Communication Strategies

Natural Language Paradigm (NLP) is built upon arranging the environment to increase the children's opportunities to use language. One of the goals of NLP is to achieve a more naturalistic approach of enhancing the language and communication development of children with autism. It differs from strategies that often lean heavily on teacher choice, manual prompts, strict shaping, and edible reinforcement. NLP is related to approaches that include caregiver-child interaction. Children are encouraged to initiate the interaction. It includes the following:

• Stimulus items are chosen by the child, varied every few trials, age-appropriate and found in the child's natural environment.

• Prompting occurs by repeating the item.

• Teacher and child both play with the stimulus item (stimulus item is functional within interaction).

• A loose shaping contingency is used so that attempts to respond verbally (except for self-stimulation) are also reinforced.

• Levels of disruptive and off-task behavior during language instruction are often significantly reduced.

• Activities should be outcome-based. Data should be collected systematically on IEP objectives. Decisions regarding instructional strategies should be data-based.

 

Koegel, R. L., Koegel, L. K., & Parks, D. R. (1995). "Teach the individual" model of generalization: Autonomy through self-management. In R. L. Koegel & L. K. Koegel (Eds.), Teaching children with autism: Strategies for initiating positive interactions and improving learning opportunities (pp. 67-77). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.