Communication is a core difficulty for children with autism.
Some children may be non-verbal and some may develop spoken language that is idiosyncratic or not be very useful in functional ways e.g. they may recite episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine perfectly but not ask for a drink if they are thirsty.
Echolalia is a term used to describe the repetition of speech and is quite often demonstrated by children with autism.
One of the ways we use to help children communicate more effectively at Newfield is through the use of PECS - it stands for Picture Exchange Communication System and is a way children can ask for what they want by exchanging a symbol.
This means it’s great for children who have not developed speech yet to get their message across but also helps structure and scaffold speech for children who are developing the skill.
Find out more about PECS at the link below.