Characteristics of Teaching Communication to People with Moderate and Severe Disabilities

Abstract

Research on language intervention in the natural environment was reviewed in relation to the variables of context, analysis of communicative behaviors, and intervention strategies. Two processes—ecological inventory and analysis of communicative behaviors—are described as desirable methods to determine instructional objectives and teaching conditions. Training in the natural environment was advocated along with the complimentary use of skill clustering, natural environment teaching approaches, and reinforcer specificity was advocated. Implications for future research in communication also were delineated.