Triveni Goswami Vernal
(Registered Special Educator A64010)

The previous blog looked at activities that could develop or enhance Receptive Communication skills. In this blog we will focus on activities that can help develop or improve expressive communication skills.
Expressive Communication refers to the ability to use words, gestures, AACs (Alternative & Augmentative Communication devices), typing, writing etc to express thoughts, opinions, needs, ask questions, request for things/help, express feelings, emotions etc. 

ACTIVITIES THAT CAN DEVELOP OR ENHANCE EXPRESSIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

*NOTE: A lot of vocabulary can be introduced through simple activities.

1) Reading Books: Providing an access to books to the child is very important, even when they cannot read. One can initially introduce Picture Books (with illustrations only), then, books with more illustrations and less words, then move on to books with illustrations with short sentences and over time, introduce books with more words than illustrations. One can assign a specific time during the day, for a dedicated story telling session, where the parent/caregiver can sit with the child as the story is read out to the child, or simply look through the pictures, describing what is being seen on the pages. This is to help the child engage with the books, even if it seems that the child is not listening.
2) Pretend Play: Engage in Pretend Play with the child, creating various fun scenarios with all kinds of props at hand.
3) Engaging in Arts & Crafts (Scribbling, Doodling, Finger Painting, Process Art, Sticking papers with glue, Colouring etc)
4) Sensory Play: Simple activities like pasting stickers, playing with kinetic sand/foam, play dough, slime, water etc.
5) Singing
6) Describing Objects [objects can be described in various ways—as having a Feature (Size, Shape, Colour, Number etc), Class (as belonging to a particular category—animals, fruits, furniture, transport, places etc) and Function (as having a purpose/what it is used for—Cut With, Clean with Drink with, Write with etc)]. 
7) Role Playing
8) Group Activities: These can work on concepts of Turn taking, Waiting for their turn, Participating or even observing group interactions.
9) Guess Who games
10) Playing with Building Blocks

If the child is not able to express themselves with words yet, expressive communication can still be developed by introducing alternative methods of communication such as AACs (Letter Boards, Typing, Gestures/Sign Language, Visual Supports, Symbol & Text based apps such as Avaz) etc. The alternative methods can accompany the activities that have been listed to not only provide access to alternate modes of communication to the individuals but also create opportunities for meaningful interactions with them.

The focus should not only be on increasing the vocabulary but helping the individual develop a means of expressing how they feel, what their needs are, what their thoughts are about things, people, places etc and how they wish to interact with the people and environment around them.

REFERENCES:
https://therapyworks.com/blog/language-development/home-tips/expressive-vs-receptive-language/
https://cstacademy.com/resources/articles/empowering-voices-how-cst-academy-supports-expressive-language-development-in-children-with-autism/
https://www.lumierechild.com/blog/child-speech-therapy-expressive-language-skills/
https://behaviorbubbles.home.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/function-feature-class.pdf
https://autismclassroomresources.com/3-tools-to-teach-vocabulary-by-feature-function-class/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUK0ekwR0MQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPylsmW0V-Y (How to teach Descriptive language through the Avaz app)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gw3L9DKNJE (developing language and communication through the Avaz app)
************

Author Triveni Goswami Vernal

Triveni Goswami Vernal is an Autism advocate, registered Special Educator (CRR A64010) and an Independent Researcher. Her areas of interest include Autism, Disability Rights, Gender, Art and Northeast studies. She is a mum to an 12 year old on the Autism Spectrum.

---

“Flower Pots in Bloom”
Acrylic Painting on Watercolour Paper
Kabir Vernal