#108: The Power of No with Lisa Wallace

No. No, thank you. I don’t want to. I don’t like this. These are important statements that communicate that you do not want something to happen.  In this episode, Lisa Wallace an SLP who has worked with young children with autism and their families for over 25 years talks about this important yet overlooked skill of communicating “no.”No may look like a variety of things depending on the activity and the child’s communication level. Clear signals might be verbally saying no, giving back or throwing an item, running away, crying, and in some cases severe problem behaviors. Other more subtle symptoms might be withdrawal, the closing of eyes, turning away, and disengagement. Effective communication of “no” should be a goal for every child, regardless of how they are currently communicating it. To assess where to start, Lisa recommends using observational informal assessment, taking notes, and talking to the caretaker. What triggers a “no” response? What does “no” mean to them? What does “no” look like to them?Lisa talks about working towards this goal in a mildly challenging way because there often are no provided opportunities to communicate “no”. Especially, if you have a child who is happily engaged in every activity. Or alternatively, you have a child who, provoking a “no” activity might cause triggering, dangerous behavior. Tips for “Practicing Protesting”-Provoke in a Mildly Challenging Situation (Avoid high stakes situations)-Set antecedents, what are going to be the causes of the “no”?-Provide visuals, AAC, or other familiar communication tools. -Ready to model. Show the learner what communicating “no” looks like.-Use the correct reinforcement: Removal of antecedent. You want the child to know and understand that when they communicate “no” or “I don’t want to” or “Not like this”, their communication is going to be validated. Do not continue doing the “no” activity in any capacity. This is such a great topic, and one I don’t think we discuss nearly enough. Saying “no” is an important piece of communication in helping our learners find their voice.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Why is communicating “no” so important?Creating goals based on communicating “no”.How to practice protesting in a supportive, non-triggering manner.What does “no” mean to each child?Observing clear or subtle “no” signals.Why saying “no” effectively should be a goal for every child.Mentioned In This Episode:ABA Speech: Learn About Current ASHA and ACE CEUs

Om Podcasten

In the Autism Outreach Podcast, Speech Therapist and BCBA, Rose Griffin from ABA SPEECH, provides her best, ready to use autism interventions and speech therapy techniques to inspire professionals and parents working with students with autism. With 20 years of experience in the field, Rose understands one of the biggest challenges parents, therapists and educators face on a daily basis is helping students strengthen their communication skills. Listeners will regain a sense of calm as Rose breaks down trusted therapy techniques to try at home or school to provide support to students. Rose will address a variety of topics on autism spectrum disorder: how autism symptoms present in babies and toddlers, recognizing the differences between autism and a speech delay, early intervention therapies, autism evaluation, autism diagnosis, how to help a child with autism start communicating if they are nonverbal, helping students who engage in problem behavior, functional communication skills, increasing student engagement and improving social skills. An excellent listen for parents and professionals alike, with a mix of interviews and solo shows designed to inspire, empower, and provide you with confidence to help your students. Hit subscribe and learn more at www.abaspeech.org