Teaching yes/no concept...?

Question

Hi! I work with develomentally disabled adults, and i'm trying to teach them to communicate yes/no any ideas? My consumer is non verbal, and pretty stubborn! I'll take any ideas :)

Answer 1

PECS are always my savior in these types of situations

One that says yes and one that says no.

I would place an item that you know your client will want (say a piece of candy or a favorite book) and then ask them, "Would you like this?" Keep it broad so that they can associate that phrase with everything, if they reach for it tell them that they need to give you the PECS card that says "yes" on it first and then model it. After they get this concept try adding a non-prefered item :D

Answer 2

You need to decide how it is going to be communicate

what specific gesture/sign/picture

sometimes-head shake/nod works

sometimes a sign with the hand

sometimes a combination

shake head for no/sign yes with fisted hand

sometimes it is too difficult to use the head (or hand) for both

focus on yes or no (not both)

start with full prompting (assuming he will allow it)

offered a highly desired item fro 'yes'

take his head and nod it (or hand and sign) and immediately give him the item-

fade to partial prompt-gently touch his head to remind him to nod-

fade to model-

you nod yes for him to imitate

fade to independence.....

when using sign or pictures-the teacher should be sure to verbalize the word

Answer 3

http://www.therasimplicity.com/ I am an SLP major. We use this website a lot. It has very useful tasks.

Answer 4

This is a very difficult concept to master for many of our students and/or clients.  I would use two pictures or other verbal cues to show yes or no.  I would use something he really likes ...raisins was mentioned but he may like something more like M&Ms.  I would show him the M&M and say "Yes or No.  Do you want a M&M?  Yes or No."  If he reaches for the candy, move your hand away.  Repeat what you said and place his or hand on the yes card. "Yes. I want a M&M." and give it to him.  This will take several hundred times to get it right, if ever.  This is a concept that many four and five year olds have trouble with.  If your client is not to their ability/ thinking level, he or she may never get it.

Answer 5

With young ones, we used to use raisins, or something the person enjoyed. Then we would put five in a small cup and ask, "Do you want raisins?" Then sign, "Yes". Then maybe offer a small pickle, or something the person would say no to and follow with the sign, "No". It's important that you verbalize yes or no each time. Take the raisins back if he refuses to sign.

Also, you might want to show the two signs and verbalize the action using yourself as the model to begin.

See if you can help the person make the signs yes and no before you start with him, as well.

Answer 6

i'm in a special education class and we meet tomorrow... i'll talk to my teacher and see if she has any ideas :) good luck!

Answer 7

Start with picture symbols and train only 1 concept at a time.

If you start with a "yes" response and use items your consumer desires, ask "Do you want ___?" and prompt them to respond "yes" (by pointing, giving, gesturing, etc.), the "stubborn" issue shouldn't come up.

Once they are giving you a "yes" response without prompts, introduce "no" with a separate symbol and items they absolutely DO NOT want (depending on their level of functioning, you may want to do this on a different day). Prompt the "no" response until they can do it on their own.

Once they are firm with "yes" in isolation and "no" in isolation, work on mixing the "Do you want ___?" with a mix of things they like and don't like until they reliably answer questions about what they want and don't want with a yes/ no response.

I typically move to labeling things with yes/ no as a next step from here (e.g., show them a pencil, and ask "Is this a pencil?" , "is this an airplane?", etc.).

Hope this helps.