Say It With Me

Rose Griffin

• 25 augustus 2026
• 9781394365692

Samenvatting:

Evidence-based strategies for building communication skills in autistic learners who are just beginning to speak

With 1 in 31 children now identified with autism spectrum disorder, clinicians and families need practical, evidence-based approaches to help nonspeaking and minimally verbal children find their voices. Say It With Me: Naturalistic Tools to Spark Speech and Social Engagement for Emergent Communicators provides a step-by-step framework for building expressive language skills, starting with connection and joint attention, then progressing systematically to first words and beyond.

Drawing on over two decades of clinical expertise, Say It With Me demystifies assessment, naturalistic intervention, and collaborative therapy. Readers will discover how to use books, music, and play to foster joint attention and social engagement, along with naturalistic techniques that move beyond tabletop therapy. The book includes practical activities for requesting, labeling, and expanding expressive language, guidance for integrating AAC and supporting behavioral barriers, and case studies with actionable tips for immediate use.

Written for speech-language pathologists, board-certified behavior analysts, and registered behavior technicians seeking actionable strategies and collaborative frameworks, this guide also serves special education teachers, early intervention specialists, and graduate students in SLP and ABA programs. Parents and caregivers will find accessible, easy-to-implement tools for integrating these strategies at home.

“Say It With Me by Rose Griffin is a practical, encouraging guide that emphasizes building connection first and using naturalistic strategies to develop joint attention, imitation, and language in autistic children. Filled with play-based ideas, ethical collaboration guidance, and a very useful appendix, it’s an important read for BCBAs, SLPs, and parents who want clear, practical strategies to help children communicate.”
—Mary Barbera, PhD, RN, BCBA-D, online course creator and author of Turn Autism Around

Step-by-step guide to conduct more effective speech therapy sessions for autistic clients

If you’re tired of therapy sessions that don’t feel productive, Say It With Me is your step-by-step guide to effective intervention that addresses the common frustrations and questions faced by speech therapists working with autistic students and other communication differences. Written by veteran speech therapist and BCBA Rose Griffin and drawing on her twenty years of experience and strategies, this book emphasizes naturalistic teaching strategies and includes exercises that students can practice at home as well as real-life stories from Griffin’s own career.

Readers will find insights on:

• Various standardized and informal assessments to help readers gather a plan to start implementation and training for a student who is not yet speaking
• Strategies for creating engaging activities and fostering social communication skills using books, music, and play to increase a student’s social engagement in therapy
• Assessment and goal setting for initial skills development, helping therapists prioritize essential communication skills based on individual needs
• Ways to understand the function of challenging behavior and implement positive behavior supports
• Frameworks for providing fun and functional group therapy, which is popular in school-based settings

Say It With Me earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of all SLPs, BCBAs and RBTs working in various settings including schools, clinics, and private practice.