Autism and Communication

Autism and Communication  

Communication involves a complex range of both verbal and non-verbal elements. Autistic people often communicate in a different way to non-autistic people and will each have their own communication style and preferences. When these differences are not understood or accommodated, autistic people can experience challenges in social interaction.  

Moreover, most autistic children are gestalt language processors.  This means that they tend to process language in “chunks” or long scripts (echolalia), as opposed to single units.  Gestalt language processors require a different approach to traditional language therapy.   

This course explores communication differences for autistic people and how supportive strategies can be put in place to aid mutual understanding.  

  
Expected Outcomes  
Participants will 

• Expand knowledge of the core issue of communication differences for children and young people with Autism 

• Recognise differences in social attention as a basis for interaction and learning and how to support these. 

• Reflect on their own interaction style and how this impacts the autistic young person.  

• Develop an understanding of language development in autism and strategies to support children and young people with communication differences.