This talk begins with a review of functional communication, including long term goals, from a behavioral perspective. Key issues will include speaker vs. listener distinctions, functional units and factors related to expanding communication repertoires. The next section reviews speech generating devices (SGDs), their popularity, and concerns such as distinguishing between ‘toy use’ vs. ‘communication device’ and the role of the audio output. Next, factors related to demonstrations that a user ‘knows’ the meaning of words in different modalities will be reviewed. Then follows a review of research related to both SGD and picture use by individuals with ASD regarding functional communication. This section will include examples of studies that appear to over-estimate functional relations and the paucity of research demonstrating a robust gain in repertoire sizes. Lastly, some suggestions will be provided associated with determining how we can assure that our efforts to teach functional communication results in effective outcomes.

Learner Objectives
Learners will define the broad goals of teaching functional communication skills.
Learners will identify key elements to assure that an SGD is used as a communications device.
Learners will describe the relationship between ‘knowing’ and discrimination skills.

About the Presenter

Andy Bondy

Dr. Andy Bondy is president and co-founder of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. Dr. Bondy is an innovative leader in the field of autism and applied behavior analysis. He directed a statewide public school system for students with autism for fourteen years. He is co-author of the PECS Training Manual. He also wrote the Pyramid Approach to Education, a training manual that offers an integrated orientation to developing effective educational environments blending applied behavior analysis with functional activities and create communication strategies. Dr. Bondy received his MA and Ph.D. from the UNC Greensboro, and completed his clinical internship in 1976 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Bondy has presented numerous papers, lectures and workshops in regional, national and international conferences and conventions on behavior analysis, PECS and the Pyramid Approach to Education. He has remained active in research and writing, and continues to develop new and innovative methods of helping children with autism and related developmental disorders.