Communication

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Understanding the importance and complexity of communication is critical when supporting youth with complex needs. Identifying the link between communication and behavior is crucial for a team to create effective supports and interventions. Learn about communication, challenges that may occur, and how behavior always has a communication connection.

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Activities

Elements of Social Communication

Social communication is a complex process that requires the use of multiple skills to address a range of components. Review the elements of social communication and consider the range of skills and decision-making required to engage in social communication. How well do your communication plans support these elements?

Facial Expressions:

Knowing how to read the facial expressions of others and how to understand one’s own facial expressions and the message you are sending.

Eye Contact:

Deciding how much eye contact to use and when to use it.

Body Language:

Understanding other’s body language cues and how to use body language that is appropriate to the social situation.

Gestures:

Understanding gestures used in communication such as waving and pointing.

Proximity and Posture:

Being aware that distance between people has meaning and understanding what is appropriate for the social situation.

Communication Style:

Deciding when to use formal, casual, or informal communication based on the situation and relationship with the social partner.

Tone of Voice:

Deciding the tone and volume of voice to use and when to use it.

Begin/End Interaction:

Understanding how to appropriately enter and leave a social interaction.

Topic:

Being mindful of topics that are comfortable and appropriate based on the social setting.

Perspective Taking:

Being able to view a situation from another’s viewpoint and understanding the impact that one’s actions can have on someone else’s feelings and thoughts.

Need a tool to look further at social communication? Check out the Social Communication Survey in the download section of this toolkit.

Downloads

Social Communication Survey

The Social Communication Survey is an informal tool to help a team better understand the social communication needs of youth. This information can be helpful to share with speech therapists, counselors, and other professionals that assess and support the youth.  

Download Social Communication Survey