Functional Communication : Analyzing the Non-Linguistic Skills of Individuals with Severe or Profound Handicaps

"Functional Communication" presents the results of research accomplished through the joint sponsorship of the Sonoma Development Center (SDS) and the College of Education of Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and examines the development of pre-language and non-linguistic skills in individuals with various types and degrees of developmental disabilities.

Utilizing the dichotomies that may exist between communication skills and language, the book explores communication skills rather than the acquisition of formal language systems.

In addition to a comprehensive discussion of the Sonoma Research Project - facilities, subject, issues, investigations methods, data analysis design and result and methods - the book considers major theories of communication development and intervention models available for developing non-linguistic communications.