Podcasts · The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs

#297: Supporting Functional Communication Skills with Ashley Whitaker

· 30 min · Episode 297

Episode #297: Supporting Functional Communication Skills with Ashley Whitaker

0:00 30:22

Functional communication is about more than getting a learner to request. It’s about helping them communicate what they want and need spontaneously, across people, places, and real-life situations.

Ashley Whitaker joins me to share practical clinical shifts that can make a big difference for autistic learners, especially those who are prompt dependent or seem stuck in their communication progress. We talk about why a simple prompt like “What do you want?” can unintentionally become a barrier to spontaneous communication, and how we can create a stronger connection between motivation and independent requesting.

We also dig into data collection and why tracking both prompted and spontaneous communication gives us valuable information about whether a learner needs more opportunities or a change in programming. Ashley shares practical ways to build communication opportunities throughout the day without making every interaction feel like a structured therapy trial.

Finally, we explore speech clarity and teaching functional communication before moments of escalation. When learners practice responses like “more time,” “all done,” or “no” outside of crisis situations, we can help them build communication skills they can actually access when they need them most.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Reducing verbal prompts to encourage spontaneous communication • Using prompted and independent communication data to guide programming • Supporting speech clarity with slower, exaggerated vocal models • Practicing functional communication before escalation occurs

Mentioned In This Episode: VB-MAPP The Verbal Behavior Approach Lighthouse Autism Center Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

Links in the notes 7

The episode on the publisher’s site

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.