Augmentative and alternative communication

With todays TV chat shows,

radio phone-ins, blogs and vlogs
on every subject you could think of,
and social media sites where
people share their thoughts,
opinions and inspirational quotes, it
sometimes seems that we live in a
world that cant stop talking.
But for some people with autism,
everyday communication is difficult
and sometimes almost impossible.
People can have a huge range
of problems, depending on their
cognitive levels and whether they
can or cant acquire language,
says a spokesperson for
Communication Matters, an
organisation that aims to promote
knowledge and understanding of
people with complex
communication needs.
Someone with high-functioning
autism, for example, may have a
large vocabulary and a good
understanding of language but
find it difficult to express this
verbally, perhaps because of poor
executive function.
And we all know how difficult it
can be to find the right words
when were tired or upset, she
continues. Emotional responses
can also make it difficult for autistic
people to access language.

Thoughts and feelings

The challenge for families, health
professionals and teachers is to
find ways to help someone with
ASD get their thoughts and feelings
across to other people. This is
where augmentative and alternative
communication, or AAC as it is
usually known, comes in. Although
it is something of a mouthful, AAC

In search of
self-expression

Techniques
A simple form of AAC is signing,
where people are taught to
communicate using hand gestures.
Using pen and paper to write
messages or to draw, or using
books with pictures, photos or
symbols are also AAC techniques.
On the more sophisticated side,
there are a large number of
computer apps and programmes
that have been designed to help

We all know
how difficult it
can be to find the
right words when
were tired or upset
people with autism to communicate
and develop language. It can be
difficult to work out which ones are
any good, the CM spokesperson
cautions. Talk to other parents or
visit exhibitions where you can try
things out.
Some people worry that
teaching people to communicate
with alternative methods means
that they wont bother to speak,
she points out. But speech will
come if its going to come.
The important thing is to enable
people to learn through language.
Communication is more than just
making requests and conversation
is a two-way process.

Four more methods of using AAC

l MAKATON: one of the bestknown sign languages for people
with communication difficulties or
hearing impairment.
l PECS short for Picture
Exchange Communication System:
a popular communication aid,
whereby people who find it difficult
to speak use a picture card to show
what they need. Because the card
has to be handed to someone, they
are initiating conversation.
l SPEECH GENERATING DEVICES:
these allow people to verbalise
their needs using, for example,

Thanks to a widening array of technologies

and therapies it may now be possible to help
individuals with autism overcome difficulties
they may have in communicating with
others. Fiona McNeill reports
34 Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 0 0 2 0 1 6

is just an umbrella term referring to

different ways of encouraging
communication and self-expression.

www.autismeye.com

keyboards, touchpads, optical head

pointers, eye trackers or joysticks
to spell out words and activate an
electronic voice.
l PODD short for Pragmatic
Organisation Dynamic Display: books
using this system display a range of
symbols alongside corresponding
words. This is said to appeal to
an ASD persons visual strengths.
The teacher or parent points to the
symbol for each key word as they
speak. Symbols can be grouped for
a topic and are usually arranged
from left to right to imitate reading.
Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 2 3 2 0 1 6 35

Buy now and SAVE 20%

Augmentative and alternative communication

quote RC09
AE09

Fantastic new resources released this autumn

Making Good Communicators
Catherine Delamain & Jill Spring

OUT
NOW

Language for Thinking:

The Colour Edition

The Selective Mutism

Resource Manual 2e

Stephen Parsons & Anna Branagan

Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens

PREORDER

Heartfelt poem by Chris Finnes to his mother, Sue

Chris wrote this poem after an
outburst when aged 16 by pointing
to a letterboard using the Rapid
Prompting Method. It won an award
from Create! Art for Autism, an
annual competition for people with
an ASD.

PREORDER

I am sorry mum
I am in a body that hurts people
I am in a body that people dont
understand
I am in a body that makes me look
like a monster
I am in a body that makes me look
like I am agressive
I am in a body that people judge
me on
I am in a body that people assume
presents who I am

Sept 2016 | ISBN: 9781909301566 | Age 9-11 | 39.99

Making Good Communicators completes a quartet
of resource books for teachers, teaching assistant
and speech and language therapists. This resource
offers activities which promote the specific areas of
communication that underpin all areas of learning,
including emotional literacy.

Oct 2016 | ISBN: 9781909301931 | Age 4+ | 45.99

Oct 2016 | ISBN: 9781909301337 | Age 4-16 | 49.99

This updated bestselling resource provides a clear

structure to assist teachers, SENCOs, learning support
assistants and speech language therapists in developing
childrens language from the concrete to the abstract.

Selectively mute children are at a significant disadvantage

personally, socially and educationally. This unique second
edition manual emphasises practical assessment and
treatment and provides advice and information, filling a
significant gap in the availability of suitable resources in
this field.

This sourcebook covers the key areas outlined in the

Speaking and Listening National Curriculum. It offers
practitioners easy access to a range of activities that can
be used in a variety of settings, eg whole class, large or
small group or pairs.

B Includes question sheets structured to promote

childrens development of inference, verbal reasoning
and thinking skills.

Everyday Objects 2nd Edition

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B
It is based on 50 picture and verbal scenarios

B Includes 3 parallel assessments of spoken and written

language
The 2nd Edition is now in full colour throughout and has
been updated with a simplified introduction.

Basic Verbs: 2nd edition

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Let me tell you about my body

It is playful sometimes
It is loving sometimes
It is kind sometimes
It is peaceful sometimes

This practical resource:

B Uses an approach based on behavioural principles
and a hierarchy of stages of confident speaking originally
conceived by Anthony Glassberg;
B Summarises relevant literature and theory and provides
detailed ideas on assessment and management

Rapid Prompting
Method

Word Aware 2: Teaching

vocabulary in the early years

The Rapid Prompting Method was

developed in the late 1980s by
Soma Mukhopadhyay as a way of
teaching her severely autistic son,
Tito. She has gone on to show
other parents how to use it and
many families have reported
amazing results trying it with their
own ASD children.
It is primarily considered a
one-on-one educational system,
though it also helps people to
communicate. RPM is based on
the principle that people with

Stephen Parsons & Anna Branagan

OUT
NOW

Aug 2016 | ISBN: 9781909301955 | Age 3+

32.99+VAT
Fully updated with 48 new images for 2016,
everyday objects featured in this set of professionallyphotographed cards include objects found in both
indoor and outdoor settings. The cards are arranged in
categories, for example, food, household objects, personal
items, clothes, outside objects. The accompanying booklet
details the contents of the set and includes suggested
ways to use the cards. This is a valuable resource for
developing comprehension, encouraging expressive
language, improving communication skills and
vocabulary building. Now translated into 8 different
languages.

Aug 2016 | ISBN: 9781909301948 | Age 4+

32.99+VAT
Fully updated for 2016, the 48 professionallyphotographed cards illustrate frequently used verbs
in simple settings. Each card can be selected to be
used independently or grouped with others for use to
encourage discussion and consideration about the topic
depicted. The cards in this best-selling resource are
valuable for individual and group work, and may be used
in a variety of settings by speech and language therapists
among other professionals. The accompanying booklet
details the contents of the set and includes suggested
ways to use the cards.

July 2016 | ISBN: 9781909301672 | Age 4+ | 45.99

This is a highly practical, comprehensive resource
designed to support Early Years practitioners in the
provision of effective vocabulary development in
preschool children of all abilities. It is based on the
same theory as the existing Word Aware resource but is
adapted for Early Years. This rigorously tried and tested
approach is an outstanding resource that will be and
essential addition to any early years setting or preschool
classroom. It is also an important addition to the
materials used by speech and language therapists.

To order direct or to see more details on these and our other speech, language and SEN resources go to
www.speechmark.net or email sales@speechmark.net and dont forget to quote AE09
RC09 to receive
your 20% discount*
*Offer ends 30th September 2016

Meeting of minds: RPM author Soma Mukhopadhyay,

centre, with Sue Finnes, left, and tutor Alex Hopwood
www.autismeye.com

But sometimes
It is aggressive
It is malicious
It is poor at making reasonable
choices
It is nasty
Let me tell you about me
I am loving
I am kind
I am patient
I am friendly
I am intelligent
I am locked in a body that isnt
mine sometimes
Please know that I am trying my
best
Please know that I love you very
much
Please know that I am very sorry
Please know who I really am
Please know love will get us
through this
Please know all these things and
never stop loving me

Hes told me on
his letterboard
that he finds it difficult
to move his body to
where he wants it to
go. I used to think it
was because he
didnt understand
autism are capable of learning but
are limited by their bodys abilities,
says Alex Hopwood, the UKs only
official RPM teacher. Learning is
linked to purposeful motion and
developing motor skills.
Its a very slow and gentle
process. Practitioners choose a
topic that interests the student,
speaking to them in an ageappropriate way rather than in the
baby talk they may have been
used to. After that, students may
be encouraged to make a simple
choice, perhaps pointing at a
single word. All the language used
is in the context of the lesson.
In addition, the childs vision
and hearing will be stimulated by,

Communicating: Chris uses his

letterboard to talk to his mum

Postscript conversation
with Chris
At the time of writing the poem I
was going through a really tough
time. I was attacking mum
because I was out of control. I felt
so awful about it all. So that is what
inspired this poem.
Great anything else?
Thats the end.

for example, looking at words or

tearing paper. Over time they learn
to point more accurately, spelling
out words using stencils and letter
boards. The goal is that they
eventually become independent
learners who can use a keyboard.
Its important to involve families,
too, Hopwood explains. People
need to see their child doing RPM
so they can try it at home. Its
about empowering parents.
Sue Finnes, from Sutton
Coldfield, is mum to Christopher,
now aged 17, who has severe
autism. She has been using RPM
techniques with him since 2011,
aided by Alex Hopwood, and has
been astonished at the results.
Chris is non-verbal and has
obsessions and challenging
behaviour, Finnes explains, but
despite this, weve discovered
through RPM that hes actually
highly intelligent. Hes obviously
been absorbing knowledge all his
life but what he lacked was an
output method.
Chris has now learned to
communicate by pointing at letters
on a board to spell out words and
sentences and is even able to
explain what he finds difficult.
Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 2 3 2 0 1 6 37

Augmentative and alternative communication

Motivating Children
to Communicate
Skybound Autism Therapies provides
five-day intensive programmes at our
purpose-built centre.These programmes
combine Applied Behaviour Analysis,
Verbal Behaviour, Speech and Language
Therapy and Occupational Therapy.
Outreach consultancy, INSET training
courses and hands-on tutor training
courses are also available.

Further reading
l Soma
Mukhopadhyay
has written
several books on
RPM, including
Developing
Communication
for Autism Using Rapid Prompting
Method - Guide for Effective
Language. Outskirts Press, $35.96 or
Amazon, $39.95/28.38 paperback.
l Tito Mukhopadhyay has also
written a number
of books,
including How
Can I talk if
My Lips Dont
Move? Inside
My Autistic
Mind. Arcade
Publishing, $14.95 or Amazon,
$14.95/9.99 paperback.

Skybound Autism Therapies

Campbell farm, South Dairy
Wiston, Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire, SA62 4BD
Email: info@skyboundtherapies.co.uk
Tel: 01437751261
www.skyboundtherapies.co.uk

l Applied Behaviour Analysis

l Verbal Behaviour
l Speech and Language Therapy
l Occupational Therapy

Introduction & Application to the

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Email: autism@autismuk.com
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Just because a
child looks like
theyre in their own
little world, doesnt
mean they dont
understand anything

CONTACTS
l Find A Voice is a charity that supports children and families who have severe communication
problems and need AAC: www.findavoice.org.uk
l Communication Matters runs free roadshows all over the UK. The next one is scheduled for
November in Wolverhampton: www.communicationmatters.org.uk
l Alex Hopwood: www.rapidpromptingmethod.co.uk
l Sue Finnes: www.unlockingvoices.com. Unlocking Voices is also on Facebook.
l Soma Mukhopadhyay: www.halo-soma.org
l Create! Art for Autism: www.createartforautism.com
l Inclusive Technology sells a range of AAC devices: www.inclusivetechnology.co.uk
l Toby Churchill sells voice output aids: www.toby-churchill.com
www.autismeye.com

He doesnt have any physical

disabilities, but if I say to him,
Chris, pick up that book, hell go
and pick up a cup instead, she
continues. Hes told me on his
letterboard that he finds it difficult
to move his body to where he
wants it to go. I used to think it was
because he didnt understand.
The board even allows him to
discuss poetry. Hes so creative!
Finnes exclaims. Alex showed him
a painting of someone surfing and
asked him to give it a title. He said
it should be called, Each Person,
Every Day, Needs to Ride the
Wave of Life.
Finnes has taken some RPM
training courses and is passionate
about telling other families of its
benefits. Im 100 per cent sure that
all autistic kids have intelligence.
Our job is to explore ways to allow
them to show it, she asserts. Just
because a child looks like theyre in
their own little world, doesnt mean
they dont understand anything.
Finnes has started a Facebook
group, as well as a not-for-profit
organisation called Unlocking
Voices, to promote RPM. Her
website features a poignant quote
from Chris:
Silent I may be
But stupid I am not
Please see autistic people for who
they are
And for not what they seem
Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 2 3 2 0 1 6 39