Symbol Use And Autism

Autism and the Use of Symbol-Based Communication Patricia Wright, PhD, MPH Easter Seals, Inc. & Lori Geist, MS, CCC-SLP Mayer-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

300,000 Children in U.S. Found to Have Autism Published: May 5, 2006

On Autism's Cause, It's Parents vs. Research Published: June 25, 2005

How Young Is Too Young To Diagnose Autism? Published: June 9, 2005

Prevalence: United States

Number of Children

Number of Children with Autism Served Under IDEA, Part B, 1991-92 to 1998-99, 660,000 21 years 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 91-92 (n=27)

92-93 (n=49)

93-94 (n=51)

94-95 (n=52)

95-96 (n=52)

96-97 (N=52)

School Years Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs,

Data Analysis System (DANS)

97-98 (n=52)

98-99 (n=52)

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

Simple Line Drawings Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) • Most extensively used in North America • Over 10,000 symbols available using Boardmaker

Simple Line Drawings Widgit Literacy Symbols (WLS) • Designed with a focus on literacy • Over 8,000 symbols available from Widgit Software

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)

Symbols and Communication Requests • 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 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)

Symbols and Challenging Behavior

(Cafiero, 2001)

Symbols and Challenging Behavior

(Cafiero, 2001)

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).

Symbols and Challenging Behavior • 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 Supporting Transition • Picture book promoted on-task behavior with high-functioning school-aged students with autism. » (Bryan & Gast, 2000)

Symbols and Supporting Transition • 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

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.

Contact information Patricia Wright, PhD, MPH [email protected] www.easterseals.com Lori Geist, MS, CCC-SLP [email protected] www.mayer-johnson.com