(REC) Teaching Language to Learners with Autism

Helping learners with autism develop effective communication skills can be both challenging and rewarding. This workshop is designed to guide educators and behavior analysts through the process of creating and implementing individualized language-based curricula. While many are familiar with early language programming, achieving mastery in intermediate and advanced language skills—essential for spontaneous conversational language—can be more elusive.

In this presentation, we will explore key skills necessary for advanced communication, including negation/exclusions, using past tense verbs, and skills in describing and guessing. We will also discuss the prerequisite skills needed to develop these advanced abilities. Participants will leave with practical strategies to help learners with autism reach higher levels of language proficiency.

Join us to enhance your understanding and ability to support the communicative growth of your students. This workshop is suitable for both newcomers and seasoned professionals in the field of behavior analysis and education.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant will identify the prerequisite skills necessary for teaching negation/exclusions, past tense verbs, describing, and guessing.
• The participant will explain the sequence of programs to teach these skills, as well as the supporting programs needed.
• The participant will identify effective teaching and data collection procedures for the skills discussed.
• The participant will explain how to conduct probes for generalized responding in learners with autism regarding the target language skills.
• The participant will demonstrate how to implement strategies that enhance spontaneous conversational language in learners with autism.

PRESENTER(S): Ray Cepeda

Ray Cepeda, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA is the Founder and Director of ABAskills, LLC, a group that provides behavioral consultation to families and school districts. He is a former clinic supervisor for the Lovaas Institute and has over 30 years of experience supervising home-based programs for learners with autism, working in applied behavior analysis schools in New York and Long Island, consulting with school-based programs, integrating and mainstreaming learners into typical learning environments, training parents, and speaking on topics regarding the use of behavior analytic teaching methodologies and program individualization for children with autism. He is also a recipient of the Award of Distinction from Long Island Advocates for his dedication to the autism community. Mr. Cepeda’s current area of interest is language development for individuals with autism.