Communication First

Replace challenging behavior by teaching your child better ways to ask

A free four-module course on functional communication for parents, with practical, neutral guidance for nonspeaking children using pictures, signs, and AAC devices.

Who it's for

Parents of children with limited spoken language, or whose challenging behavior does the talking.

Time commitment

~3 hours, self-paced

Cost

Free forever, funded by our data-licensing model

Syllabus

1. I

   What your child is already telling you

   You will learn to:

   • Read the communicative function behind grabbing, dropping, running, and screaming
   • Match every challenging behavior to the message underneath it
2. II

   Choosing the replacement

   You will learn to:

   • Pick a way to ask that is easier than the behavior it replaces
   • Survey the options, without ideology: words, signs, picture exchange, and AAC
3. III

   Teaching the ask

   You will learn to:

   • Set up easy wins and prompt without taking over
   • Honor new communication immediately, generously, every time
4. IV

   Growing the conversation

   You will learn to:

   • Move from one ask to many across people and places
   • Coordinate with your SLP and BCBA so home and therapy pull together