)
96-97(N=52)
97-98(n=52)
98-99(n=52)
School Years
Num
ber
of C
hild
ren
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS)
Number of Children with Autism Served Under IDEA, Part B, 1991-92 to 1998-99, 6-21 years
About Symbols
• Real objects
• Environmental signage
• Photos and illustrations
• Simple line drawings
Hierarchy of Symbols
• Actual Objects• Photographs• Line Drawings• Traditional Orthography
(Mirenda and Locke, 1989)
Transparency of Symbols
• Many symbols are transparent and easily recognized
• Many symbols will need to be learned, but the representation is clear and easily understood with instruction
• Higher levels of symbols require more teaching
• Most extensively used in North America• Over 10,000 symbols available using
Boardmaker
Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)
Simple Line Drawings
Widgit Literacy Symbols (WLS)• Designed with a focus on literacy• Over 8,000 symbols available from
Widgit Software
Simple Line Drawings
Teaching Symbol Use
• Aided language modeling – Successfully increased the comprehension
and production of symbol-based communication with preschoolers.
» (Drager, Postal, Carrolus, Castellano, Gagliano, & Glynn, 2006
• Pairing verbal commands with symbols – increased generalization and maintenance.
» (Preis, 2006)
Symbols and Communication Requests
• The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
» (Bondy & Frost, 1994)
• Used symbol-based communication for an adult with autism to conditionally request help.
» (Reichle et al, 2005)
Symbols and Communication Requests
• Symbols promoted peer interaction in preschool children with autism.
» (Johnston, Nelson, Evans, Palazolo, 2003)
Symbols and Communication Requests
Symbols and Communication Requests
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
• Behavior significantly impacts an individual’s ability to fully access their learning environment and community.
• Behavior is communication.
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
• Providing AAC supports to meet communication needs, which works towards extinguishing inappropriate behaviors, is an appropriate focus for speech and language intervention
» (Bopp, Brown, & Mirenda, 2004).
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
• Natural aided language promotes instructional understanding
» Cafiero (2001)
• Natural aided language video
Replication of Choice Board
(Adapted from Cafiero, 2001)
Replication of Breakfast Board
(Adapted from Cafiero, 2001)
(Cafiero, 2001)
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
(Cafiero, 2001)
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
• Preschool students used symbol-based communication to request preferred activities within the typical classroom routine
• Decrease in highly aggressive behavior
• increase in engagement in activities.» (Frea, Arnold, & Vittimberga, 2001).
• Functional communication training has a long-history of success for individuals with autism (Mirenda, 1997).
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
• The individual is doing (aberrant behavior) to communicate (function).
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
• The individual is Hitting to communicate Escape.
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
Individual could use a break card instead of hitting to communicate escape.
Symbols and Challenging Behavior
Symbols and Supporting Transition
• Picture book promoted on-task behavior with high-functioning school-aged students with autism.
» (Bryan & Gast, 2000)
• Visual schedule increased on-task behavior for individuals who were perceived to have limited skills.
» (Macduff, et al, 1993)
Symbols and Supporting Transition
Symbols and Supporting Transition
Symbols and Supporting Transition
Learning Objectives
• Identify strategies for teaching the use of symbols for communication to students with autism.
• Describe the relationship between challenging behaviors and communication.
• Identify strategies for using symbols to support transitions and requesting for students with autism.
