Talkability

Hanen Programs

What Professionals Say...

"I just received the copy of TalkAbility I ordered and I have to tell you that I absolutely LOVE IT! This book is full of wonderful information and is especially timely for me as I am struggling to set up a social skills program for one student transitioning from kindergarten to 1st grade—he’s got ASD but is very high functioning. I look forward to sharing your book with my team next week. The checklists are fantastic, the illustrations are gorgeous and the suggestions are straightforward, logical, and perfect for a stressed regular-education teacher. I especially like the descriptions of the differences between boys and girls—that makes such good sense, but no one addresses this!"
Lori Frost, Co-Founder, 
Pyramid Educational Consultants
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Program Information

TalkAbility™ - The Hanen Program for Parents of Verbal Children on the Autism Spectrum

Program Schedule:

Orientation Session
Pre-Program Visit
Session 1
   Help Your Child Understand What You Say Without Words
Session 2
   Keep the Conversation Going
Home Visit
    First Videotaping and Feedback Session
Session 3
    Help Your Child Tune-In to Others
Session 4
    Extend and Pretend
Home Visit
    Second Videotaping and Feedback Session
Session 5
    Stay Tuned-In with Books
Home Visit
    Third Videotaping and Feedback Session
Session 6
    Be Your Child's Play Coach (Part 1)
Session 7
    Be Your Child's Play Coach (Part 2)
Home Visit
    Fourth Videotaping and Feedback Session
Session 8
    Look Back and Move On

Program Features:

  • Delivered by a Hanen Certified speech language pathologist/therapist who has received specialized training at a Hanen certification workshop
  • Offered to groups of parents
  • Three major components:
    • A pre-program assessment and baseline videotaping of parent-child interaction
    • Eight group sessions for parents: and
    • Four individual video feedback sessions (two videotapes of parent and child interactions and two videotapes of the child-child interactions, with parent as coach.)

What Parents will learn:

  • How to look at their child’s learning and sensory profile so they can better understand their child’s strengths and challenges
  • How conversation depends on both verbal and non-verbal communication
  • Strategies to help their child have a back-and-forth conversation and learn the idea of giving their child Cues
  • How to use mental state language (called “tuning-in” talk) to develop their child’s theory-of-mind
  • To identify their child’s level of social play skills and setting appropriate goals
  • How to set up a play date and ‘coach’ their child using visual helpers to teach friendship skills

 

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