The Basics of Autism The Basics of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Training Series

Regional Autism Advisory Council of

Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO)

Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Task ForceTask Force

Adult Training Series gModules

Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence and Primary Characteristicsand Primary Characteristics

Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism

Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism

Module Four: Autism and Sensory Differencesy

Module Five: Communication and AutismModule Five: Communication and Autism

Adult Training Series gModules

Module Six: Behavior Challenges and Autism

Module Seven: Understanding Behavior in Persons ith A tismwith Autism

Module Eight: Functional Behavior Assessment

Module Nine: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach

Module Ten: Special Issues of Adolescence and Ad l h d

pAdulthood

Module Eleven: Safety and Autism

Big Idea

C mm ni ti n m b Communication may be very difficult for someone with ASD.

CommunicationCommunicationS l ith ASD d t t lkSome people with ASD do not talk

They may use sign language to communicate.They may use pictures to communicate.y y pThey may use a device that talks for them.

Some people with ASD talk but are hard to d t dunderstand.They may get upset if you don’t understand them.

Communicationmm

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.

h f h h It may happen more often when the person is nervous or upset.

CommunicationCommunication

Some people with ASD have a hard time making choices.

Some people say “yes” to almost every choice 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 p p y yyou give them, even if they want it. Some people almost always choose the last thing you said to them For example: if you 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 IdeaBig Idea

For people who have difficulty making For people who have difficulty making choices, we need to help them by showing them pictures drawings showing them pictures, drawings,

logos or the actual items.

CommunicationCommunicationJ b h hi i d ’ Just because the person can say something, it doesn’t always mean they understand what they are saying.

J st b s th p s ith ASD h s d s m thi 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.

CommunicationSome people with ASD have trouble p punderstanding certain words

time words such as “later,” “tomorrow,” “ ft hil ”“after while.”feeling words such as “share” or “be nice.”sayings such as “shake a leg ”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 sayingsaying.

Communication Tips• Use visuals – such as pictures to help the person

Communication TipsUse visuals such as pictures to help the person understand.

• Say things using simple words.y g g p• Don’t talk too fast.• Never talk about behaviors with the person while p

they are upset.• Never talk about the person with ASD to someone

ls s if th s ’t th s if th else, as if the person weren’t there or as if they can’t understand what you are saying.

Big Idea

We could be the communication problem. We need to watch what p

we say and how we say it.