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Support Materials for Students with Special Education Needs
English K–6
Case Studies
Case study 4
Summary of expressive communication – Elodie
(cont)
Broad function Function
Intentionality Behaviour(s) (forms) Target
Expressing
feelings and states
Express
discomfort
Intentional
Pre-intentional
• Whines
• Scratches face or
rubs area that is
uncomfortable
• Replace whining with
a more conventional,
appropriate behaviour,
eg ‘Owww’ in combin-
ation with touching
or rubbing the area
that is uncomfortable
Express fear
Intentional
Pre-intentional
• Whines or cries
• Stiffens body or flexes
arms closer to body
Express pain
Pre-intentional
• Whines or cries
• Replace whining with
a more conventional,
appropriate behaviour,
eg ‘Owww’ in
combination with
touching or rubbing
the area that hurts
Express sickness
Pre-intentional
• Whines or cries
• Demonstrates loss
of appetite
• Replace whining with
a more conventional,
appropriate behaviour,
eg ‘Owww’ in
combination with
touching or rubbing the
area that hurts or is sick
Express happiness Intentional
• Smiles or laughs
Express excitement Intentional
• Smiles or laughs
Express sadness
Intentional
• Whines/cries
Express anger
Intentional
• Slashes arms,
stomps feet or wails
• Is beginning to
shout ‘no’
• Increase use and
extent of ‘no’ (loud)
to express anger
Express confusion Intentional
• Responds to yes/no
questions with a
vocalisation that
doesn’t sound like
either ‘yes’ or ‘no’
• Enhance vocalisation
with approximation that
indicates ‘don’t know’,
eg ‘mmm’ and rising
intonation. Possibly add
a shoulder shrug
Express boredom Pre-intentional
• Commences
self-stimulatory
behaviours such as
poking her eyes and
putting her fingers
in her mouth
