Communication: What Does It Mean to Me?: A ＂Contract for Communication＂ That Will Promote Understanding Between Individuals With

Miscommunication and misunderstanding can result from a mismatched style of communicating! Life can be incredibly frustrating for individuals who cannot effectively communicate their thoughts or needs. This unique, user-friendly ＂Contract for Communication＂ features easy-to-follow ＂agreements＂ for both young people on the spectrum and the adults in their lives (parents, teachers, therapists) so they can better understand one another!

The Contract for Communication includes five agreements for each communication partner. The first set of agreements is for the neurotypical communication partner, and the second set of agreements is for the communication partner with ASD. Each of these two groups of communicators has its own general characteristics, assumptions, and quirks, which is why it is necessary to have a unique set of agreements for each group.

By following Catherine Faherty’s straightforward guidelines and using the provided agreements, both children and adults can keep miscommunication and misunderstandings to a minimum. In addition to being useful for adult-child relationships, this book is also great for just adults: friends, spouses, coworkers, and more!

Since 1985, Catherine Faherty has been affiliated with the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped CHildren) Program, first as a classroom teacher and later as a psychoeducational specialist at the Asheville TEACCH Center, one of North Carolina’s nine regional TEACCH Centers through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her days are filled with weekly diagnostic evaluations for children and adults; educational sessions for parents, children, and adults with ASD; social groups for adults with autism; educational and support groups for parents; and consulting to school systems. Catherine is a Lead Teacher and Trainer for TEACCH trainings nationally and internationally.