Child will gain the ability to express what he/she wants.

Students need to learn how to communicate at home and in school settings by expressing needs, wants and feelings.

Develop a “Communication Folder” (electronic or physical) that provides examples of how to communicate appropriately in various settings. For many nonverbal children, it is helpful to provide a separate chart of needs, wants and feelings to help them identify and communicate. Print the folder so that the child can use it in any situation.

Encourage the student to help design the sections using Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. These applications can incorporate text designs and images that will represent what they want to communicate. The following are examples of sections in a communication folder:

• “Here Are My Choices for Taking a Break”—go for a walk, work on a puzzle, color in a coloring book, color on white paper, sit on the blue couch
• “These Behaviors Help Me”—rock back and forth on my chair, use a slinky
• “Things I Can Do in Class”—clap my hands quietly, jump on the trampoline
• “Things I Cannot Do in Class”—throw classroom objects, punch the wall

New sections can be added as needed.

May include increased frequency of using the folder, communicating needs (such as “I need a break”), decrease in “frustration behaviors,” showing preference for the folder by looking through it independently, initiating communication.