Margaret Miller

Rationale Lack of tx material for this age group Difficult to measure pragmatic language quantitatively Quantitative data necessary to show progress and objectify data Beginning clinicians especially have difficulty measuring these skills quantitatively

Literature Review Gained better knowledge of tx materials and programs available for older adolescents and adults Identified 10 pragmatic language skill areas to research Gained better knowledge of relevant strategies for data collection Quantitative data collection vs. Qualitative data collection

Identified Skill Areas Eye contact Topic Maintenance Turn-Taking Recognizing/Expressing Emotions Humor Initiating & Terminating Conversations Follow-Up Questions Body Language Perspective Taking Reducing Negative/Distracting Behaviors

Education Developed treatment packets for clinicians describing procedures for targeting pragmatic language skills and data collection Provided protocols for quantitative data collection of pragmatic language skills Provided pragmatic language activities and worksheets to address 10 social skill areas Presented packets to graduate level CSD students Participated in poster presentation at the Autism Conference sponsored by the Thompson Center

Examples: Pragmatic Language Activities & Data Collection Booklet Measurable Goals Quantitative Data Collection

Measurable Goals Eye Contact The client will receive an average score of ‘5’, indicating appropriate eye contact, when talking with familiar conversation partners as judged by 3 unfamiliar listeners using the eye contact scale. Initiating & Terminating Conversations The client will respond appropriately to conversation initiations from familiar and unfamiliar conversation partners in 80% of opportunities.

Quantitative Data Collection