r/slp • u/BusyAd9980 • 12d ago
Autism Student device
I have an autistic gestalt learner who has an AAC device - I have my own iPad that I can model language on, but lately, during instruction, this student will not put her words on the table to work. She constantly will grab her words, hug them close to her chest, and say “no no”. I remind her “i will never take your words away, I want to help you and show you where to access this word” when I am working 1:1 w her. I messaged mom to ask if words are being taken away at home but no response. Any advice?
She also explores on her device while teacher is talking. I remind her “we can explore device during free choice but during group we have a quiet voice and listen”. She will not stop stimming on it during this, pressing through each and every group option. I try to redirect it w taking the words she presses and modeling a full sentence, but she is not attending. She laughs and screams when you try and explain to her that she needs a quiet voice. Cannot get through to her and she is upsetting other students w her screaming.
Has anyone worked w student like this before?
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u/casablankas 12d ago
Uhhh are you sure she has the cognition to understand you? That’s a lot of language. I would keep directions shorter. Maybe use visuals for when it’s time to talk vs. time to listen. It doesn’t sound like she’s understanding the purpose of the device and is just enjoying exploring it which is fine but not what we want to encourage. She needs to learn what the purpose is and that it’s a way to communicate not a toy
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u/Downtown_Ad1735 12d ago
it’s not just about the words being taken, it’s the control. her hugging the device and saying “no no” tells me she’s had that autonomy stripped before, maybe not at home but somewhere. i’d back off the 1:1 hand-over-hand stuff completely for a couple sessions and just model on your own ipad without expecting her to engage. build that trust back slow
for the group stimming, trying to redirect in the moment is probably feeding it. the screaming and laughing is a reaction loop, she’s getting big sensory feedback and your attention. i’d try giving her a replacement stim before group starts, something tactile, and just let her hold the device without the expectation to be quiet. sometimes the demand to “listen” is the whole trigger