DAY 3

Enhancing Verbal Communication Skills

Strategies for simplifying language and making

communication more understandable.
Encouraging verbal responses and fostering engagement.
Introduction to using visual aids and schedules to support
verbal communication.
 Strategies for Simplifying Language and Enhancing Communication
Clarity:
Use Clear and Simple Language: Choose words that are easy to
understand and avoid complex vocabulary.
Speak at a Moderate Pace: Avoid speaking too quickly or too slowly,
ensuring your child can follow along.
Repeat and Reinforce: Repeat key information or instructions to
reinforce understanding.
Break Down Instructions: Divide tasks into smaller steps and give
clear instructions for each step.
Visual Aids: Use pictures, diagrams, or visual schedules to support
verbal communication.
Offer Choices: Present options to let your child make choices,
enhancing engagement and understanding.
 Use Gestures: Accompany your speech with gestures to
enhance comprehension.
Pause for Response: Give your child time to process and
respond during conversations.
Positive Reinforcement: Encourage and praise efforts to
communicate, reinforcing confidence.
Use Familiar Topics: Discuss subjects your child is familiar with
to make conversations more relatable.
Adapt to Their Interests: Incorporate your child's interests
into discussions to increase engagement.
Maintain Eye Contact: Establish connection and hold attention by
maintaining eye contact.
Ask for Clarification: Encourage your child to ask questions if
they don't understand and provide clarifications.
Use Repetition: Repeating key concepts helps reinforce understanding
over time.
Keep Sentences Short: Use concise sentences to prevent information
overload.
Model Correct Speech: When your child makes errors, repeat their
statement correctly rather than explicitly correcting them.
Narrate Daily Activities: Describe what's happening around your child
to build vocabulary and comprehension.
Interactive Play: Engage in play that requires communication, such as
asking for items during a game.
Read Together: Reading books aloud together encourages language
development and understanding.
Implementing these strategies can create a more accessible and
supportive communication environment for your child with special needs.
 Encouraging Verbal Responses and Fostering Engagement:

Active Listening: Show genuine interest and attentiveness to what

your child is saying.
Open-Ended Questions: Ask questions that require more than a
yes/no answer, promoting conversation.
Wait Time: Allow your child sufficient time to process and
formulate their response.
Use of Prompts: Offer prompts or cues to help your child
express themselves, if needed.
Expand on Responses: Build upon their initial response to
encourage elaboration.
Reflect and Repeat: Repeat your child's response back to them,
validating their contribution.
 Praise Efforts: Celebrate their attempts to communicate,
regardless of how fluent or accurate.
Shared Activities: Engage in activities that require
communication, like storytelling or playing games.
Use Visual Supports: Integrate visuals to support verbal
communication and reinforce understanding.
Model Speaking: Speak clearly and at an appropriate pace,
serving as a positive language model.
Create a Comfortable Environment: Establish an atmosphere
where your child feels safe and confident to express
themselves.
Respect Their Pace: Avoid pressuring your child to respond
quickly; prioritize their comfort.
 Turn-Taking: Engage in conversations with clear turn-taking cues to
facilitate back-and-forth communication.
Incorporate Interests: Choose topics that align with your child's interests,
motivating them to contribute.
Narrate Shared Experiences: Describe events or activities as they unfold,
encouraging your child to join in.
Use Humor: Incorporate humor and playfulness to make communication
enjoyable.
Provide Choices: Offer options that encourage your child to communicate
their preferences.
Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge improvements in communication skills,
fostering motivation.
By implementing these strategies, you can create an environment that
promotes verbal interaction, enhances engagement, and nurtures your
child's confidence in expressing themselves.
 Introduction to Using Visual Aids and Schedules for Verbal
Communication Support:

Visual Supports Defined: Understand how visual aids and

schedules are tools that complement verbal communication.
Enhancing Comprehension: Learn how visual aids clarify
concepts and make information more understandable.
Supporting Predictability: Discover how schedules provide
structure and predictability to daily routines.
Reducing Anxiety: Understand how visual cues can help reduce
anxiety and uncertainty.
Universal Benefit: Recognize that visual supports benefit
various learning styles and abilities.
Types of Visual Aids: Explore examples such as picture cards,
symbols, charts, and diagrams.
Creating Visual Aids: Introduction to designing and using visual
aids effectively.
Visual Schedules Explained: Understand how schedules visually
represent tasks and activities.
Creating Visual Schedules: Learn how to build a schedule to
support daily routines.
Fostering Independence: See how visual schedules empower
children to complete tasks on their own.
Language Development: Understand how visual supports can
enhance vocabulary and language skills.
Integration with Verbal Communication: Learn how visual aids and schedules
can complement and reinforce verbal instructions.
Personalization: Discover the importance of tailoring visual supports to your
child's preferences and needs.
Implementation Tips: Understand when and how to introduce visual aids and
schedules effectively.
Consistency Matters: Learn about the role of consistency in using visual
supports successfully.
Examples and Case Studies: Explore real-life examples of how visual
supports have improved communication.
Next Steps: Get ready to integrate visual aids and schedules into your
daily interactions.
By incorporating visual aids and schedules, you can enhance your child's
verbal communication experience and create a more organized and
predictable environment.
 Assignment: "Visual Aid Creation"

Participants design a simple visual aid to

facilitate communication with their child.
Share a photo or description of the visual aid
they created and explain its purpose in the
online discussion forum.