Evaluating a Naturalistic Language Intervention with Students with Complex Communication Needs in an Elementary Classroom

Communication is an essential skill for all students, but specifically for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Through communication, our students with disabilities express their wants and need, make and maintain relationships, and participate in daily activities at home, school, and in the community. Play is a natural and motivating activity that encourages communication in all settings. Thus, I looked at using naturalistic language intervention (NLI) as an intervention strategy to increase expressive communication skills in my students with expressive language deficits. This project aimed to increase expressive communication skills in three elementary students with moderate to severe disabilities by implementing NLI during play within their special education classroom. Students were very motivated and excited to be engaged in play activities with an adult. They demonstrated great participation and growth. NLI is a highly motiving intervention that could be utilized with all students as a natural way to increase communication skills.