A Tool for Supporting Communication in the Workplace for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities and/or Autism

Abstract

Speech and language impairments can pose significant challenges to the successful workplace inclusion of young adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs) and/or autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Breakdowns are most likely to occur when support staff, workplace supervisors, or co-workers are unsure how to support effective communication. “Communication Stories” offer an innovative means of helping young adults with ID/ASD advocate for themselves by teaching others about the expressive, receptive, and social/pragmatic communication strategies they use. This article provides guidelines for how to develop customized, electronic “Communication Stories” for young adults with ID/ASD to use in the workplace. Suggestions are also given for use in other contexts, and for low-tech options.

Keywords

language impairment communication supports transition employment technology intellectual disabilities autism self-advocacy

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