Mia swallows, and Brian delivers the grapes. The aides record how many verbal reminders or seconds it took for each child to reach for the picture, look at it or say the word. Those who can't speak are taught to press illustrated buttons on devices that prompt a recorded voice to express what they can't say. Some are taught to grasp. Sometimes the goal is simply not getting worse.
Students are individuals, with problems and personalities never to be ignored.
As with most autistic children, he can't form good sentences on his own but can repeat ones he's heard. In DeMino's class, students prepare for the holiday program. Barbara, with an aide's hand over hers, inserts papers into the electric stapler. Amanda sporadically presses the big button to activate the stapler. Dane picks up pages one by one.