ABA starting conversation support should begin with the person's chosen partners, topics, settings, and communication forms. Define an accessible opening, prepare the partner to notice and respond, and preserve the option to wait, decline, or change topics. Measure whether the person can start wanted interactions under ordinary conditions and whether partners respond effectively, rather than rewarding speech, eye contact, or a scripted style.
Choose a real purpose
Ask whom the person wants to contact and why: sharing news, asking a question, inviting someone, checking a plan, or connecting around an interest. Avoid teaching generic greetings that add little value or feel compulsory.
Define accessible openings
An opening may use speech, AAC, sign, text, gesture, an attention signal, or a prepared message. State what the partner should do, how long to wait, and how the person can repair, pause, or leave.
Prepare the environment
Make the communication system available, reduce preventable noise or distance, tell familiar partners how to recognize the message, and provide natural opportunities. A partner who is unavailable creates a context problem, not a client error.
Use clinical and communication safeguards
The CASP public summary places goals within individualized assessment. The Ethics Code addresses client involvement, assent when applicable, risk, and evaluation. ASHA supports AAC access and partner support.
A practical example
Zuri chooses to ask a cousin about a game. Across six opportunities with AAC ready and the cousin available, Zuri starts the conversation in 4/6. The cousin responds within ten seconds in 3/4. Report client starts and partner response separately.
Questions families can use
Did the person choose the partner and purpose? Which openings count? Was communication ready? Could they change their mind? Did the partner notice and respond? Does the skill work beyond rehearsed scripts?
Sources
Finni resources
