A Family-Centered Approach

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Andrea is proud to provide a family-centered practice in order to create a partnership so that the family may participate successfully in all aspects of the individual's communication. The range of services offered include counseling, education and training, coordination of services, and advocacy for practices that incorporate family preferences and address family priorities.

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Through this partnership, support may take different forms, including coordinating services for the family, procuring resources and information, teaching the family or other significant communication partners specific skills, and advocating for the family.

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What does Autism Intervention look like? 

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Speech-language pathologists play a central role in the screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of persons with ASD, including --​

• Conducting a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan of language and communication, including social communication skills;

• Assessing for the need for using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices as a mode of communication;

• Participating as a member of the school planning team (e.g., whose members include teachers, special educators, counselors, psychologists) to determine appropriate educational services;

• Developing treatment plans for speech and language services, including social language goals and goals for literacy development and for assisting the student with self-regulatory and social interactive functions to allow him/her to participate in the mainstream curriculum to as great an extent as possible;

• Counseling persons with ASD and their families regarding communication-related issues and providing education aimed at preventing further complications related to ASD

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How can a Speech-Language Pathologist support?

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Contacting a speech therapist is advised when any of the following difficulties are noted:​

• Delayed Language Acquisition (see Language Delays)

• Deficits in Joint Attention including --

Reduced desire to seek engagement and comfort from others,

Limitations in considering another's intention and perspective.

• Social Reciprocity difficulties including --

Difficulty initiating and responding to bids for interaction,

Limitations with maintaining turn-taking in interactions,

• Deficits in Social Cognition (e.g., perceiving, attending to, thinking about, and making sense of the people in our social world, including --

Difficulty managing emotions,

Difficulty differentiating one's own feelings from the feelings of others (i.e., Theory of Mind).

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Supporting Adolescents and Adults with ASD

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For adolescents and adults with ASD, social communication is a particularly important skill area to consider. Communication rules in adolescent social interactions are often subtle and unspoken, and successful navigation within social settings requires awareness of these rules. In addition, the social, emotional, and critical thinking demands during adolescence are constantly evolving. Whether the young adult is transitioning into new school, community, or workplace interactions, Andrea has experience in supporting all ages to achieve greater independence and social success.

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Contact Andrea Lau at Speech Vancouver if you have any questions about autism. 

 

For more information on how Speech Vancouver can help, please phone 604 723 9589 or email: andrealau.slp@gmail.com