Communication Friendly Environments

A Communication Friendly Environment enables learners (pupils) to develop their social, emotional and academic potential by reducing or removing barriers to communication. The following resources can help to review whether the environment is communication friendly and what reasonable adjustments may be necessary.

School and education settings

• Widgit Communication Friendly Environment guide
• Autism Education Trust (AET) School Autism Standards (5-19)

Wider workforce environments

• Communication Access UK – Inclusive communication for all

Supporting organisational skills

• Organising yourself 5-11yrs
• Organising yourself 11-18yrs

Developing understanding and use of vocabulary

• Word Aware by Stephen Parsons – Youtube
• Widgit- preteaching vocabulary guidance
• Vocabulary Enrichment Intervention Programme by V Joffe (KS3)
• Understanding and vocabulary
• Concept word Free online training (CFHD)

Supporting transitions

• Supporting children with change
• Kate going through ways to understand time – YouTube
• Using photos and first/then boards (childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk)
• Council for Disabled Children – transition from Early Years
• NASEN Transition in EYS Webcast
• Supporting-learners-with-autism-during-transition AET
• Transition-employment-toolkit AET
• School Resources to Help With Transitions

Use of visuals including objects of reference, signing and symbols

• Online symbols
• Pyramid Educational Consultants UK
• Objects of Reference video
• Use of visuals video
• What is PECS

Asking questions

• Blank level questioning- online free training
• Blank Level questioning

Social stories and comic strip conversations

• Social stories and comic strip conversations

Managing Emotions, Zones of Regulation and Incredible 5 point Scale

• Learn More about the Zones
• THE INCREDIBLE 5-POINT SCALE
• The Red Beast by KI AI-Ghani
• The Panicosaurus: Managing Anxiety in Children Including Those with Asperger syndrome by KI AI – Ghani
• The Disappointment Dragon: Learning to Cope with Disappointment (for All Children and Dragon Tamers, Including Those with Asperger syndrome) by KI AI-Ghani
• My Hidden Chimp by Steve Peters

View and/or download the full Speech, Language and Communication Needs Toolkit