— Coming Fall 2024 —

K&K Sign/Select to Talk builds communication and speech in autistic individuals and others with complex communication needs. Designed specifically for learners and their treatment teams who use multimodal communication to teach requesting with unaided AAC systems (gestures or signs) or with aided AAC systems (picture exchange or speech generating devices). Concurrent with AAC instruction, this approach uses Kaufman K-SLP successive word approximations to improve the functional clarity of verbal vocal production of the items and actions being requested.

Includes over 200 vocabulary cards representing everyday foods, drinks, toys, and activities that learners frequently request and find motivating. The vocabulary items were selected to meet the unique generalization and motivational needs of autistic individuals. Each target item or action is represented by an engaging photograph on a large, glossy 5"x7" card. Photographs were selected for iconicity and to aid in transfer of skills across different language functions.

The reverse side of each card features Kaufman "word shell" successive approximations to assist in improving verbal vocal production. Also included is a description of the sign (ASL) for that target item with pictures of the hand shapes. The accompanying 50-page manual fully explains this approach. Ages 2 to 12 years. Made in the USA.

Therapy Targets:

• Motivates for spontaneous requesting through sign.
• Shapes articulation with Kaufman “word shell” approximations for functional, intelligible speech.
• Teaches labeling and receptive identification.
• Increases length of vocal utterance.
• Serves as a sign language dictionary for words highly relevant and motivating to children (foods, drinks, toys).
• Supports a language acquisition program.
• Discusses general rules for teaching the first signs.

The ultimate goal of this approach is to improve articulation and communication skills across all language functions. Once the learner has developed a functional requesting vocabulary, they are guided to use this newly acquired verbal language for additional communicative opportunities and functions, including declarative language, questions, and negatives, leading to interactive language skills.

View Target Word List

Includes over 200 vocabulary cards representing everyday foods, drinks, toys, and activities.

What's Included with this Program?

• Over 200 target vocabulary cards (5"x7").
• The front of the card displays a high-quality, engaging photo of the target item or action.
• Reverse side of each card includes a written description of the sign, visual of the hand shapes for the sign, and Kaufman progressive "word shell" approximations to shape articulation.
• Serves as a sign language dictionary for foods, toys, and activities that may be difficult to find in sign language dictionaries (i.e., Cheetos® or JELL-O®).

• The 50-page manual fully explains this approach.

KAUFMAN RESEARCH

Sample Cards:

What's in the Manual?

The comprehensive 50-page manual discusses implementation of this approach, including use of K&K Sign to Talk for:

• Vocal Children
  • Vocal Request (Mand) Training
  • Verbal Imitation (Echoic) Training
• Children with Few Vocalizations But Rapid Response to Training
  • Sign Request (Mand) Training
• Children Who Vocalize Infrequently During Signing
• Children with Apraxia
• General Rules for Teaching the First Signs
• Modifications of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol for Children with Autism
• View Table of Contents >

AAC and Vocal Language Instruction

It is advantageous to shape vocal language within the context of requesting due to the motivational challenges often encountered with autistic individuals and others with complex communication needs. The K&K Sign/Select to Talk was designed for treatment teams who frequently use multimodal communication to teach a child to request using unaided AAC systems (gestures and sign language) or using aided systems such as picture exchange (PECS® and CVES™), communication applications, and speech generating devices (SGDs).

With simultaneous AAC system use and vocal language instruction, many learners will attempt to produce words. Thus, initial vocal language training targets should consist of the names of the items and actions that these learners are requesting via their AAC systems. The names of these common items and actions are the targets that were specifically selected for the K&K Sign/Select to Talk kit.

Target Vocabulary Selection

Names of preferred items also serve as logical targets for speech production training. That is, concurrent with AAC instruction, speech production training using successive approximations can be used to improve the precision and functional clarity of verbal vocal production of these targets. Once word approximations begin to be emitted, the likelihood that they will be produced concurrent with or subsequent to AAC use can be increased (e.g., via time delay, delay to reinforcement, echoic prompt, differential reinforcement).

Therapy Outcomes with K&K Sign/Select to Talk

The ultimate goal of this approach is to improve articulation and communication skills across all language functions. Once the learner has developed a functional requesting vocabulary, they are guided to use this newly acquired verbal language for additional communicative opportunities and functions – including declarative language, questions, and negatives – leading to interactive language skills.