Learn more about this course.

Supporting Children

Dr Dean Sutherland, University of Canterbury, talks about his research with young children with Autism who have problems with spoken communication.

Dr Sutherland discusses the use of picture exchange systems, manual signs and speech generating devices such as the iPad in supporting children to communicate. He stresses the importance of considering individual needs and differences.

This video explores evidence based practice regarding the importance of early intervention and communication development. For many young children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developing spoken communication is difficult. This video summarises a research project in New Zealand that has focussed in supporting early communication.

About this contributor

Dean Sutherland

Dean Sutherland PhD currently teaches communication and evidence-based practices at the University of Canterbury. He has researched and published in the area of communication and ASD over the past 10 years. Dean is a past president of the New Zealand Speech-language therapists’ Association and is a founding member of the International Communication Project 2014.