Skinner's 1957 book Verbal Behavior has had a profound impact on how behavior analysts view language development and language training. Within the field, there are a variety of perspectives on how modality influences both the analysis of verbal operants and their teaching. This presentation will review discussions around stimulus selection vs. topography-based systems, including both logic and evidence. A crucial part of this analysis is clarifying and distinguishing the role that pictures may place in various strategies. We will then turn attention to the autoclitic, noting its importance for learners with autism in particular. We will look at why this type of verbal operant may be difficult to acquire and especially difficult to teach. We will look at other topics, including attributes and how to teach them with visually mediated strategies, including PECS and SGDs. Finally, we will look at some issues related to transitioning from any one modality to another.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify three key elements when comparing sign-language to visually mediated verbal operants
2. Identify two reasons that autoclitics may be difficult to acquire and to teach.
3. Identify three requirements when transitioning between verbal modalities

About the Presenter

Andy Bondy

Andy Bondy, Ph.D., has almost 50 years of experience working with children and adults with ASD and related developmental issues. For more than a dozen years he served as the Director of a statewide public-school program for students with ASD. He and his wife, Lori Frost, pioneered the development of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). He designed the Pyramid Approach to Education as a comprehensive combination of broad-spectrum behavior analysis and functional communication strategies. He is a co-founder of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc., an internationally based team of specialists with offices in 16 countries. Each team consists of specialists from many fields working together to promote the integration of the principles of applied behavior analysis within functional activities, including an emphasis on developing functional communication skills. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the BOD for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. He was the recipient of the 2012 Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA) Award for International Dissemination of Behavior Analysis.