Post-16: Communication

Simple changes to the learning environment (including an awareness of sensory issues) to support individuals. Some differentiation of speaking, understanding, and listening tasks to allow access to the curriculum, which should include:

• Use consistent visuals across the setting to reinforce key routines and expectations and support learning.
• Use a recommended screening tool to enable teachers to identify need and plan provision.
• Display key vocabulary: Have a look at the Word Aware approach for teaching vocabulary (there will be fees to this).
• Staff skilled in adjusting pace, order of activities and classroom environment to maintain interest and attention.
• Audit whether the school environment is ‘communication friendly’ (e.g. using checklists from Speech and Language UK).
• Ensure that staff are aware of Universally Speaking speech milestones by age.

Small group or individual interventions, such as:

• Pre-teaching of vocabulary.
• Use the CYP’s name before asking a question or giving an instruction.
• Give CYP thinking time (at least 10 seconds) to respond and then, if necessary, repeat what you said.
• Keep verbal instructions simple and use them in the order you want things to be carried out. The Council for Disabled Children produced this helpful Visual Timetables Resource [Size: 270 KB, File: PDF].
• Give directions before starting the activity or stop the activity to clarify if needed.
• Put up a list of the key vocabulary for a particular topic or lesson and teach the meaning of each word.
• Use symbols to support spoken language and text (e.g., Widgit). This will incur costs after a free trial: Widget Online.
• Use of social stories: Social Stories™ and Comic Strip Conversations™ were created by Carol Gray in 1990 to support social skills to people with autism: How to Guide - Social Stories [Size: 117 KB, File: PDF] and How to Guide - Comic Strip Conversations [Size: 138 KB, File: PDF].
• Information and training to staff as appropriate: CCC run helpful training, including speech and language and Communication Needs, Booking can be made here: SEND Online calendar booking.
• Whole School SEND - Training webinars and resources.
• Staff feel confident in their ability to prepare resources and implement a range of autism friendly approaches: access to a quiet area and calming activities, social skills programmes, and a range of visual approaches.