Collaborative Communication Therapy for Autism

Starting with words…

When I first started doing speech therapy work with the little ones, their parents would tell me, “I just want them to talk.” Or “Once they have words, they’ll be fine.”

And I almost believed them. I diligently took the kid away from everything else going on in the house, away from the “distractions,” presented my toys, and did my drills.

However, I didn’t start my career working with the little ones. I started with teenagers. And as I did my drills (or in a lot of cases, tried to do my drills while following a totally uninterested child around their house… let’s be real here…), packed up my toys, and drove to the next house to do it all over again, I did some thinking.

I thought about the teenagers I’d worked with who had ASD. They had words. They attended “normal” schools. Many of them were even able to keep up with their classes. But they weren’t fine.

Something wasn’t connecting, and this was throwing things off. For some of them, it was in small, manageable-for-now ways. For others, the cracks in the system were bigger.

Words are not enough.

I remember a meeting held for one 14-year-old girl. I can’t tell you how many clinicians, administrators, and teachers were around the table.

We had come to discuss a young woman who was creative, very verbal, and “high functioning.” She was also quickly falling behind in her classes; in constant conflict with her classmates; and picking fights with tougher, larger teenage boys.

After years of trying to hold it all together, her mother came to this meeting with one question: “Where can I send her?”

We have to start deeper.

When it comes to children with Autism, it’s true that something’s not connecting. It’s them. And that makes everything harder than it needs to be.

During what the science folks call “neurotypical development,” meaningful connection with other people comes way before talking. It’s the most basic, most vital foundation of real communication.

However, we tend to see a child who’s THIS AGE and recognize they’re missing THESE SKILLS… and start drilling “age-appropriate skills…”

But we would never build the roof of a house before we have a solid foundation…

Big mess. Right?

First, fill the developmental gaps.

And yet, that’s what we do so often with our kids on the spectrum. We push “age-appropriate skills” without filling in the developmental gaps.

At best, we get “scattered skills” – some age-appropriate skills, maybe even some exceptionally high, but with lots of gaps in between. At worst, we get conflict and frustration, because we’re pushing them to do things that they’re simply not ready to do.

However, when we meet them where they really are and fill in the developmental gaps along the way, AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN.

Progress is possible.

I worked with one family who had a little girl. When I first met with them, I asked the girl, “What’s your name?” She replied, “What’s your name?”

Now, after working together, her mom tells me, “Julie, I don’t know what to do with her. I can’t get anything done, because she’s always trying to have conversations with me when I’m trying to work!”

If you ask me, from the vantage point of where we started, that’s a pretty good problem to have.

In another family, the little boy had no words and avoided engaging with people when we first met. Now he’s playing games with his brother and cousins every day and dancing with other congregants and talking back to the pastor’s sermon on Sundays!

His teacher and pediatrician have asked his parents, “What are you doing for him?!” Another member of their church has reached out for help with her own son.

You wonder, “What is, Collaborative Communication Therapy for Autism?”

It’s not your typical speech therapy – focused on saying more and more words. It’s real-world, whole communication therapy that includes your child’s first and most important communication partner –YOU.

As I often say, when it comes to Autism:

YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S BEST MEDICINE.

Or to turn what may be a familiar phrase…

Anything I can do, you can do better.

It starts with making meaningful connection.

When it comes to gaps in communication, we first focus on establishing a meaningful connection and helping your child stay in moments of meaningful connection – with you – for extended periods of time.

Together, we turn every-day activities and play into opportunities for you and your child to connect and have fun together. First, communication should be enjoyable for both of you.

Next comes meaningful communication.

We continue to enhance things you’re already doing together and build in new activities to increase your child’s ability to connect and communicate meaningfully and functionally.

As he builds his ability to communicate with you and your family, a lot of this will naturally spill over to his communication and connections outside the home.

And when there’s a need, we can recruit others to build the team that supports your child’s cognitive, communication, and social growth.

Collaboration is available online.

Regular half-hour sessions are offered online. Each session starts by reflecting on the daily activities you did with your child since the last session.

Next, we build on that work – either finding ways to make it easier if it didn’t quite click or making it a notch harder if you’re ready for the next level of challenge and growth.

The session ends with a plan for the coming week and the next session. That’s it.

Let’s work together to foster your child’s transformation.

The process is simple, gradual, and results in real-life shifts that lead to meaningful connection and transformation.

You can achieve this from the comfort of your own home. I’m excited to share this work with you.

Shoot me an email, and we’ll make a time to talk: julie.meyerowitz@hearmywordsautism.com