Helping Children Meet Their Full Potential Faster
“Autism is about having a pure heart and being very sensitive… It is about finding a way to survive in an overwhelming, confusing world… It is about developing differently, in a different pace and with different leaps.” – Anonymous Author
With a child diagnosed as being on the spectrum coupled with being non-verbal, innovation & patience are the keys to communicating with your loved one. Communication is a fundamental human need and it doesn’t have to be verbal. We just need to put in a little more effort to do the same with non–nonverbal persons. To aid you in this endeavor, we have compiled some suggestions which could be of use to you.
Here are some suggestions for communication with a non–verbal child:
1. Keep talking. Even if the child doesn’t respond, it doesn’t mean you stopped verbal correspondence from your end. They understand. So, articulate everything slowly and clearly, you may need to repeat yourself.
2. Eye contact. Always make eye contact with your child. This way the child is reassured that there is engagement from your side.
3. Every non–verbal gesture or sign is a form of communication on the part of the child. Start by observing and analyzing each gesture, and each sign. It will help everyone if you are zeroed into each gesture and what it means.
4. For those who are not comfortable with eye contact, an alternative can be using mirrors to communicate. Try it.
5. Explore non–verbal forms of communication. It could be fine arts, music, dance, etc. Get into their world and get to know your child better. It will open up a whole new world for you and for your relationship.
6. Create social stories. It refers to a tale made to demonstrate visually particular scenarios & issues and how steps to deal with them. They aid children with ASD in understanding social norms and communication in the right way.
7. Flash cards. Start by clicking and printing pictures of family members, favorite objects/toys, and household items. Laminate them. Place not more than 3 - 4 in front of the child to look and choose from by touching. This will have to be done a couple of times for them to understand the nuances.
8. Mobile phones. Smartphones are a great form of non–verbal photo communication anywhere, anytime. Use the inbuilt camera to encourage communication.
9. Sit at the same height/ level as the child during communication. It could be on the floor squatting, on a chair/sofa, or standing. This is a good way to communicate & play.
10. Teach them to use each gesture to have a meaning behind it. For example, clapping could be associated with a particular meaning such as ‘saying no’.
11. Communication wristbands are another innovative way to get appropriate responses (yes or no) from your child. It involves two wristbands (different colors) placed on each wrist. One to signify yes and the other to signify no. This is used to get responses to questions and everyone who is involved in the child’s life is aware of the significance of each wristband when they raise the concerned hand.
