Скачать или смотреть Where to Start With Autistic Students: 3 Communication Goals I Prioritize First

Where do you actually start when supporting an autistic student’s communication?

If you’ve ever met a new autistic student and felt completely stuck trying to figure out what to work on first, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I’m breaking down the exact process I use to decide where to begin when supporting autistic students—especially when I don’t know them well yet, when they’re early communicators, or when traditional goals just don’t feel right.

Spoiler: it’s not requesting, labeling, or WH questions.

I share why starting with those skills often leads to pressure, compliance, and missed opportunities for real communication—and what I focus on instead.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why “starting with requesting” isn’t always the most supportive choice

Why labeling and WH questions often turn sessions into tests

What families usually mean when they say they want their child to answer questions

The difference between communication and performance

Why accuracy percentages don’t reflect real progress

How child-led, neuroaffirming support changes where we begin

The 3 communication functions I start with:

Asking for help (without sabotage or withholding)

Protesting and rejecting as a protective, safety-based skill

Directing actions to support autonomy and shared control

We also talk about why requesting is still important—but why it works best after these foundations are in place.

This episode is especially helpful for:

Speech-language pathologists

School-based clinicians

Early intervention providers

Educators and therapists supporting autistic students

Professionals who want a child-led, neuroaffirming starting point

I also connect all of this back to my Aligned Rubric Framework and explain how using communication functions (instead of isolated skills) creates flexibility, honors autonomy, and supports authentic communication growth.

👉 Next Steps:

Join the waitlist for the upcoming Rubric Reset Workshop (linked below)

Learn how to turn communication functions into flexible, meaningful goals

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