This is part three of our video blog series on how to get a child unstuck, whether that
child is your own, whether you're a parent or professional working with a child who's
stuck in five areas.
We've already covered when they're stuck with speaking, taking a child from non-vocal to
vocal.
We've covered how to get unstuck from the inability to follow receptive directions and
this video blog part three is going to be how to get unstuck with a child who's talking
but non-conversational.
Hi, I'm Dr. Mary Barbera, autism mom, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and bestselling
author of The Verbal Behavior Approach.
Each week I provide you with some of my ideas about turning autism around.
This video blog is going to be a short excerpt about an area where parents and professionals
get stuck and see little progress and I'm going to provide some tips on how to get unstuck.
The number three area where I see parents and professionals getting stuck is with getting
kids who are talking to be conversational.
And that is a big jump and Lucas is still not conversational.
And um, I don't see him being fully conversational unless some miracle happens, you know, which
there could be a medication or there could be, um, something that happens that makes
him fully conversational.
Um, but he can communicate his wants and needs.
His major problem behaviors are at or near zero and he is pretty independent with his
self care and those sorts of things.
So getting kids talking who are already talking to be more conversational is an area where
people get stuck a lot.
Um, kids, uh, that are talking but not conversational, that have autism, usually moderate to severe
autism, um, they have weird language, they are scripting and stimming.
Um, and a lot of people just like, Oh, fingers crossed, he'll be conversational.
But it involves a lot of systematic teaching of language.
And the quicker you can get on that, the better the odds are that your child or client can
be conversational.
And just because Lucas isn't conversational doesn't mean he's not making progress with
language.
There are the, the really abstract language concepts that are so important.
Like, yes, no answering yes, no within a mand, within a tact.
So do you want ketchup on your hotdog?
Or within a tact, Is this, uh, a cup, um, or is this blue or is this green?
Um, and then answering questions with yes, no.
Um, did you go to the store today?
Did you, um, was a coworker there?
Um, yes, no is is huge.
I've done a, a video blog on that as well, yes, no.
Um, intraverbal categories, intraverbal webbing, uh, teaching colors, teaching reading, math,
writing.
It's all complicated.
And these kids that are talking but not conversational are almost always those intermediate learners
who, um, script and stim and have problem behaviors.
And you know, a lot of people don't realize, but stimming and scripting, especially if
it's very excessive, can be a major problem behavior for, for inclusion, for working in
the, in the future.
So, um, all these things to think about.
So getting kids more vocal, uh, is one, getting kids to receptively understand language is
two, and the third area is the talking, kids who are talking, getting them more and more
conversational.
And really the best way I know how to do that is by considering joining my intermediate
learner course, which is part of the verbal behavior bundle.
Of course, you can go to, uh, the workshop, the free workshop, which we'll link again
in the show notes, um, to help you learn more.
But I, I wouldn't accept a kid who's 10, you know, just accept the fact that he can't be
conversational because if you put these building blocks in place and really teach language
systematically, no matter what the age there's, there's always hope.
I hope you enjoyed that video blog.
If you did, I'd love it if you would leave me a comment and share this video with anyone
who could benefit and to attend a free workshop where you can learn how to get unstuck, attend
marybarbera.com/workshop for more information.
I hope to see you right here next week.