Support, understanding, encouragement...

Creating a Speech Box:
Create a “speech box” by cutting a slit in the top of an old butter tub or a small shoe box. Pick a few words to start with. (They should be simple and easy to pronounce, and target the sounds that you are currently working on. For example, if you are working on “B” sounds you could use the words: baby, bubbles and ball). We recommend working on about two sounds at a time to start out. Make small square pictures of the words using card stock paper (they need to fit through the slit on top of the butter tub or shoe box). We use the Boardmaker software to create ours, but if you do not have this program then you can draw your own pictures, or use magazine cut outs. Be sure to laminate whatever you make because your child may try to rip them up or eat them as Nicolas did!

Label the picture card with the word you are teaching so there are two visual cues for your child (this will also eventually teach reading of sight words). Make about 5 identical cards of each word (photocopy your cut outs or drawings to save time if you don’t have Boardmaker). To start the “game” you will want to mix up all of the cards and hold them up one at a time like flashcards for your child to see.  Ask “what’s this?” and then give a verbal prompt to encourage the word. At first, your verbal prompt will probably be the entire word because your child may not recognize the picture. That is okay to do initially, and in time it will reduce to a shorter prompt that may be as simple as saying “ba” for “baby”, and so on…

When the child attempts to say the word (or the sound of the word), respond with verbal praise and then encourage him to put the card into the box. Children with autism usually love to “hide” things in boxes, and it will also give him a sense of when the task is complete. When all of the cards are gone, your child will know that the “game” is over. This often helps the reluctant child to stay on task if he sees an end in sight. The speech box is good for practicing sounds, and also for memory recall which is an important motor planning skill.