Source:

ASHA’s Summary of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Autism

Summary:

Provide services in these 3 areas:

1. Functional, Spontaneous Communication
   • AAC has been associated with improved speech, language, and social skills in children with autism
   • If having trouble with getting spontaneous communication, try Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
   • Use natural environment with various communication partners
   • Increase the number of things that the child can communicate
   • Start with requesting and add other types of communication, like greetings and questions
2. Social Instruction in Various Settings Throughout the Day
   • Visual supports for socially acceptable behavior: what should the child do and say as well as how should the child listen and attend
   • Use social scripts, social stories, and video modeling
   • Use natural environment
3. Play Skills with a Focus on Peer Interactions
   • Lower children: how to do pretend play, take turns, share toys, etc.
   • Higher children: conversational skills, topic maintenance, cooperative play, initiating play, reading body language, etc.