Communication is the bottleneck right now
Start with functional communication, AAC fit, and the messages that reduce daily friction before chasing polish or longer speech goals.
Communication 7 guides
Communication Guides
Autism Communication and AAC Guides
Guides for functional communication, AAC access, receptive language, phrase growth, and why communication has to change what happens next.
This cluster shifts readers away from speech appearance and toward usable communication that reduces friction in daily life.
Where To Start
Pick the situation closest to yours.
All Communication Guides
Free guides on communication.
AAC Readiness Is Usually the Wrong Question
AAC readiness is often framed as a gate. A more useful question is what gives the child the best communication access right now.
Does AAC Stop Speech? What Families Need to Know
AAC is not a last resort and not a surrender. The real question is what gives the child the best communication access right now.
How to Tell if a Child Has Words but Weak Communication
Having words and having communication are not the same thing. A child can label a hundred objects and still not be able to tell you what they need.
Functional Communication Before Complex Speech
If communication does not change what happens next, children stop using it. Function comes before polish.
What Good Receptive Language Work Actually Looks Like
Following a routine is not the same as understanding the words. Real receptive language means the spoken words themselves guide the child's response — not habit, position, or context.
How to Move From Requests to Useful Phrases
The jump from single words to phrases is not about longer utterances. It is about giving the child a language system that can describe, refuse, comment, and ask — not just request.
Why Eye Contact Is a Weak First Target
Eye contact is often a compliance target, not a communication skill. The real foundations are shared attention, social referencing, and initiation.
In-Depth Guides
Comprehensive guides on communication.
AAC for Autism: A Complete Parent Guide
Understand what AAC is, when to start, how to choose the right system, and why the research shows it supports — not replaces — speech development.
Autism Communication Strategies for Parents
Move past waiting for speech. Build functional communication that changes daily life — starting with the messages that matter most right now.
From Phrases to Generative Language in Autism
The gap between rehearsed phrases and generative language is one of the most underestimated problems in autism support. A child who can replay learned sentences is not the same as a child who can build new ones.
Understanding Emotions and Social Meaning in Autism
Teaching emotions is not about matching cartoon faces. It is about helping a child connect what happened, how it felt, and what to do next — in real life, not on a worksheet.
In The Handbook
These guides cover the basics. The handbook goes deeper.
The full book covers communication across 5 dedicated chapters with detailed frameworks, decision tools, and planning sheets.
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Related Appendices
Practical tools included with the handbook.
- Appendix E. Communication and AAC Starter Map
- Appendix O. Functional Communication Starter Phrase Bank
- Appendix G. Language Progression Planner
